Rent a Car Without a Credit Card

Can You Rent a Car Without a Credit Card?

Yes, you can rent a car without a credit card, as you can typically use a debit card, a prepaid card or even cash for a rental. But each rental company has its own rules about acceptable payment options, which often vary by location, and not paying by credit card may require an up-front deposit or limit your car choices.

Key Things to Know

• Rental companies prefer that you pay with a credit card because they can place a hold on it.
• The hold ties up a portion of your credit limit equivalent to the rental cost plus a few hundred dollars for incidental charges. That way, the company can guarantee payment when you return the car.
• Even though they prefer credit cards, rental car companies usually let you use a debit card as well. However, putting a hold on a debit card ties up actual money in your bank account rather than just your credit limit.

For more on which particular payment methods you can use with each rental company as well as a breakdown of their policies and potential pitfalls you may encounter, continue reading below.

How to Rent a Car Without a Credit Card

Renting a car without a credit card is similar to renting one with a credit card. You’ll still make a reservation (not required but highly recommended), have a hold on your card or make a deposit, and finalize your payment at the end. However, it’s important to research the rental company’s policies in advance to make things go as smoothly as possible.

1. Look up the rental car company’s rules ahead of time. It’s important to find out what payment methods the company accepts so that you can make sure you’ll have a way to pay. In pretty much all cases, you should be okay if you have a debit card.
2. Make a reservation. Unless you’re in an emergency situation, it’s a good idea to make a reservation for a car ahead of time to ensure that there’s a vehicle available for you as soon as you arrive.
3. Visit the rental location. Go to the location you’re renting the car from and provide your reservation information, along with any requested documentation like your driver’s license.
4. Put down a hold or deposit. With a debit card or prepaid card, you’ll have to authorize a hold for the cost of the rental plus a few hundred dollars in case of damage or other incidental charges. You’ll have to authorize this hold on a card even if you intend to pay your bill in cash.
5. Return the car and complete your transaction. Once you return your car, the rental car agency will charge you for the cost of the rental. They may charge you additional money for damage, late fees, cleaning fees, etc. If you’re using a debit card or prepaid card, the full amount will be charged to your card. Otherwise, you may be able to pay with cash, and the hold will be removed from your card within a few days.

Ways to Rent a Car Without a Credit Card

• Debit card
• Prepaid card
• Cash
• Money order (very uncommon)

Although there are a variety of payment methods you may be able to use when renting a car, individual rental car companies may accept only some of them. Below, you can find a breakdown by company.

Payment Options by Car Rental Company

Specific policies differ based on the rental company you use. For your convenience, we have included below the details of the policies held by some of the largest rental companies in the U.S.:

How to Rent a Car With Bad Credit

Given the importance of credit cards to the car rental process – they’re the only form of payment a rental company is guaranteed to accept, no questions asked – it’s fair to wonder how people who do not have a credit card due to bad credit get along. Or, what if your credit limit is too low to cover the rental company’s hold, again as a result of your bad credit?

You could, of course, scour rental company policies and figure out an alternative form of payment. But the best course of action is to apply for a secured card.

Key Things to Know About Secured Cards

• Secured credit cards work just like regular credit cards and typically report to the three major credit bureaus.
• What separates secured cards from regular credit cards is that they require a security deposit – usually starting at around $200.
• By placing a big enough security deposit to cover the cost of a rental, plus the added incidental charges that rental companies factor into the hold they apply to customers’ cards, you’ll garner the ability to rent a car without a problem.
• Secured cards put the power in your hands. They offer effectively guaranteed approval and enable you to control your credit line based on the size of your deposit, so all you have to do is decide to apply and how much to put down. Plus, you won’t be at risk of overspending with this type of card.

For more information about secured credit cards, check out WalletHub’s Secured Card Guide.

What to Expect When Renting a Car Without a Credit Card

Expect to Place a Security Deposit

The reason a credit card is the preferred method for reserving a rental car, and cash is not sufficient, is that the rental companies require a form of payment on which they can place a hold for the cost of the rental, plus $150 - $500+ to cover incidentals. They do this in order to protect the company in case a customer runs away with or damages one of their rental cars.

With that being said, each rental company has its own rules in terms of acceptable payment options, and not paying by credit card often requires a hold or security deposit of some form as well. For example, if you’re using a debit card, you’ll also have a hold, but it will tie up the actual cash in your bank account until you return the car. Or if you’re able to use cash, you will likely have to pay the entire rental cost upfront plus put down a security deposit for incidentals (which you’ll get back if you don’t incur any extra costs).

Debit Card Holds Are More Restrictive

A hold on your credit card generally is less worrisome than a hold on your debit card unless you’re near your credit limit. That’s because a hold on your debit card ties up your actual money, not just a portion of your credit line that you may never use. Either way, though, you’ll have less disposable funds until you’ve settled your bill or the hold has been released.

No Credit, Limited Car Choices

Paying with a debit card can limit your car choices. Because renting a car to a customer without a credit card can be risky for the company, they might not allow such customers to rent pricier cars.

Credit Check for the Credit-less

Some rental companies make it a policy to check the credit history of customers who do not pay by credit card, as this enables them to evaluate the trustworthiness of people who may have less readily available collateral to put down. This credit check might even be a hard inquiry, which could drop your credit score by around 5 points.

Switching Payment Methods Can Result in a Longer Hold

If you reserve a car with your credit card but settle the final bill with a different card or another form of payment, the hold can remain on the initial card you used for weeks because the card issuer won’t know the transaction has been finalized. Always try to pay with the same card.

You Can Switch Payment Methods at Checkout

Rental companies accept far more different types of payment at checkout after you’ve returned your vehicle than they do at the time of your rental. For example, you can put down a credit card as collateral when you rent your vehicle and then use a debit or prepaid card to pay later on.

Does Rental Car Insurance Cost More Without a Credit Card?

A rental car company won’t necessarily charge you more money for their own rental car insurance just because you’re paying for the rental with a credit card. However, not paying with a credit card could still cost you money.

Many credit cards provide rental car insurance as a free perk, which could enable you to decline the rental car company’s supplemental coverage. However, if you pay for your rental with a debit card or other payment method, you won’t have that built-in coverage that credit cards often offer. So unless your personal auto insurance policy has coverage that extends to rental cars, you’ll be forced to purchase the coverage offered by the rental car agency.

Detailed Policies By Rental Company

As you might expect from car rental companies, there are a variety of caveats and exceptions that impact the policies enumerated in the payment method acceptance table above. So, in the interest of providing you with the complete story and helping you avoid any unnecessary surprises, we have included detailed information about each company’s policies below.

This data is as complete as we could make it, although certain companies were not forthcoming about their policies and there was, in many cases, inadequate information available online.

Ace Rent a Car Payment Methods

You’ll always be able to use a credit card at Ace Rent a Car. You can use a debit card or cash for payment at some locations, but you might need to present a credit card at the time of the rental and finalize your payment with debit or cash when you return the car.

Ace does not accept prepaid cards, personal checks, or money orders. The amount of the hold or deposit needed for a rental varies by location, but is usually several hundred dollars on top of your rental cost.

It’s worth noting that if you present a debit card rather than a credit card at the time of rental, or if you’re a local renter, Ace will do a credit check before you can rent a car.

Advantage Rent a Car Payment Methods

Advantage accepts credit cards but does not necessarily require them when you book through its website or by phone. You can typically rent a car with a debit card or cash.

Individual locations may require credit cards, but Advantage says that usually only happens in cases of high demand or low availability. Advantage also doesn’t specify how much the required hold or deposit is for rentals, so you’ll have to ask the individual location for that information.

You can contact individual locations about what payment methods are accepted. You likely cannot use a personal check or money order at any locations. 

Alamo Rent a Car Payment Methods

You can always rent a car from Alamo using a credit card. You can also often present a debit card at the time of rental, but there are exceptions. For example, at airport locations, you can only use a debit card at the time of rental if you have a ticketed return travel itinerary. Alamo’s required hold/deposit is $300-$400 on top of the estimated cost of the rental.

Alamo accepts prepaid cards for final payment only when you return a car. The same goes for cash, though many locations don’t accept cash at all. Alamo doesn’t accept money orders or personal checks.

Avis Car Rental Payment Methods

Avis accepts both credit cards and debit cards at the time of a rental and as a final payment method, though debit cards must be on the Visa or Mastercard networks. The amount of the hold on your credit or debit card is the cost of the rental plus at least $250.

You can also finalize your payment at the end of the rental with a prepaid card. You can’t use a personal check or money order.

Budget Car Rental Payment Methods

Budget always accepts credit cards. You may be able to use a debit card at the time of rental, depending on the location, but you can always use one for final payment. The hold amount on your card will be the estimated cost of the rental plus up to $500.

When you return your car, Budget will also accept cash and sometimes prepaid cards as a payment method. The company does not accept personal checks or money orders.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Payment Methods

Enterprise accepts credit cards at the time of rental and for final payment, and may accept debit cards at either time as well. However, you’ll need to have a ticketed return travel itinerary if you want to use your debit card at an airport location at the time of rental. The required hold or deposit is the estimated cost of the rental plus $200-$850.

You can use a prepaid card for final payment when you return your car. You also may be able to use cash or a money order, depending on the location (but not a personal check).

Fox Rent a Car Payment Methods

Fox Rent a Car allows you to use a credit card at any time. You may be able to use a debit card at the time of rental, but only under certain conditions. For example, you must have a return airline itinerary, the rental can’t be more than 10 days in length, and you can’t be a local renter.

The required hold/deposit can range from $150-$1,000 on top of the estimated rental cost, based on the type of car you get, whether you’re a local renter and whether you’re using a credit or debit card.

You can make your final payment with a prepaid card when you return the car. However, you cannot use cash, a personal check, or a money order at any time.

Hertz Car Rental Payment Methods

Hertz accepts credit cards and debit cards at the time of the rental and for final payment. However, if you want to use a debit card at an airport location, you’ll need a return airline ticket. And at non-airport locations, you’ll have to make a reservation at least one day in advance. Hertz may also check your credit if you pay by debit card at the time of the rental. Hertz’s hold amount is the estimated rental cost plus up to $200 for credit cards and up to $500 for debit cards.

You can also pay for a Hertz rental with cash at the time of the rental only if you have a “Hertz Cash Deposit ID Card.” Getting one requires an application and a “modified credit check.”

You can use a prepaid card for payment only when returning a car. You cannot use a personal check or a money order. 

National Car Rental Payment Methods 

National Car Rental accepts credit cards and debit cards at the time of rental and when you return the car. However, at airport locations, you can only use a debit card at the time of rental if you have a ticketed return travel itinerary. The amount of the hold/deposit on your card is the cost of the rental plus $300-$400.

You can also pay with a prepaid card when you return your car, and some locations accept cash payments. National Car Rental doesn’t accept personal checks or money orders.

Thrifty Car Rental Payment Methods 

Thrifty always accepts credit cards at the time of rental and when you return the car. You can usually use a debit card in both instances, too, but there are some exceptions. At airport locations you’ll need a return travel ticket, and at non-airport locations, you’ll need to make the reservation at least one day in advance and show either a corporate discount plan number or return travel ticket. The hold amount is the cost of your rental plus up to $200 for credit cards or up to $500 for debit cards.

You also may be able to use cash as your payment method at the time of the rental if you have a Thrifty Cash Deposit ID Card, which requires you to apply and undergo a “modified credit check.” This process is the same as getting a cash deposit ID card with Hertz, because Hertz owns Thrifty.

Thrifty also allows prepaid cards for final payment when you return your car, but not personal checks or money orders.

U-Save Car & Truck Rental Payment Methods

Most of the time, you will need to provide a credit card at the time of rental with U-Save. U-Save is not upfront about the amount of the hold, but it is reportedly a few hundred dollars on top of the rental cost.

At some locations, you may be able to use a debit card or cash for the initial rental. Otherwise, you might only be able to use those payment methods when returning a car. U-Save does not mention the ability to use prepaid cards, personal checks or money orders for payment.