Car Hire with no Credit Card

[gertiesquidge]

Hi everyone,

I'm asking so many questions - can you tell its getting closer and closer to our hols

Anyway, we have arranged car hire as part of our Virgin Holiday package, but don't have a credit card. As part of the package we've pre paid for everything, but still need to give a deposit don't we? How do we go about paying that without a credit card? Will they accept a debit card? Or a pre paid card? Or cash? And how much is it likely to be?

Sorry for all the questions (well not that sorry as I'll be back on soon to ask some more )

Love
gertiesquidge x

 

[jen_uk]

I have read on here before about people hiring a car without a cc, I think you can use a debit hard and they will freeze £500 on there. To save yourself any bother could you just take out a cc for the holiday and then get rid of it after? It's not a bad idea to have one with you in case of any medical emergencies etc

 

[orangetiggs]

I have hired a cra several time without a credit card and never left a deposit, we always get the most expensive insurance and thats it

 

[gertiesquidge]

Hi Jen_UK and orangetiggs,

Thank you for your answers

We have booked the platinum insurance package (Virgin's highest available) so it looks like we won't need a credit card

orangetiggs - can I ask if your experiences were recently? And if your bookings were with Virgin (who use Alamo)?

love
gertiesquidge x

 

[orangetiggs]

Mine used to be virgin holidays via dollar as they have only just changed this year to alamo but they have the same t&cs. The last time we were out there in 2009 it was the same and will be next week as we dont have a credit card.

 

[jtlover]

I hired via Virgin for Alamo last year and have just done it again for my holiday in 2 weeks.

I also have the platinum package. Also if you check in online before leaving UK you can go straight out and get your car and show your papers and card at the exit of the car park. You dont need a credit card - I paid with a debit card and show my debit card at the exit

 

[Sapper383]

We came back last Friday, we went with Virgin and had a hire car. We don't have a CC and we were alowed to use our DC. They just put a hold on $150 which didn't come off our acount until we came home. We didn't have the platinum insurance so we needed to pay for fuel. I would also recomend checking in online as it was quick to do and also made it easier when we arrived.

hope this helps

 

[gertiesquidge]

Thanks again everyone

I'm still a bit confused (I'm blonde its my natural state ) if I check in online don't they take the deposit then? I just had a look at the link from Virgin to Alamo and it says in big bold letters "Need a credit card in lead drivers name" so I didn't go any further (and its probably too soon to do it anyway) so can I continue and use my debit card?

And we've got a toddler car seat booked too, so we'll have to queue up anyway so it won't save us any time, but would it save hassle over using a debit card not credit card?

Why can't this be easy?!?!

Love
Gertiesquidge x

 

[Sapper383]

It says that but it still accepted our DC

 

[zippy99]

We had been wondering the same - as we also have the top package with Alamo. Having spoken to the agent and alamo in Florida I was told it comes down to whoever is on the desk at the time - "care hire companies are a law unto their own" I was told.

Best to make plans for at least a $500 deposit and see what happens.

The deposit is the least of my worries at present 9 days to go and I have not got me license back from the photocard renewal (hopefully shall get it Wednesday) to make things worse my friend travelling with us got caught speeding two weeks ago and had to surrender her license - so the two main drivers in our party are both without licenses

Fingers crossed that some Disney Magic will come our way and we will both get them back in time!

 

[jtlover]

They dont take a deposit if you have the full insurance, which you have taken with Virgin Holidays, same as us. The only thing might be because of the childs car seat. but probably not

They never take a deposit with us we take out the platinum insurance so allows us to both drive and full tank of petrol and no hold on any money

 

[gertiesquidge]

Thanks everyone for your help, I feel a lot better about this now

Off to plan some more and no doubt find something else to worry about

love
gertiesquidge x