Debit card for rental car?

[mickeyluv]

we are looking at renting a minivan for when we arrive in Florida but only to drive over to Cape Canaveral the morning of our cruise. We get in on Friday night and may use it to go get a bite to eat and then drive to Cape Canaveral. Can I use my debit card to just secure the reservation online and then pay cash at the counter when we pick up the vehicle? I've heard that if you use a debit card or credit card to pay with they put a hold for something like $250 on the card. Is this actually true? I don't really like the fact of my money being held up this way. Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[PebblesMK]

Depending on which rental service you go through, they do put a deposit on your card. I once put down a 350 dollar deposit for a four day rental through Hertz. I called to Alamo at MCO and also the one on Disney property and was informed that they don't have a deposit fee for their rentals. Both places gave the same information (And I also read it on quite a few sites). If I were you, I'd call Alamo just to confirm, because a couple hundred dollars tied up is no fun and can take up to three weeks to have the money available for your use. As for using a debit card to hold your rental, I would assume you can do that but am not positive.

 

[JoliBug]

Every month when DH flied to VA for his natl guard drill he rents a car and usually they do charge us for more than the actual rental on our debit card, we don't use credit anymore. I think it is about 250 each time but, he returns the car on Sunday night and we usually have the money back in the account by Monday or Tuesday.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I don't think there is a major company that accepts Debit Cards and DOESN'T put a hold on your account for the entire rental amount plus an additional amount (usually a percentage).

This is the reason everyone should have a credit card, there is no reason not to, if your responsible, it is actually better for your credit scores/history then not having one, it offers a lot of convenience when you look to secure things, etc.

 

[uva185]

we are looking at renting a minivan for when we arrive in Florida but only to drive over to Cape Canaveral the morning of our cruise. We get in on Friday night and may use it to go get a bite to eat and then drive to Cape Canaveral. Can I use my debit card to just secure the reservation online and then pay cash at the counter when we pick up the vehicle? I've heard that if you use a debit card or credit card to pay with they put a hold for something like $250 on the card. Is this actually true? I don't really like the fact of my money being held up this way. Any advice would be appreciated!

If you are paying cash to avoid the deposit stop kidding yourself. One way or another the rental car company will collect a deposit from you whether its from a credit card, debit card, or cold hard cash.

 

[Traveliz]

Alamo at the Car Care Center will take your debit card and I have never ever seen any type of hold on it at all.

You have to show them proof of a flight though to use it but aside from that its very easy.

Liz

 

[raven69david]

I have recently used Dollar and Alamo and neither of the two put a hold on my debit card. I used Enterprise last August and they put a $250.00 hold on my debit card. When looking at the Dollar website and calling outsourced customer service (blah!), they stated that the hold would be $250.00 or (x) % of the charge if it exceeded $250.00. This did not occur and I was only charged for the amount of the rental ($177.00 for the week).

From now on I take a spare credit card and have them put the hold on that card. Once I return I pay with my debit card, if needed. If using Dollar or Alamo (i've only used Dollar once) I use my debit card as I pay for my tax & fees up front. There is no additional hold that's placed on my debit card. This information is good as of May 17th as this is when we went to WDW during the week of the deluge.

EDIT:

Forgot to add that if you're using Dollar and enter code OOAG (letter o (oscar); not zeroes) that will get you a descent discount. Tried it right now for my dates 11/29/09-12/5/09 and got $270.00 for a minivan - without the code the same van is $579.89. I got my reservation 2 months ago and am paying $180.00 for the dates above. w00t. This code is from the Orlando Official Attractions Guide (Orlando / Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau). You don't need the coupon nor do they ask for it. Used this code for my rental in May.

 

[Carlnne]

The only credit card I have (other than a debit) is a card with a low max- $300. Will this qualify to rent a car- even if I want to pay cash?

 

[grimley1968]

Another reason to use a credit card, rather than a debit card, in this case is that credit cards are better for disputing charges later on.

 

[PoohBear]

We use Alamo all the time. They want to see proof of a round trip airline ticket and they have never put a hold on our card.
Hope this helps.

 

[schlepsnort]

We have used alamo the two times we have gone down to the mouse and both times we used our debit card and they did not have a deposit they just charge you for the amount of the rental.

Also with them if you look at their website your can bypass the counter, use the kiosk to check in and then you get to pick your own car.

We have never had any problems with them. I would go with them

 

[Princess Jenny]

I am going to say no!!! I made this mistake the last time we went to Disney. Even if you pay cash, you have to give them a credit card. Make sure you have a credit card and not debit. Thank God my husband brought his wallet with him, since I do all the driving when we are on vacation. He usually just leaves it in the safe back at the room.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Some company actually run a credit check on you if you use a debit card. This was told to us by someone at Hertz.