Car Rental Companies That Accept Debit Cards Without a Credit Check

When you want to rent a car without a credit card, you should look for a car rental agency that allows for a car rental with a debit card and have a valid driver’s license. But we all know that not all operators will let you rent a car for a week and certainly not even for a few days if you don’t have a credit card.

And while some will allow you to rent with cash or a debit card, you should be ready for credit checks. But we are talking about car rental companies that accept debit cards without a credit check.

When chartering a vehicle without a credit card, car hire firms tend to see debit card renters as riskier than their credit card counterparts. To them, a lack of credit defines you as a customer with a questionable credit report.

So, they’ll definitely want to look into your credit report no matter you wanted to rent a car monthly or for a few days. Fortunately, as we’ve told you, there are several car rental companies that accept debit cards without a credit check, like when you use the budget car rental debit card.

Why The Prejudice For Hiring a Vehicle Using a Debit Card?

Again, we’ll be frank with you. As far as vehicle chartering goes, having a credit card can make life much easier. However, lacking it should not rule you out of the automobile hire game. Given that we have a handful of car rental companies that accept debit cards without a credit check, it means you don’t require a credit card to rent a car at all times.

The thing is that not every car rental near me will let you get your hands on their property without running a credit check, assuming you are paying with a debit card.

Let’s face it. There are a billion reasons why people won’t part with credit cards, and they’ve been the preferred mode of payment at car rentals because they make sure you’ll pay for unforeseen charges during your rental period. Besides, nearly 70 percent of Americans use credit cards. Inevitably, a car rental company will want to know whether they can trust their property to someone without a credit card.

Over the years, however, rental companies are changing their regulations, allowing debit card renters without placing extra restrictions on them. Turns out that about 30 percent of frugal customers have proved to be better at honoring their financial deals with car companies. And with their numbers increasing, car rental companies are lifting the restrictions and extra fees they placed over non-credit-card holders.

A New Era In Car Rental Bill Payments

In 2019, Dollar Rent a Car announced its fresh car rental debit card policy, which simplifies the entire car rental process for debit card renters. Also, in their press release, the multi-national car rental brand confirmed the removal of credit checks as a requirement for customers who want to make a reservation with a debit card.

In addition, they said their new policy will cut down the ID and proof of return ticket requirements. The company further lowered the restriction on car rental age from twenty-five to twenty years old.

And if you’ve been following the trend in the car rental realm, you may have heard that Hertz filed for bankruptcy, earlier in 2020. It points to one thing, in particular, vehicle hire companies have witnessed a significant drop in their revenue, following the coronavirus pandemic. The lockdowns and travel restrictions served a major blow to the car rental business.

But now that regional governments and international trade are slowly picking pace, each agency wants to attract all customer profiles. That’s why it didn’t surprise us when Thrifty Car Rental announced that they will provide the same policy as that of Budget. Both Thrifty Car Rental and Budget Rent a Car are subsidiaries of Hertz.

Changed Perceptions Towards Debit Card Car Renters 

So, instead of the perception of a less trustworthy person who wouldn’t be easily trusted with an expensive machine like a vehicle, or worrying that your debit card could be connected to an account with insufficient funds to compensate for unexpected charges you may incur, car rental companies are beginning to take the risk to trust credit-handicapped customers.

It’s a risk because credit cards provide rental vehicle operators some level of protection that debit cards do not. But amidst this dilemma, Budget, Thrifty, and Hertz, were bold enough to announce incidental fee discounts from the regular 350 dollars to 200 dollars, available for both credit card and debit card rentals.

However, the budget car rental debit card isn’t the only option out there. There are several other car rental companies that accept debit cards without a credit check. You can pick from one of the ten non-credit checking auto hire agencies that work with debit card customers below. Also, there are a few considerations you should keep in mind when picking up your car rental without a credit card but with cash.

Similarly, there are a few things to remember when getting a car rental with a debit card. No matter your preferred payment method, it might help to know other payment options you will require to get you on the road. So, buckle up because we are about to tell you about the ten car rental companies that accept debit cards without a credit check, after which we’ll cover all the helpful details below.

The 10 Best Car Rental Companies That Accept Debit Cards Without a Credit Check

Still, trying to figure out whether you can reserve a rental vehicle or pay post-rental with a debit card? Well, no need to because here at Carsplan.com we’ve got you covered already. We scoured hundreds of the top auto providers’ fine prints to find the answer.

1. Dollar Car Rental

Dollar Car Rental lets you hire a vehicle with a debit card. However, they only accept those with a Discover, MasterCard, or Visa logo and you must reserve at least 24 hours ahead of time. There’s always an exception to every regulation. Here, renters of premium, convertible, or luxury cars can use debit cards to book a vehicle with less than 24 hours to their trip. Well, the best thing is that there are no credit checks.

Requirements

• A valid driver’s license
• Have a second form of identification
• Proof of a return ticket corresponding to your rental time and location

2. Advantage Car Rentals

The E-Z Rent-A-Car subsidiary and a Hertz car rental brand, Advantage has been in the industry since 1984 and is now accepting pre and post-rental payments with a debit card. Make sure the available funds in your debit card can pay for the rental charges along with a maximum of $350 in security deposit to secure the car rental. Also, you must have a Discover, MasterCard, or Visa-branded card.

Requirements

• A valid driver’s license
• A valid charge card
• A copy of the latest utility bill
• Copy of your latest paystub
• Proof of insurance

3. Enterprise Rent a Car

Enterprise isn’t just one of the major brands in the global car rental realm, but also one of the car rental companies that accept debit cards without a credit check. Many of its outlets in the United States and Puerto Rico accept debit card payments. On the other hand, in Canada, debit card payments are only accepted in non-airport branches.

But unlike Dollar Rent a Car, its mother and sister brands we told you about, Enterprise debit card requirements aren’t so straightforward. Therefore, you should always reach them directly for accurate requirements to rent a car without a credit card. However, here are their debit card policies for other non-airport U.S. locations:

Requirements

• Two latest utility bills
• The total rental cost when picking up plus a minimum deposit
• Your referees
• Copy of your latest paystub
• Proof of insurance

4. Budget Car Rental

Budget car rental has different debit card policies depending on your location. However, you will be required to provide a third identification form in the place of a credit check at most of its locations. And after you pay for the car rental using a debit card, the company will typically ask for an authorization hold against the account linked to your debit card for the unexpected charges.

Requirements

You will need the following to rent a car with a debit card at Budget airport branches:

• Driver’s license
• Your itinerary tickets
• Your authentic U.S. military I.D. or U.S. passport
• A valid auto insurance card
• A copy of your latest utility bill

For Budget non-airport outlets, here is what you will need:

• Driver’s license
• Your authentic U.S. military I.D. or U.S. passport
• Proof of insurance
• A current copy of your utility bill

5. Hertz Rent a Car

You may have been told that this company doesn’t accept debit card payments during bookings or when picking up a rental car. In their reviewed debit card policy, Hertz says you can use a debit card at the start of car rental by providing two forms of identification. Also, they will only accept debit cards with a Discover, Visa, or MasterCard logo that draws funds instantly from your account.

Note that Hertz may request a $200 max authorization hold along with your estimated charges on the debit card if you meet their requirements. This is still a better deal than a mandatory credit check that will ding your scores. You will be required to show up with the following documents at Hertz airport locations:

Requirements

• Your valid driver’s license
• Proof of itinerary tickets to match your car rental period
• Two valid state-issued IDs

The company has a few more requirements for hiring a vehicle at corporate-owned locations. You will need to comply with the following requirements at Hertz car rentals near me corporate locations:

• Reserve your car at least 24 hours ahead of time
• Indicate your Corporate Discount Plan number in the reservation, or
• Proof of itinerary tickets to match your car rental period
• You must have a minimum age of 25 years
• Your valid driver’s license
• Two valid state-issued IDs

Still, renters in the New York Metropolitan Tri-State Area, comprising New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are not allowed to make debit card payments at the start of their car reservation or pickup points. Moreover, Hertz doesn’t accept debit card payments at the outset of a rental process for its fleet of Adrenaline and Dream vehicles.

But the good news is that there are exceptions to the company’s general policy, allowing instant access to those who include their debit cards in their Hertz Gold Plus Rewards plan. You will also be allowed to use a debit card without many of the restrictions if you are doing an Insurance Replacement rental. 

6. Sixt Rent a Car

Sixt Rent a Car Founded in 1912 in Germany, the company has a massive fleet of rental cars to match its over 100 years in the industry. And it will accept debit cards at its discretion without running credit checks if you can meet the following conditions:

Requirements

• A valid driver’s license
• Proof of itinerary tickets to coincide with your car rental schedule for out-of-state hiring
• Two official forms of identification
• Two latest utility bills for in-state customers 

7. Avis Rent a Car

The majority of Avis company locations in the United States accept debit cards linked to a bank account and won’t run credit checks. However, they mainly work with MasterCard or Visa-branded debit cards when renting a vehicle.

Requirements

• A valid driver’s license
• Proof of ticketed itinerary
• A hold up of up to $500 on the debit card
• Have a second form of official Identification

8. Alamo Rent a Car

Alamo is one of the biggest auto agencies in the U.S. massive global presence. And to maintain their position in the industry, they’ve joined the list of car rental companies that accept debit cards without a credit check. One general requirement across the brand’s locations is that you must show up or pay with Visa, Discover Card, or MasterCard-branded debit card.

Requirements

• Show evidence of disembarking at the rental shop’s location
• A valid driver’s license
• Proof of a ticketed return
• Copy of your recent paystub

9. E-Z Rent a Car

Owned by Advantage Rent a Car, E-Z Rent a car has some of the cheapest online deals. Apart from being available internationally, it is among the best car rental companies that accept debit cards without a credit check.

Requirements

• Show evidence of round trip ticketed itinerary
• A valid driver’s license
• Be looking to rent a vehicle in the Economy, Compact, Mid-Size, Full-size, or Mini-van categories
• Have a MasterCard or Visa-branded debit card
• Provide a security deposit of up to $200 or thirty-percent of the total rental cost

10. National Car Rental

If you’ve been hiring cars for whatever reasons, then there’s nothing new we can tell you about National Car Rental. But on second thought, it’s worth noting the multi-national vehicle rental operator is one of the numerous car rental companies that accept debit cards without a credit check. And like its predecessors on this list, it will only accept debit cards bearing a Discover Card, Visa, or MasterCard logo.

Requirements

• Proof of deplaning at their rental location
• A valid driver’s license
• A copy of your latest utility bill
• Proof of a return ticket
• Latest paystubs

Tips To Rent A Vehicle Using A Debit Card

• Car rental companies will only accept certain logo-branded debit cards: Be sure to find out which ones you can use with your preferred operator.
• Remember to bring additional identification when using a debit card for your car rental payments: The agency is likely to ask for more than one way to prove your identity. Other documents you’ll want to carry include; insurance proof, driver’s license, and a ticketed itinerary.
• The car rental agency may also want to check your credit if you are using a debit card: To avoid that, be sure to have at least two recent copies of your paystubs and utility bills. Being enrolled in one of their loyalty programs might also exempt you from meeting other requirements.
• There are instances where paying with a credit card limits you to lower vehicle categories: So if you are planning on chartering a luxury SUV or a premium car, be sure to confirm with your service provider or use a credit card instead.
• If your auto rental provider accepts debit cards: It is still recommended to find out if you will need a credit card at the start of the rental process. This is because some agencies only accept debit cards for post-rental payments. And if you are allowed to pay the security deposit with a debit card, check to see if the funds in the account can cover all rental costs.

Tips To Charter A Vehicle Using Credit Cards

• Renting a vehicle using a credit card is always easier as you will have more car rental companies from which to choose. Many of these companies won’t allow you to rent a car without a credit card.
• Another benefit to paying your car rental with a credit card is that the security deposit is only blocked instead of being taken directly from your bank account.
• Make sure the credit card is in the primary driver’s name if you are chartering a vehicle with a credit card.
• You may still be required to present extra identification proof, although the whole process should be faster than when renting with a debit card.

Conclusion

Even though the majority of car hire firms prefer you to charter their cars with a credit card, there are some car rental companies that accept debit cards without a credit check. But you’ll have a hard time getting accepted with prepaid cards, Maestro cards, checks, or Visa Electron cards.

Also, a few agencies are allowing customers to rent a car with cash only, which is a reasonable idea. Lastly, before you begin searching for your car rental, it’s always smart to determine the type of card you own so you can figure out which auto rental operators will accept your mode of payment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which rental car companies allow you to use a debit card near me?

Many of the local car rental providers will let you use debit cards to pay for your rental. However, the requirements to use a debit card vary from one company to the next. While some might ask for a small deposit, ticketed itinerary, and two forms of official identification, others may want to run a credit check among a host of requirements.

Do you need a credit or debit card to rent a car?

You can use either card to rent a car, depending on your situation. Credit cards are easier to use, although they must be in the name of the primary driver. On the other hand, you must confirm with your service provider if they accept debit cards throughout the car hire process and if there are any restrictions. But unlike credit cards, you can only rent for the amount in your account when paying with a debit card. This eliminates the possibility of overspending or servicing credit company bills long after the rental.

Does Enterprise do a credit check?

According to the information on their website about renting a car using a debit card, the company does not mention running credit checks. However, when paying with a debit card, it must bear a Discover Card, Visa, or MasterCard logo. There are also a few other requirements to meet before making non-credit card payments.

Can I rent a car without a major credit card?

Although each car rental company has different regulations, many of the ones we’ve reviewed will only let you use Discover, American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, or Visa-branded credit cards for rental reservations. So, you stand low chances of getting accepted for car rental without a major credit card.

Can I use my OpenSky credit card to rent a car?

Yes. The OpenSky credit card bears the Visa logo, which means you can use it anywhere Visa credit cards are recognized, including at car rental companies.