Comments on: Can I Use A Debit Card To Rent A Car?

By: Renee

Renee — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:02:23 +0000

I am five hours away from home, working in another state. My company pays for a rental car, but I’m not allowed to drive it home. So I booked a rental online through Thrifty and went to pick it up from the airport. I get to the counter, the lady takes my license and debit card. I picked the “wild card” option online- where they “suprise” you with what is available- anything from mid to full size. It costs the same as a Midsize rental, but she tells me I’m getting a Chevy Aveo and has the nerve to tell me that it is a Midsize vehicle!! Check any website, and an Aveo is an Economy!! Then she asks for my roundtrip flight itenerary- I dont have one, because I’m just trying to rent for the weekend. So she promptly gives me back my cards and tells me to “Try them over there (Hertz)” “Even though I have cash,” I say. “Yep” she says as she gets back to more interesting things on her iPhone.
Hertz wanted a $200 deposit without a credit card or flight itenerary, and a credit check. When I refused to buy the optional insurance that she was pushing on me even though she gushed about everything from my nail polish, wedding ring, and coat, she told me to have a nice day.
I dont ever recall having to go through all of this when I rented cars in the past. What is the deal??

By: Tracy lish

Tracy lish — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:50:03 +0000

Most banks put a transaction limit on debit cards, my debit card is declined on anything over $500 per transaction, so. When making a large purchase, I call my bank( a local famly owned one) and tell them to open it to full bank balance, its done im about 10 minutes, they will keep it open for about an hour. Thats probally your problem, not a credit check, I’ve never had a problem with mine at all.

By: JoeL

JoeL — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 07:19:28 +0000

I tried to rent a car from Hertz with a Visa Debit Card and was denied because of the credit check. I have good credit and plenty of money on the Debit Card. They don’t get the information as to why it was rejected. So my friend tried to rent a car with his Debit Card and was also rejected for unknown reasons. Hertz said the other major rental places use the same credit check company so the results would be the same there. I guess I won’t be renting a car.

By: Aggervated

Aggervated — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:23:58 +0000

I was visiting my son in NH. I drove up with friends from Florida and was driving back with them. I wanted to rent a car while I was there. I called everyone, they wanted me to get a airplain ticket just to rent a car because I only have a Visa Debit Card. One company wanted to check my credit. That hurts my credit which I am trying to get up. Trust me…buy a car and drive it where you go. I will never try renting a car again and will advise the same to anyone that asks me.

By: TT

TT — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:34:05 +0000

I ALWAYS rent from Alamo because they accept the debit card with the return flight information. I’ve been on various trips in various states and Alamo has never given me a hassle. I won’t use anyone else because the rates seem to be the lowest and they make the debit card process so easy! My husband is SO against credit cards so I’m very happy Alamo has this process. I’ve heard National is the same, although I’ve never used them.