phlebo3

Is anyone aware if any car rentals take Visa debit cards as payment w/o credit check. Thanks

Patrick

Just the other day I was told that no US rental car agencies accept debit cards for payment -- or at least as a deposit at time of picking up the car, just like none will rent to a person who has no card but wants to pay cash or by check. Since a debit card is simply a check in a sense, why would they accept a debit card if they won't accept a check? And I can't imagine them accepting a debit card as a deposit for a car without checking the credit on it.

blondiepopo

Rented a car in Vegas in October from Thrifty (they have the best deal I found) and I couldn't use my debit card. It says so on their website so I used a credit card.

vegaslocal

How about purchasing a prepaid "credit" card? I know that my bank offers them. It's basically a Visa card whose limit is whatever amount you purchase. I'm pretty sure these cards are indistiguishable from regular credit cards to car rental agencies.

Anyone know if that would work?

Loki

Well, a debit card is not much like a check. I print my checks on my PC, I can put any name on it, any routing #, etc. How can the clerk at the counter tell if it's real at all? I once wrote, and a friend cashed, a check created on a cocktail knapkin. With a debit card, the clerk can instantly levy a transaction against the funds and know if it will be accpeted by MC/VISA. Can they even tell that it's a debit card and not a credit card if I have enough in my account to cover the inquiry they put against it? I once passed off a debit card as a "credit" card in a video store years ago, but that was when they first came out. Has anyone tried it recently? I might be renting a car in a couple weeks, I'll have to give it a shot for curiosity's sake.

here_today_gone2Maui

Tehy will all take a debit card as payment, but to pick up the car you normally need a credit card. A credit crad establishes your credit-worthiness. Alamo accepts debit cards with a round trip travel ticket. Some Dollar loations will accepts debit cards, and they encourage you to check with the individual rental location for their policy. Some individual Enterprise locations will also rent with a cash deposit. If you do find a rental location top accept a debit card, remember that they will tie up anywhere from $200 - 500 of your available funds in that account.

But, in Vegas a car is not nearly as important as in some other places. I never drive in Vegas. When I have driven up there I always park my car and use taxis, bus, shuttle, etc. and when I fly, I never rent a car.