Does that mean it’s impossible to rent a car without owning a credit card? The short answer is: no, you can rent a car without a credit card. However, it’s certainly more difficult to rent a car without one. But if you want to rent a car and you don’t have a credit card, here are the steps you will need to take.
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Before you book a reservation, it’s still a good idea to double check that the rental company you want to use does not require a credit card (and accepts a form of payment you do have, like a debit card). Every rental car company has different payment rules, which can vary based on your state, your age, and the car you choose. Fortunately, vehicles in the “economy” category (like compacts and sedans) are usually available to rent without a credit card. These cars are also the cheapest and often have the best gas mileage, so it can help you save some money if you’re traveling on a budget. To put it simply, rental car companies trust you to take care of their vehicle and return it safely. But they also know that accidents happen. As a result, the rental company wants to be assured that if something does happen to the car – and you are responsible – you can afford to pay for the damages. When you book a rental car with a credit card, the rental company takes a deposit. That money essentially gets frozen until the reservation ends. If something happens to the car during the rental period, the company can easily get that money back; the deposit becomes a charge that goes on your monthly credit card statement. However, you can’t put down a deposit with a debit card in the same way. It would require the rental company to withdraw the money upfront, then reimburse you later after you bring back the car. More importantly, if there are insufficient funds in your debit account, the rental company can’t retrieve any money if you damage the car. Ultimately, it’s less risky for rental car companies to lend vehicles to customers with a credit card, given that the deposit can be easily retrieved. When you use a debit card, there are often more hoops to jump through because the rental company wants to make sure you can cover any potential damages. Otherwise, the rental company might end up paying for it. Using a credit card to book a rental car can also help you earn rewards if you have a credit card with travel perks, which can also be redeemed for discounted or free rental cars once you have enough points. If you have no way of putting down a deposit, the rental company will not allow you to take the vehicle. You can typically get price quotes online from the biggest rental car companies, which can help you find the cheapest option.
