Hire Car Credit or Debit Card

[IanBond]

Hi
Not sure if this has been asked
But can you use a Debit card when picking up your hire car as long as its got the visa symbol on it?
Not a fan of credit cards Too easy to go mad with!!
Thanks IAN

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Im pretty sure the answer is no here, but I could be wrong.

 

[alisonbestford]

I'm not too sure but I think you might be able to - problem is if your card gets incorrectly charged and makes you go over drawn
Think they prefer a credit card tho - look in the small print. Sure I've seen something somewhere

 

[Mumof2]

I think they prefer a credit card, but some companies (Alamo for one) will allow you to leave cash thought the return it in a cheque format after you get home - so maybe not the best option.

 

[IanBond]

I think they prefer a credit card, but some companies (Alamo for one) will allow you to leave cash thought the return it in a cheque format after you get home - so maybe not the best option.

Cash for what ? a deposit ?

Last time I was charged with $28 for fuel that was all

 

[ely3857]

Hiya,

Am 99.99% sure the answer is no. Even with a visa symbol your debit card works different to a credit card.

If the company wants to debit an account that you are billed for as oppose to one that will debit immedietley then you wont be able to use a debit card.

I am saying this mainly because starbucks take visa & not debit cards that have a visa logo because the banking systems they pay to use only allow them to take authorisations for credit cards (presumably this keeps thier costs down)



Jodie

 

[kristieuk]

Another one to join the 'no' school of thought. The credit card is basic given as a guarantee - if you bring the car back damaged, without fuel when you were supposed to, or not at all! In my experience, they don't actually charge the card - they just take an imprint or the details just in case.

A debit card simply couldn't offer the same 'guarantee' - there is no way the hire company could know that you have sufficient funds in you account - I suppose the same is true of a credit card, but the likelihood is your credit limit is a lot higher than most of us have in our current accounts at any time (well me at least!).