Dollar Rental Car with a debit card

[Stacy&Family]

Hello all,

We are going to Disney on 6/24-7/2. I have reserved a rental car directly through the Dollar website. I do not own a credit card (better off that way). Will I run into any problems using my debit card? We do have roundtrip tickets from Providence. Thanks for any insight.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Have you looked around the Dollar website for this information? National and Alamo will let customers use a debit card for the transaction - you just need proof of round-trip travel, like a plane ticket.

The information is there somewhere at dollar.com. Many companies require a credit car to transact the rental but allow actual/final payment via debit card.

 

[TamaraQT]

I would call Dollar and ask. I think they are just like Thrifty. At certain airports, they do allow rentals with debit cards. Orlando is one of the airports allowed for Debit card use with Thrifty and Dollar. However, they tell you they do a 'debit card screening'. I am not sure what that is. They use experian or something to check your checking account history or your average daily balance or something of the sort. Anyway, call Dollar and have them explain policy in full detail.

 

[gratton16]

Stacy not sure of the rate you got..but trying using the following coporate code and see if it gives you a better deal.

I just booked Dollar rent a car out of the Regal Sun Resort right by Saratoga on Hotel plaza Blvd, and got a rate of $49 per day for a mini van using my Bj's corporate code - 'BJ3013'...feel free to use it. It was $35 cheaper than anywhere else I looked..and I was searching orignially on a mid size car.

Good luck.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Remember they most likely will place a hold on funds in your account too because it is a debit account. A hold will prevent you from withdrawing those funds in most cases, unless you have overdraft, which will then result in the overdraft being used as money in holding is not available for any other transaction.

In regards to not having a credit card, I can understand on the surface why it might not be desirable, but using credit wisely is better then not using credit at all in terms of your financial ability to conduct business with companies.

 

[JB2K]

I would call Dollar and ask. I think they are just like Thrifty. At certain airports, they do allow rentals with debit cards. Orlando is one of the airports allowed for Debit card use with Thrifty and Dollar. However, they tell you they do a 'debit card screening'. I am not sure what that is. They use experian or something to check your checking account history or your average daily balance or something of the sort. Anyway, call Dollar and have them explain policy in full detail.

Debit Card Screening = Where the car rental company pre-authorizes an amount to be "held" (read - funds in your checking account that will be locked/not usable for a set number of days).

This is quite common among car rental companies, hotels. and pay-at-the-pump gas stations.

If you have questions, best to ask the company, directly...