All you need to know about using a debit card to rent a car

09.10.2024 - 06:23 / thepointsguy.com

If you are an elder millennial like myself and have lived in walkable cities since graduating from college, you may have never rented a car before.

I used Kyte three years ago, but before last month, I had never booked a car rental under my name.

Since I was relatively unfamiliar with the ins and outs of renting a car, I was surprised to learn that major rental car companies do not make it easy to use a debit card to rent a car.

Here's what you need to know if you want to use a debit card to rent a car.

To start, know that the rules about renting a car with a debit card vary by both company and location, so you should call the specific rental car location and company you're hoping to use to verify their policy ahead of time.

I wish I had done that rather than find out we would not be able to use a debit card to get a car at Enterprise's Seattle Lake City office.

Most major rental car companies, including Enterprise, Hertz and Budget, require at least one of the following to use a debit card:

For example, Enterprise charges debit card users a deposit of $200 to $850 at the time of rental to "account for Renter potentially incurring additional amounts owed under the rental contract." The deposit amount varies based on the rental location and vehicle class.

Additionally, Enterprise requires debit card users at most nonairport locations to meet the following conditions:

Unless you knew about these policies beforehand, you will probably not have these documents on you during a trip. And even if you do have them with you, the extra paperwork can still make the overall process cumbersome.

You might have to jump through some more hoops, too, including undergoing a credit check before renting, and you might be required to show proof of a return ticket at some rental car companies' airport locations. It might go without saying, but rental companies will not accept prepaid cards either.

Although you can generally rent a car in the U.S. at age 21 by paying an additional "young driver" fee, some companies have upped the age for debit card rentals to 25. In addition to age, some companies prohibit debit card users from driving a rental car out of state and also restrict the types of vehicles they are eligible to rent.

As you've probably gathered by now, rental car companies do not make it easy to use a debit card. Renting a car by credit card can be more practical for a few other reasons, too.

Using the right card ensures your rental car is protected should something go wrong, such as theft, damage, injury and potential loss of life. Credit cards also generally provide higher coverage amounts than the policies offered by the rental car company. Just note that most cards offer secondary insurance for rental cars,