Rental Car Question

[cole6179]

If I reserve a car, do they charge right away? I was looking at booking directly through Thrifty, but it's not until Sept. I didn't know if they would charge ASAP? thanks!

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

No, they will not chrage you until you pick up the car.

 

[DemoBri1]

I don't know about other companies, but Dollar does not put a charge through until you drop the car off.

 

[mmmgood]

From the Thrifty website:

Q - Will there be a deposit taken on my credit card, and if so, how much?
A - Most car rental companies will take a deposit on your credit card at the time of pick up. The deposit may vary from location to location, but generally it is the estimated rental charges plus 15%. Some companies are changing their procedures to match the procedures at other retail establishments. Instead of taking a deposit, they will go ahead and charge the estimated cost of the rental onto your card. Should the car be returned earlier than originally agreed, a credit for the unused portion is issued upon return.

So it looks like it varies by location. The only time rental companies charge you when you book is when you pick a limited edition specialty vehicle or if you choose to prepay (Alamo). You can tell because they ask for credit card information. When making a regular reservation you do not get asked for credit card information.