What do you need to rent a car? (2024)

FAQs

Why do I need a credit card to rent a car? ›

A credit card may not be the only way to rent a car. But it could provide more value than other forms of payment. Some credit cards offer rental car insurance at no additional cost. If you use a debit card to rent a car, you could experience restrictions based on your age, travel plans and credit history.

To be 25 years old (if you're under 25, you may be required to pay a young driver's fee, which varies by rental location) A valid driver's license with a photo. A photo ID (For example: a driver's license or passport) Credit or debit card (check the acceptable forms of payment at the location you're renting from)

Credit and Debit Card Rules

THESE FUNDS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR USE. However, for insurance/service replacement rentals, tour and budget.com prepaid rentals, the minimum debit card authorization hold is $100. At select locations in the Northeast and North Central regions, the minimum authorization hold is $500.

No, you cannot pay for a rental car for someone else.

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.

Many US rental car offices place a hold on your credit card when you pick up your rental vehicle. Typically, this amount is equal to your estimated rental charges plus the greater of a fixed-dollar amount or a percentage—normally 15 to 25 percent—of the estimated rental charges.

Whether you're a Floridian or just visiting for vacation, you do not need car insurance to rent a car in the Sunshine State. Rental car companies typically already have car insurance on their own vehicles so there is less work and expense on your end.

The minimum age is 21 although under age 25 drivers will be subject to a surcharge payable on collection (see below). If you choose our Young Driver's Package with Alamo or National then up to 3 drivers age 21-24 can drive the car with no additional charges on collection.

To rent a car in Florida, you must be at least 21 years old.

Which rental car companies do not require a credit card? All of the major U.S. rental car companies have non-credit card payment options at certain rental locations, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, SIXT, Thrifty, and Turo.

Why did budget charge me $200? ›

Budget reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to seek a Debit Card authorization hold in excess of the estimated rental charges. When using a debit card at Budget there will be a hold of $200 plus the estimated rental charges placed on your account. These funds will no longer be available to you.

In most cases, U.S. locations will accept debit cards to determine credit worthiness at the time of rental. Renters must also meet Avis's minimum criteria in order to rent. Canada locations do not accept debit cards as a form of credit identification when picking up a rental car.

The Hertz credit card authorization amount can vary, but if you're booking with a credit card, we will place an authorization amount of up to $200, and $500 for debit cards (plus any projected charges) onto your card.

Debit cards and prepaid or store value cards are accepted for payment at the end of your rental. In most cases, the location will perform a credit check for debit card customers to determine credit worthiness at the time of rental. The customer must meet the minimum criteria to rent using a debit card.

No, there is no need to pay in advance.

Can You Use Someone Else's Credit Card? No, you must use a credit card that's registered to the main driver to rent a car. This is due to the legal responsibility the driver has after signing the rental agreement on pick-up.

Rental car companies and hotels want customers to pay with credit cards because it makes it easier to charge customers for any damage they cause to a room or a car. Another reason is that, unless you have prepaid for your rental or hotel stay, the merchant doesn't know the final amount of your transaction.

Most lenders don't accept credit cards for auto loan payments, but even if your lender does, you need to think twice before using that option. If you aren't careful, you could end up paying more than your original auto loan amount.