When you pick up your vehicle, the rental company will ask you to present an international Visa or Mastercard credit card (possibly two credit cards for certain luxury vehicles). This card may be different from the one used for online booking. It will be used to block the deposit amount for the entire rental period (amount indicated on the booking voucher).
This card must be clearly identified as a credit card.
It must be in the name of the main driver.
She must have sufficient funds to cover the deposit.
Prepaid cards, Maestro and Electron cards are not accepted.
Why do most car rental companies now require a credit card for the security deposit?
With a bank card marked as “credit”, the amounts are debited on a deferred basis. The landlord can therefore block an amount corresponding to the security deposit without redeeming it.
With a debit card, the situation is more complicated as you need to contact the bank immediately. If pre-authorization is not possible on the card, car rental companies must deduct the amount from the security deposit. To avoid additional costs, most rental companies now prefer to refuse cards with the “debit” label and require a “credit” card in the name of the main driver.
Is there a car rental company that still accepts debit cards for deposit? Yes, this only applies to agencies at airports, train stations, and ports. These branches will accept debit cards as a deposit as long as you provide:
Proof of entry into the United States.
Proof of your departure from the United States.
It can be a boarding pass or a train ticket, for example.
In the absence of supporting documents, a credit card will be required.