Hire car-Credit card

[IAN5150]

In Simons brilliant Brits guide book the section about hire-cars he says A credit card is essential Surely not if you pre-pay your car insurance here if you did that why would they need a credit card Im niot doubting Simon in the slightest but have have I read it wrong can anyone clarify Im only asking because Im a cash only man!!

 

[BevS97]

the car hire companys like to take an imprint of your credit card as security. I believe there are some ways around this, but it's pretty hard to avoid.

Do you have a connect or switch card with a Visa or Mastercard logo on it? We have used our Connect card before without any problems.

Bev

 

[SimonY]

I believe that this depends on your insurance (i.e. have you all the CDW, SLI etc.) and because of paying for the petrol in the car and any other extras like child seats. The two recent threads below give some idea. We booked the Virgin Platinum Package that included the petrol, additional drivers, car seats and they didn't take an imprint of our credit card.

car insurance

Why so much for gas?

 

[IAN5150]

Ive got Virgins all inclusive insurance whick includes everything,Ill find out exactly and put it up,
Ive got a Visa on my Debit card but they wont wanna deduct $1500 will they? Im good for the cash but I would worry all holiday? Thanks so far!

 

[BevS97]

they only take a $1500 imprint if you don't take their insurances. Some people take out their own insurance as it is cheaper, but then the car hire companys ask for a deposit. Since you have taken their own insurance you won't be asked for a deposit.

They would have had a hard time taking $1500 off either our credit card or my visa Delta card, I can assure you!

Bev

 

[IAN5150]

Thanks Bev and Simon thats put my mind at ease totally as I say Ive got the Virgin all in one insurance package,Whats the point of an imprint if theirs no guarantee of the funds!? I still dont totally get it!! Im no millionaire and it would be horrible to have $1500 in limbo like I first thought,Thanks people

 

[Leeds Utd Fan]

Just to confirm what everyone else has said, we used the all inclusive car hire with Virgin in November and you do not have to leave a credit card deposit.

 

[floridalol]

I've always believed they take the card details in case you don't return the car! Could be wrong, but if someone didn't return the car they would have no recourse in getting compensation. If you take an insurance package such as Virgin they will still ask for a card but will not deduct anything unless something goes wrong.
Some of the lesser known car rental agencies will hire cars without a credit card but the car you get is not very good (so I'm told). I always take the Virgin inclusive package and return the car with the tank full.

 

[Leeds Utd Fan]

We have taken the Virgin all inclusive package three times now without leaving a credit card imprint.

I think with other companies it may be different, we are using Avis in February and we have to leave a $25 per day deposit or $100 [I cannot remember exactly] even though we are on an all inclusive package with expedia pre paid in the UK.
I have hired with Budget, Alamo and Hertz this year in the USA on business and had to leave a credit card imprint even though it was on account.

But Dollar are different [I think], prior to 1997 I did not have a credit card so we could only go to Orlando with travel companies that used Dollar.

Hope this helps

 

[IAN5150]

Yes great that does help im the same Virgins allinclusive package youve done it 3 times without leaving credit card...sounds good enough to me,Thanks everyone

 

[MKLOVER]

I have just booked car hire for February 2003. I am not the driver, my husband is and he does not have a credit card.

We have hired with Dollar UK. How you get over this one is they are sending me an invoice to pay for the car by cheque (you have 28 days to pay - obviously subject to when your holiday is).

Apparently when you get to orlando they do not care who the credit card imprint comes from - this is for incidentals and in the event that you do not return the car in time or do not return it at all!.

 

[penlanspice]

I also took virgins gold package last year and they never took a c.c imprint. But this year we've booked with choiceair, and somebody on here said they told them, that they would have to leave an imprint even if you took full insurance, so i e-mailed dollar, and they said there is no need if you've taken full insurance. thats straight from the horse mouth.
hope this helps

sam