Renting car without a Credit Card?

[twinscandc]

Does anybody know the rental car company's policies for this? We have a Debit card, but my fear is that they will not allow that when we go to rent....I would hate to have to put down a large deposit just for the rental.

Anybody know or ever done this before......

 

[G00fyDad]

I have a reservation with Enterprise done exactly that way. Just call the local office, not the national office 800 number, but the actual building near the airport. ASk them about it. Enterprise wouldnt allow me to use a debit card either until I called the local Orlando office.

 

[cra-z-4-dizney]

i think they run a credit check if you do not have a credit card....not sure exactly though.

 

[cra-z-4-dizney]

Does anybody know the rental car company's policies for this? We have a Debit card, but my fear is that they will not allow that when we go to rent....I would hate to have to put down a large deposit just for the rental.

Anybody know or ever done this before......

which car rental place are you going to????

 

[Mark P.]

We rented with Alamo in December with our Debit Card.
Only the rental fee was charged to the card - No hold on funds or credit check. (With Alamo, just need to have proof of a return flight when using a Debit Card)

 

[twinscandc]

which car rental place are you going to????

At this point, we have several reservations....trying to get the cheapest price. I think we have reservations with National, Dollar and Alamo.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I also use only a debit card, and have found Alamo to be the best option. I just needed to show my return air ticket and they charged only the amount of the rental - no holds or other hassles. In fact, the entire process was so easy that I don't even bother with the other companies now.

 

[G00fyDad]

Same with Enterprise. It is just a short 10 - 15 minutes doing paperwork and getting the keys then being shown to the car before we are headed out. Thrifty was cheaper for us but I have had more than one bad experience with them.

 

[CarolA]

There was an article in a travel mag several months ago. I didn't keep it, but several of the rental car companies are running credit checks without you knowing if you rent a car with a debit. The risk is that if you then go to get credit all the "extra" checks will raise a concern on your report.

I thought Alamo was mentioned in the ariticle, but can't recall for sure who was. (By the way, don't assume they are telling you the truth. I do remember the writer asked and was told "no", but had proof that the real response was yes. It is possible that since it is all done by computer the guy you are talking to is clueless.)

 

[ducklite]

Last year we were in line behind a couple who were trying to rent a car with a debit card. No problem on that, but they were denied renting the car. The rental agency as part of the process pulled their credit which apparantly was not so hot, and they were refused.

If you read the fine print almost all places that rent without a major CC do pull a credit report. I can't blame them, they are handing you the keys to a $15-30,000 car with really not a lot of guarantee otherwise.

Anne

 

[G00fyDad]

This is only speaking for Enterprise and Enterprise only. I do not know about how the other places handle things. I was just told that they do not do credit checks but that I will be charged 20% along with the cost of rental. However, that 20% is refunded back when I turn in the car. So my rental is going to initially cost me $615.00 for the 8 days. But I will get $100.00 back when I turn the car in.

 

[ducklite]

$515 for 8 days is an awful lot of money. Somehow I think you might want to shop around a little.

I don't think we've ever paid more than about $275 for eight days--during a holiday period no less.

This weekend we've got a two day rental of an intermediate car for $64 total.

Even when we've rented a convertible it's only run us $40 or so for the day.

Anne

 

[G00fyDad]

I did shop around. Unfortunately our ins only transfers liability and not the full coverage we have. I dont want to get in a bind if I happen to hit someone else. I havent driven in Florida since I was 17. The extra coverage plus the fact that it is a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I am getting and I will have it for a week plus $50 for an extra day is what drove the cost up. Otherwise it would only be about $314. Yeah, I know, $201 for insurance for a week.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

Enterprise is the only rental place in my small city, and they treat people accordingly. I wouldn't deal with them if they offered me half rates.

I bought a house last summer, a few months after renting from Alamo. There was no check on my credit report.

 

[G00fyDad]

The Enterprise in Orlando has been "Disney like" with me from the begining. They have gone out of their way to accomodate any wish I may have had. Now, the one near me here in Indiana bites it hard. But I decided not to let that influence my judgment. I let my money do that. LOL

 

[dcgrumpy]

Alamo and Dollar let you use a debit card