Debit Card Car Hire

Can I hire a car with a debit card?

Yes, in most cases it is possible to hire a car using your debit card. You will typically need the following

• A major debit card such as Visa, Mastercard, Lloyds TSB or HSBC although other cards are also accepted
• A full valid driving licence
• Proof of address
• Enough money in your account to cover the cost of the hire and any deposit payable

Many suppliers will allow you to arrange car hire using a debit card. We are able to offer debit card car hire with a variety of different debit cards around the world, please contact us to check if your card is eligible. You will normally need to leave a deposit to cover the excess and ensure safe return of the car at the end of the hire.

Car hire without a credit card can prove tricky as many rental companies operate a credit card only policy and we are one of the very few car hire companies that accept debit cards. We have arrangements in place with many of our suppliers that allow our customers to access debit card car hire if they are based in the UK and many other locations across the world.

The Process for Hiring a Car with a Debit Card

1. Either call us on 0113 880 0748, email sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk or submit a quote request online
2. We will contact you to discuss your arrangements, make sure you have the appropriate ID and an accepted card.
3. We will then source the best possible deal based on your circumstances.
4. Once you have approved our quote we will take a reservation and send you the paperwork for your rental.

What Type of Debit Cards Can Be Used to Hire a Car?

The vast majority of debit cards can be used to rent a car including the following

• Visa
• MasterCard
• Lloyds TSB
• HSBC
• Premiere
• NatWest
• Barclays Connect

There are certain debit cards that are more restrictive, however we still have options at selected locations. These include the following:

• Maestro (Click here for more information on hiring a car with a Maestro)
• Visa Electron
• Solo
• Santander

When using a debit card the supplier may ask to freeze a certain value of funds. This is to cover the excess amount and to ensure the safe return of the vehicle. These deposits can vary so please check prior to booking. If you are unsure at any point one of our dedicated experienced rental agents will be more than happy to help.

Please Note: It is important you confirm your debit card is acceptable before booking.

Do I need to pass a credit check if using my debit card to hire?

If renting a car in the UK and you are a UK resident most of the large multinational suppliers will carry out an electronic address check to ensure you have strong enough links to the address provided. However most of the suppliers with the exception of 1 or 2, still carry out the same checks so not unique to when you need to hire via a debit card. Key indicator are if you are named on the Electoral Register and named on the council tax bill.

When renting a car overseas as an inbound client our suppliers do not carry out any checks.

Do I need to leave a deposit if hiring with a debit card?

Most suppliers do require a security deposit when renting a car, in the UK we have a range of options. The best value suppliers would request a £200.00 - £300.00 deposit. However we do have selected locations where our supplier does not require any deposit, so a full zero deposit.

In Europe we have options where you can just leave a fuel deposit of 110 EUR, and there is no mandatory requirement to take the Super Cover as this can be the case with some of the smaller budget suppliers.

The table below shows restrictions and deposit requirements for for many of the countries where debits cards are accepted for hiring a car.

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What locations is debit card car hire available at?

We offer debit card car hire in various locations worldwide. The most popular being the UK, Spain, France, Greece , Cyprus, Holland, Iceland, Ireland and Italy. Not all of our rental suppliers accept debit cards, it should be made clear to the reservations agent you do not hold a credit card before booking.

This is not a full list of locations where using a debit card to hire is accepted and if you do not see the location you need listed you should contact us.

What Cars Can I Hire With A Debit Card

If we have an agreement with a supplier to accept a debit card for payment then on the whole, we have access to their whole fleet. This can be from small city cars like a Fiat 500, medium vehicles like a Ford Focus, larger family cars like a Vauxhall Insignia or even the more premium vehicles, like 4x4s and executive saloons.

Some suppliers will have a limit of the type of car they will allow to go out, but there will still be a car for all purposes. They just may not have a premium badge on the front. if you are looking for something specific, then we may be able to help. The best way to find out, is to contact one of our friendly team.

Van Hire With A Debit Card

If you are looking to hire a van with a debit card then we can do that too. We have a network of suppliers around the UK offering van hire. Contact our reservations team today and they will advise which package is best if you do not hold a credit card.

Contact Us Regarding Debit Card Car Hire

If you would like more information on hiring a car without a credit card, please feel free to contact our reservations and customer service teams. You can call us on 0113 88 00 748, email us at sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk or chat with us online. We are here to answer your queries and to ensure you book with the supplier that meets your requirements.

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I live in Ireland but want to come over to Holyhead by ferry as a foot passenger and hire a car in Holyhead for a day using my visa debit card. Is this possible?
We can confirm that this is acceptable, please contact us and we can help with making arrangements.
I am trying to rent a car, but neither my fiancée or me have credit cards, we only have debit cards and want to hire a car at Stansted. Is it possible to rent a car without being able to show a credit card then?
Yes this is possible as long as the debit cards has raised numbers and is in the drivers name then this shouldn't be an issue.
Hi, I'm looking to rent a car from the 12th oct for 2 days at cork airport. I'm 24 years old and don't hold a credit card only a debit card.I would like a ford focus or something similar.Can you give me a price as its saying there will be a fee at Cork airport as I'm under 25??
This depends on your driving experience but we do have suppliers at Cork Airport with offers of young driver and debit card car hire.
can i hire a car if I don't have a credit card
yes depending on the location you wish to collect from
can i rent a car if no credit card UK
we have many locations in the UK where this is possible
can i use a debit card to hire a car at Cardiff airport
yes we have a supplier at Cardiff airport that allows this
can i use a debit card when i hire a car in the uk?
yes but only with certain supplier
do you have to have a credit card when booking hire cars in Spain
no not all the time, we work closely with a company that doesn't require a credit card
do you need to show a credit card when hiring a car in Bristol
no we have a supplier that will accept payment by debit card
how much do I have to pay when i rent a car with a debit card
the same as if you were using a credit card
if I don't have a credit card can I hire a car in the UK?
yes you can. We can arrange this all over the UK
is there a car hire company in the UK where u don't need a credit card
yes we work with a couple of suppliers that offer this
looking for a car hire in Italy who don't swipe credit cards
we work with a company that allows this but only from certain locations
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