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Renting a Car With A Debit Card: Everything You Need to Know

  • Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, & Sixt all allow you to rent a car with a debit card.
  • Renting a car with a debit card is more difficult than renting with a credit card thanks to additional steps and requirements set forth by the rental agency.
  • Renting a car with only a debit card means you may miss out on some consumer protections and travel perks such as loyalty points.
  • Car rental companies may also place a hold on the deposit, making some funds in your debit card account inaccessible until you return the car.
  • Overall, renting a car with a credit card is typically easier and offers added benefits such as rental car coverage, rewards, and elite status with car rental companies.

You may be able to rent a car with a debit card, but you’ll face some challenges and added risks if you do. For starters, the car rental company will place a hold on your debit card (and bank account), which means some of the funds in your checking account won’t be available during your trip. This can be uncomfortable and could leave you in a pinch in case of emergency expenses.

If you’re hoping to rent a car but don’t have a credit card, read on to find out how to rent a car with a debit card and what you should know before you do. We’ll also give you some tips on credit cards that can make the process much easier.

Which car rental companies accept debit cards?

The chart below explains the major highlights of car rental companies that let you reserve and pay for a rental vehicle with debit:

Rental car agency Accepts debit cards? Cancellation policy Rewards program
Alamo Yes, but a return travel itinerary is required at airport locations No fee on pay later reservations, $50 fee for cancellations 24 hours out or longer from booking, $100 fee for cancellations within 24 hours Alamo Insiders lets you save 5% on base rates of pay later reservations
Avis Yes, but not at all locations $50 fee for cancellations 24 hours out or longer from booking, $150 fee for cancellations within 24 hours Avis Preferred lets you earn rewards for each rental booking and enjoy expedited service
Budget Yes, but not at all locations $50 for prepaid cancellation 24 hours or more before the booking time, $150 fee for cancellations within 24 hours, No charge for pay later bookings provided you cancel at least 48 hours in advance; $75 fee otherwise Budget Fastbreak makes it possible to drop off your car rental faster and save money with exclusive deals
Enterprise Yes, but you must present a return travel itinerary at airport locations $50 for prepaid cancellation 24 hours or more before the booking time, $100 fee for cancellations within 24 hours Enterprise Plus lets you earn points for free car rentals and upgrades on rental bookings
Hertz Yes, but you must present a return travel itinerary at airport locations $100 for prepaid cancellation 24 hours or more before the booking time, $200 fee for cancellations within 24 hours, Full prepaid amount charges to no-show bookings Hertz Gold Plus Rewards lets you enjoy expedited rental car pickup, upgrades, rewards for rental car bookings, and more
Sixt Yes, but not at all locations $100 for prepaid cancellation 24 hours or more before the booking time, $200 fee for cancellations within 24 hours Sixt’s Loyalty Program lets you qualify for discounted rentals, free additional drivers, free car category upgrades, and other perks

As you can see from the chart above, most major car rental agencies accept debit cards for making a deposit. However, many choose not to at select airport and non-airport locations.

You may need to provide additional documentation to these companies to rent a car with a debit card payment, such as proof of a round-trip booking with a return travel itinerary, utility bills to prove your identity, proof of vehicle insurance, and more.

Why car rentals with a debit card are harder

Car rental bookings made with a debit card are harder for a few reasons.

First, you need to have enough cash in your bank account to account for the amount the car rental company puts on hold. This means you cannot have any expenses or bills you need to pay with that money before your rental car period is up. Otherwise, you won’t be able to make the payment,

Second, some extra steps and requirements are in place for people who rent a car with debit instead of credit.

Here is a list of the extra steps required to rent a car with debit:

1

You’ll need to verify that you can rent a car with a debit card.

Not all car rental companies let you rent with a debit card, nor will every rental location. With that in mind, you’ll need to check with the company and location you’re considering on their debit card policy and payment options before you book a vehicle.

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2

You need to provide a debit card that has a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover logo.

Since many car rental providers won’t let you rent a car with a prepaid card, you’ll need a traditional debit card that operates on a major credit card network.

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3

Prepare to provide extra verification.

You’ll need to provide a valid driver’s license, but you may also be asked to provide other types of government-issued identification or utility bills with your name on them.

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4

Prove that you have insurance.

When you rent from a rental car company with a debit card payment, you have to provide proof that you have your own car insurance policy.

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5

You may have to undergo a credit check.

The car rental company may require a credit check to rent a car with debit, and you may be denied if you have poor credit or a history of credit mishaps on your credit reports.

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6

You may have to prove your return ticket.

If you’re renting a car in a vacation destination that’s out-of-state, you may need to provide proof of a return ticket back to your home before you can rent a car.

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Why it’s better to rent a car with a credit card

If you don’t have a credit card yet and that’s why you’re trying to rent a car with your bank account, it may be time to switch things up.

By signing up for a credit card, you can make the process of renting a car much easier and get quite a few added benefits and perks along the way.

Why should you rent a car from rental car agencies with credit instead of debit?

Here are the most important reasons:

Included rental car coverage

A range of travel credit cards offer coverage for rental cars when you use your card to pay for the rental period. While some of these cards offer secondary rental coverage that only kicks in after you use your own insurance, the best credit cards for rental car coverage offer primary coverage that works before any other coverage you have.

You may be surprised to find that credit cards with primary rental car coverage offer high limits for theft and damage that occurs during eligible car rental periods. Just remember that car rental insurance you get with a credit card never includes liability coverage.

Rewards for renting a car

Many credit cards also offer rewards for each dollar you spend, whether they dole out cash back, travel points, or flexible rewards points like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards.

Where some rewards cards offer the same rate of rewards on everything you buy, others offer tiered rewards and may offer more points on car rentals and other types of travel.

Elite status with car rental companies

A handful of premium travel credit cards also offer elite status or special privileges with select car rental agencies. This elite status can help you get free upgrades, discounts on car rentals, and rewards you can spend as a renter with each rental period you complete.

As an example, the popular Chase Sapphire Reserve® card comes with special car rental privileges at National Car Rental, Avis and Silvercar. The Platinum Card® from American Express also offers its own share of rental car perks, including Avis Preferred Plus membership, extra perks with National Emerald Club, and elite perks when renting a car from Hertz.

Another premium travel credit card, the Capital One Venture X, comes with automatic Hertz President’s Circle® status.

Credit cards with primary rental car coverage

As you prepare for your booking and decide how to pay for the rental charges, it’s smart to consider which credit cards offer the best car rental insurance for free.

Here’s an overview of the best travel credit cards that offer primary car rental coverage, plus some other perks and rewards consumers get when they sign up:

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the most popular travel credit cards on the market today, and it’s easy to see why.

This card lets you earn 10X total points on car rentals and hotel stays booked through Ultimate Rewards, 5X points on air travel booked through Chase, 3X points on travel and dining (after earning your $300 travel credit), and 1X points on other purchases. Cardholders also earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can be redeemed for gift cards, statement credits, travel through Chase, or even 1:1 transfers to Chase airline and hotel partners.

This card also comes with a range of travel perks including a $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership, and a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck membership. A $550 annual fee applies.

Car rental benefits include:

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes with a much lower annual fee of $95, yet cardholders still get primary rental car coverage and a range of other perks.

For example, cardholders earn 5X points on travel booked through Chase, 3X points on online grocery purchases, select streaming services, and dining out, 2X points on other travel purchases, and 1X points on other purchases.

Car rental benefits include:

Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express charges a high annual fee of $695, yet customers get perks like broad airport lounge access worldwide, up to $200 in credits toward airline incidentals each year, up to $200 in credits toward Uber or Uber Eats each year (doled out in monthly increments), a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and more.

Customers also earn Amex Membership Rewards points, which can be used for car rentals through AmexTravel.com, transfers to Amex airline and hotel partners, and other options.

Car rental benefits include:

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit card comes with a $450 annual fee, yet cardholders get perks like up to $300 in credits toward Capital One travel each year, Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership, entry into Capital One airport lounges, and more. Cardholders also earn 10X points on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X points on flights booked through Capital One and 2X points on other purchases.

Perks that are related to car rentals include:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rent a car with a pre-paid debit card?

You typically cannot book with rental car companies using a pre-paid card of any kind. Instead, you’ll need a traditional debit card that is tied to your bank account, which will allow the car rental agency to freeze or withdraw a security deposit that is based on your rental estimate. Your debit card will also need to feature a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover logo in most cases.

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

Rental car companies that let people pay with debit include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National, and Sixt, to name a few.

Is it better to rent a car with a credit card or debit card?

It’s always better to rent a car with a credit card, and for more reasons than one. First, paying with a credit card means you won’t freeze any funds for your deposit in your actual bank account. Second, paying with credit could position you to earn rewards or enjoy rental car insurance coverage.

Holly D. Johnson
Holly D. Johnson Finance Expert

Holly D. Johnson is an award-winning personal finance writer who covers topics like insurance, investing, credit and family finance. As a leading voice in the travel and loyalty space, Johnson has traveled with her family to more than 50 countries over the last decade.

The author has also written extensively on the power of household budgeting, and she even co-authored a book on the topic. Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You’ll Love was originally published in 2017, and it teaches families how to use zero-sum budgeting to reach their financial goals. She is also the co-owner and founder of the family finance and travel website, ClubThrifty.com.

Johnson’s 10+ years of writing have focused on helping families make important financial decisions at each stage of their lives. The author also applies the financial principles she teaches to her own life, and she is currently on track to retire in her late 40’s with her partner. She currently lives in Central Indiana with her husband and children, and she is a regular contributor for Bankrate, CNN, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report Travel and many other notable publications.

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* Opinions expressed here are those of the LA Times Compare Cards Team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.

All products or services are presented in this content without warranty. The information, including card details such as rates and fees, is accurate at the time of publish. Please visit each bank's website directly for the most current information.

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