Introduction
In the past very few car rental places would deal with you if you had no credit card. Today though, there are more rental car companies that will let you rent a car even if you have no credit card. Of course, you will still need to have a debit or check card. Armed with one, here’s how you can rent a car with no credit card.
Step 1
Call some different car rental places or look them up online to learn about their rental terms and restrictions. Create a document on your computer to use in comparing these things. This will allow you to find the best place to rent a car with no credit card.
Step 2
Don’t forget to check out travel broker and discount travel web sites too. They will give you discount prices and various other discounts even if you have no credit card. These web sites will ask you whether or not you want to use a credit or debit card to make the deposit on the car you’re reserving. However, some of these web sites won’t tell you what car rental company you’ll be dealing with until you’ve booked and paid while others will allow you to choose your car rental company. So, if you are knowledgeable about the car rental policy you can choose the site that will work best for you. Hotwire is one of the best sites to use when you have no credit card because they will filter out companies who don’t accept debit cards.
Step 3
If you have a travel agent that you work with and trust, make sure to contact them. They should know which car rental companies will work with you if you have no credit card. Of course, they should also be able to get you a good deal with the company. This will save you from spending time doing all of this research yourself.
Step 4
Plan ahead for any restrictions that you may face for having no credit card. Usually this means that you’ll have to pay a deposit of $200 to $300 until you return the car. This may remain on your debit card for a few days after you return the car (even up to 2 weeks depending upon the car rental company you choose to work with), which is why it’s so important to know the company’s policy ahead of time. You may also have to undergo an additional credit check or show the company your travel itinerary. These are things you’ll find under the terms and conditions. Other limits may also be placed upon you because you have no credit card, such as you won’t be allowed to rent an SUV or a luxury vehicle.
Step 5
Consider whether or not you may need additional insurance. Full insurance will cost you at least $20 per day. This will add to the total cost but it’s good to have unless you know for sure that you already have comprehensive coverage, which will cover you for driving a rental car.
Tips
This process will get easier the next time you try to rent a car without having a credit card.
Sources and Citations
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