By Shannon Ullman
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Many major U.S. rental car companies accept debit cards at pickup, but you may need to show a return ticket, provide extra identification or pass a credit check. You may also need several hundred dollars in your checking account beyond the rental price to cover a deposit or hold.
“Having enough money in your checking account doesn’t necessarily qualify you to rent,” Gary Leff, founder and editor of View from the Wing, told Newsweek. “Depending on the location, debit customers can face a higher minimum age, a credit check, extra identification, restrictions on vehicle categories and a requirement to show a ticketed return flight.”
Can You Rent a Car With a Debit Card?
All nine companies Newsweek profiled accept debit cards at pickup under qualifying conditions. Before booking, ask the specific branch whether it accepts your card for the vehicle class you want and what you’ll need to bring to the counter.
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A website may accept your debit card when you reserve or prepay, Leff said, but you still have to meet the branch’s identification, payment and deposit requirements when you collect the car. “Debit may be accepted for the final bill even if it doesn’t qualify for pickup,” he said.
Hertz, for example, accepts debit cards at return but restricts their use at pickup, including for prepaid reservations.
Which Rental Car Companies Accept Debit Cards?
This comparison covers U.S. pickup policies. Where national guidance leaves a requirement up to the branch, it's listed as “Confirm locally.”
Vehicle eligibility matters, too. Avis restricts premium rentals, while Dollar and Thrifty generally limit debit card rentals to smaller vehicle categories. SIXT excludes Sports and Luxury vehicles and certain higher categories.
Do You Need a Return Ticket to Rent a Car With a Debit Card?
At some airport branches, yes. Leff pointed to Enterprise’s U.S. airport debit card policy, which requires a ticketed return itinerary. If you live nearby and plan to pick up a car at the airport, check whether you qualify without a travel itinerary before making the trip to the counter.
Neighborhood branches have requirements of their own. Dollar and Thrifty require debit card customers at off-airport locations to book at least one day ahead and be at least 25. SIXT downtown locations require qualifying return travel or two accepted proof-of-address documents.
Why Do Rental Companies Prefer Credit Cards?
The final bill can include charges that aren’t part of the advertised price, such as fuel replacement, late returns or damage. A credit card gives the rental company access to a line of credit, while collecting payment from a debit card depends on the funds available in the customer’s bank account. Identification requirements and, at some companies, credit checks help rental agencies assess payment and fraud risks before handing over the keys.
Rental companies can place a hold on a credit card, too. A credit card hold reduces your available credit. A debit card hold reduces the cash you can use for other expenses during the trip.
How Much Money Will Be Placed on Hold?
Budget for both the rental cost and any required security amount. If your rental costs $300 and the company requires an additional $500 hold, $800 of your available balance could be tied up at pickup.
Aviation and travel correspondent Katy Nastro told Newsweek she ran into that problem on a trip to France. “However, this can restrict the cash a traveler has on hand, which I experienced once on a trip to France as a younger traveler, not realizing,” she said.
An authorization temporarily sets funds aside, while some companies charge the deposit and refund it after the rental. Enterprise says it charges the rental cost and deposit at pickup, then refunds the unused portion of the deposit after return.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Debit Card Deposit Back?
“Money tied up by the rental isn’t available for other spending, and returning the car doesn’t make it immediately available again,” Leff said.
Enterprise estimates five to 10 business days for its deposit refund, depending on the bank. SIXT estimates three to five business days for released deposit funds to appear. Ask the branch when it will issue the refund or release the hold, then ask your bank how long it typically takes for those funds to become available.
What Travelers Should Do Before Renting With a Debit Card
- Call the pickup branch and confirm it accepts your debit card for your chosen vehicle class.
- Ask how much will be charged or held at pickup, including the rental cost and deposit.
- Verify return-ticket, identification and proof-of-address requirements.
- Ask about credit checks, minimum age and advance booking requirements.
- Keep enough money available for other expenses while the rental funds are tied up.
- Save your agreement and final receipt until the deposit is refunded or the hold clears.
Contact Newsweek editor on this story: Catherine Clark.
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