Comments on: Renting A Car With Debit Card

By: DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO?????

DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO????? — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 05:25:45 +0000

I NEED TO KNOW WHICH CAR RENTAL RENTS WITH A PRE-PAID DEBIT CARD. I AM MISSING OUT ON MAKING A LOT OF EXTRA MONEY WHILE MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND IN NEED OF A LOT OF WORK???????????????????????????/

By: DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO?????

DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO????? — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 05:22:31 +0000

I HAD A GREAT LIFE WITH A MAJOR CREDIT CARD, A MASTER CARD FROM 1st COMMONWEALTH BANK. A NEIGHBOR HAD ME CASH A $2,250 DOLLAR FRAUD CHECK FOR HER, AND HELL FOR ME BEGAN. THERE IS A FREEZE ON MY ACCOUNT UNTIL THE MONEY IS RETURNED OR PAYED BACK AND UNTIL SHE IS ARRESTED, IN WHICH SHE IS RUNNING. I HAD TO RESORT TO A PRE-PAID MONEY CARD. I HAVE A VISA AND A MASTERCARD PRE-PAID MONEY CARD. BOTH WITH DIRECT DEPOSIT, $1,200 ON EACH CARD EACH MONTH. THEY PUSH AND PUSH FOR YOU TO GET THESE CARDS. ATM WILL GIVE YOU YOUR MONEY BACK AND YOU CAN USE THEM SHOPPING, BUT YOU CAN’T RENT A CAR. I OWN A CAR, BUT IT’S IN THE SHOP AND NO ONE WOULD LET ME RENT A CAR WITH THIS PRE-PAID DEBIT CARD. THE MONEY FOR THE COST OF THE RENTAL PLUS WAS THERE, AND I HAD MY OWN 100% FULL COVERAGE CAR INSURANCE. THAT DID’T MEAN A THING. COME ON, AT THE RATE OF WHAT THEY CHARGE FOR CREDIT CARDS; MY MOTTO – “IF I CAN’T PAY WITH CASH, THEN I DON’T WANT IT, NOR DO I REALLY NEED IT”.

By: sheila

sheila — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 19:52:41 +0000

Was told prepaid debit cards are not used because technically they are not attached to a bank account to come after in case of any problems.

By: suzyq

suzyq — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 01:47:45 +0000

I rented from National with only a debit card a few weeks ago with no problem whatsoever. I had come prepared with utility bills, etc. but they did not ask for any of it. They did try t o sell me their insurance as well as a bigger car, but gave no lip when I politely refused. I did have a round trip air itinerary, however. Don’t know how that would have gone had I not been an airline customer. The car was great, service spectacular and the rental was not a penny more than anticipated. That is the first time that has happened, believe it! I was VERY happy with every facet of my rental experience. Kudos, national. And, oh yeah. . . as far as I could tell, there was no hold on my account, or if there was, it was very short lived and I was never aware of it.

By: reallymad

reallymad — Wed, 25 May 2011 17:51:19 +0000

Yes Avis does in some locations, but do you realize that when using a debit card with a Visa or MC logo you must under go a credit check with Equifax? How ridiculous is that? Yes you must give them your SSN and go through a credit check! I guess Avis believes that if you don’t have perfect credit (who does in this economy?) that you are going to steal their car! My husband and I are small biz owners and were hit hard by the economy and by the fact that our credit cards doubled or tripled our minimum payments (oh yeah we are one of credit card company’s victims). Needless to say, we couldn’t keep up with the payments. It seems that every where you go now a days someone wants to check your credit. It is getting absolutely ridiculous! Now for a freaking car rental??? Needless to say, I will continue to use Enterprise. They didn’t check my credit and guess what? We returned the car safe and sound!

Read more: Do rental car agencies accept debit cards for renting a car? | Answerbag http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/2096471#ixzz1NO3xNnOI

By: Shaun

Shaun — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 05:30:03 +0000

I know from experience that as of last year the policy for Alamo, Hertz, and Avis is that they will only allow you to rent with a debit card if you are flying into that location to pick it up. Be careful of online travel websites. They will allow you to reserve a car, even confirm it, with a debit card. But if you are local and stop in to pick up you must have a credit card to leave the lot with the car. I almost had a problem on our last vacation because of this. Alamo blamed the website, website blamed Alamo. Both told me that I would be on the hook for the cancellations… thankfully I inquired before my vacation started. I have a credit card now and I REFUSE to use Alamo because of poor customer service.

Enterprise is the only local company that I know of that allows a Debit card. They hold $600, they are slightly more expensive then other brands, and you are limited geographically… but they accept the debit card provided you have proof of address (current utility bill etc.)

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 18:16:43 +0000

Visa and MasterCard need to step in to stop this discrimination of their card holders. A Visa or MasterCard debit card works exactly the same way as a credit card on the merchants side. The banks need to stop writing DEBIT all over the card and make it impossible for merchants to differentiate between credit and debit cards. It should not be up to the merchant to tell you that you have to use a credit card. Credit cards are no more secure then debit cards as with credit cards your maximum allowed is your credit limit, which can be very low. People with checking accounts with a lot of funds can easily have more spending power. This is just ridiculous.

By: Glory

Glory — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 04:09:11 +0000

We tried to rent a car at Budget in Ft. Myers Florida and they allowed us to reserve the car online w/ MC/Debit but once we got there to pick up the car they absolutely refused to accept the debit card, even with a $450 deposit. We had to use a friend’s credit card to check out and pay with our debit when we returned the car. Really, really stupid. They should allow us to show proper insurance and enough deposit to cover the deductible and rental charge. Period.

By: Derek

Derek — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 05:42:49 +0000

Have had experience using a debit card to rent using National (in Pittsburgh) and Alamo (in Las Vegas)…at airport locations all they want to see is a copy of your return itinerary. They do put a hold for the estimated charges but, at least for me, it dropped off my account in 24 hours anyway. National and Alamo are under common ownership…and they seem to have the most liberal policies regarding this for visitors. Trying to do this if your a local renter is another story, though!

By: Angela

Angela — Sun, 23 May 2010 20:20:21 +0000

I have rented with a debit card at National several times. No problems.

By: JR

JR — Thu, 13 May 2010 04:15:11 +0000

National does NOT allow debit cards, as I found out today. And now I’m stranded here for the next 2 days. Don’t bother having them call a manager as National is not interested in customer service. Thanks a lot a-holes!

By: ness1

ness1 — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:24:20 +0000

I recently rented a car in Las Vegas using only my debit card with Alamo. It was a breeze. I wasnt subjected to a credit check nor was a large amount held from my bank account. I simply called an hour in advance to reserve the car and showed the rental agent my return flight information. The customer service was efficient and polite. I would definetly use Alamo again.

By: Anon

Anon — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:57:38 +0000

I have found the policies to vary so much from counter to counter, from franchise to franchise and even from the day manager to the night manager that it’s just too unpredictable to count on renting a car with a bank debit card, even with a pretty hefty checking account behind it. Not to mention demeaning to get sent away even after doing the research.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:11:25 +0000

I have rented from enterprise multiple times, they take a hold of whatever the expected total will be plus $200.00. I have called and requested that I keep a car for up to a week longer than the intended length and it was not a problem and I have traveled as far as 4 states away, with thier knowledge and it was not a problem. They do require that you bring a utility bill with your home address and a pay stub with you however.

By: Angie

Angie — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:48:56 +0000

What did you find out about the prepaid Netspend card. That’s what I use now and I’m trying to find a car rental company that will accept those. I’ve been told that their system does not recognize those cards.