Car hire companies traditionally require a credit card in the main driver’s name to hire a car. However, a standard card linked to a bank account is usually a debit card, not a credit card.

Nowadays, some car hire companies do accept debit cards. Others, however, will not hand over the car without a credit card, even though you paid for the booking online using a debit card without any problems.

We’ll explain the difference between the two cards, how to check the terms and conditions properly, and where you can hire a car without a credit card.

Compare different car hire companies on Booking.com

In a nutshell: what sort of card do I need?

• Do you have a physical credit card in the main driver’s name with sufficient available credit? That’s the safest option anywhere in the world.
• Do you only have a debit card? Choose an offer that explicitly allows its use when collecting the car.
• Do you only have a virtual or prepaid card? Most car hire companies won’t accept this.
• Did a partner or someone else pay for the booking? The main driver usually has to present their own card at the counter anyway.

Don’t go by the car hire company’s name alone. One company may accept debit cards in Spain but require a credit card in Ireland or at another local franchise.

Debit vs. credit card: what’s the difference?

• A debit card is a standard card linked to your bank account. You pay with your own money.
• A credit card draws on the bank’s funds up to an agreed limit. You repay the amount spent later.

For car hire companies, the difference is particularly important when it comes to the security deposit.

With a debit card, the security deposit reduces the balance in your account, whereas with a credit card, it reduces your available credit limit.

Neither Visa nor Mastercard specify the type of card. They exist in both debit and credit variants.

You can check the type in your banking app, in your contract, or by looking for the ‘Debit’ or ‘Credit’ label on the card. Embossed numbers no longer indicate anything (it used to be generally accepted that embossed numbers meant a credit card).

	Debit card	Credit card
Whose money are you using	your own money in your account	the bank’s money up to the limit
What the deposit does	It limits the amount of money available in your account	it will reduce your available credit limit
Acceptance by car hire companies	depends on the specific terms and conditions	the most commonly accepted option
Risk to your budget	the deposit may tie up money intended for your holiday	The deposit does not tie up funds in your current account

Why do some car hire companies require a credit card?

At the time the car is handed over, the rental company does not know the final total of all costs. After the car is returned, it may have to deal with, for example:

• damage to the car
• missing fuel
• late return
• extra cleaning
• lost keys
• tolls and fines
• administrative charges

The security deposit may not cover all these costs.

Furthermore, with a debit card, there may not be sufficient funds in your account once the car has been returned. A credit card therefore offers the car hire company greater assurance that any justified costs can be settled using the credit limit on the card.

However, this is neither an absolute rule nor a technical necessity.

Many debit cards nowadays can block a security deposit in the same way as a credit card.

Some car hire companies therefore accept them without any problems, whilst others require a higher security deposit for debit cards, their own insurance, or only hire out cheaper categories of car.

Paying for the booking is not the same as the security deposit

When hiring a car, there are up to three separate payments involved.

Payment	When it takes place	What type of card may be required
Booking payment	when booking online	a debit card is often sufficient
Balance due for the hire	upon collection of the car (or the full amount straight away when booking online)	a debit card is usually sufficient
Security deposit	upon collection of the car	often the main driver’s credit card

The comparison site can easily accept a debit card to pay for the booking, as it only accepts a pre-determined amount.

However, the car hire company itself may require a credit card for the security deposit when you collect the car.

It is therefore not the payment options on the booking page that are decisive, but the terms and conditions of the specific car and supplier.

When will a car hire company accept a debit card?

Many large car hire companies still explicitly state in their terms and conditions that a credit card is required. If a hire company specifies this in its terms and conditions, they will usually simply not hire you a car if you have a debit card.

However, a debit card may be accepted. You will often encounter one of the following restrictions, though.

Higher security deposit

The car hire company may block a higher amount on a debit card than on a credit card.

Therefore, it is not enough to simply check your account balance before travelling. You should also check your card’s payment limits and limits on overseas transactions.

Only lower-priced car categories

A debit card may be accepted for a small or standard passenger car, but not for SUVs, multi-seater, sports or luxury vehicles.

The terms and conditions may change even with a free upgrade. If you only have a debit card, do not allow the car category to be changed without checking the terms of the contract.

Proof of return journey

Particularly in the United States and Canada, car hire companies may require a confirmed return flight ticket, train ticket or other proof of address.

Without this, your debit card may be declined, even though the branch in question generally accepts it.

Purchasing the car hire company’s highest level of cover / zero excess

Some companies will only accept a debit card or waive the security deposit if you purchase their own package with minimal or zero excess.

Be aware of the difference between cover provided directly by the car hire company and external insurance purchased via a booking portal.

External insurance does not usually alter the car hire company’s terms and conditions, reduce the deposit or replace the required credit card.

We explain the differences in detail in the article ‘Car hire insurance: what’s really worth it’.

The main driver’s physical card

The most common requirement is a physical card issued in the name of the main driver.

A partner’s card is usually not sufficient, even if the partner is travelling with you or is listed as an additional driver in the contract.

One solution may be to change the main driver, provided they meet the age and other rental requirements.

Why is a debit card sometimes accepted, even when the rental company specifies a credit card?

We have also come across cases where travellers’ debit cards were accepted by the car hire company, despite the terms and conditions specifying that a credit card was required.

There may be several reasons for this:

• the staff member used the term ‘credit card’ generally to refer to any payment card
• a modern debit card successfully completed the necessary pre-authorisation
• the payment system classified the card as a credit card or was unable to reliably identify its type
• the branch staff member made an exception
• different rules applied to a specific tariff or car category than those set out in the general terms and conditions
• The employee did not check the card type at all

Yet payment systems are often able to recognise whether a card is a credit, debit or prepaid card based on the issuer’s details.

It cannot therefore be assumed that the car hire company will fail to recognise the difference.

If the terms and conditions expressly require a credit card, treat the acceptance of a debit card as an exception, not the rule.

Another traveller’s personal experience is no guarantee that the same card will be accepted at a different branch or on your next visit.

Car hire companies that accept debit cards

We verified the following examples in the car hire companies’ official terms and conditions in July 2026.

This is not a worldwide guarantee for the brand in question. Always double-check the specific country, branch, rate and car category.

💬 Do you have personal experience with a specific car hire company that is guaranteed to accept only debit cards? Share your experience with us and other travellers in the comments below the article. Thanks!

CICAR in the Canary Islands

I myself hired a car from CICAR in the Canary Islands without a credit card.

Their current terms and conditions also explicitly allow a physical credit or debit card in the name of the main driver.

However, there are exceptions. For the Premium category and certain seven- or nine-seater cars, CICAR requires two credit cards.

What was my personal experience?

• Car hire on the island of Gomera
• Car hire on the island of El Hierro

Autoreisen in the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands-based company Autoreisen also accepts credit and debit cards; see the terms and conditions. Prepaid cards are not accepted.

One advantage is that, in accordance with its terms and conditions, Autoreisen does not block a security deposit. The card is only presented when collecting the car, not at the time of booking.

Blue Car Rental in Iceland

The Icelandic company Blue Car Rental accepts debit cards with a 16-digit number and does not block a security deposit for customers.

If a customer does not have a credit card, they can therefore use a standard debit card as a guarantee.

We describe our experiences with prices, insurance and driving around the island in the article ‘Car hire in Iceland’.

Lotus Car Rental in Iceland

Lotus Car Rental also accepts debit cards, but the terms are less favourable.

When using a debit card, they charge a security deposit of 150 000 isk. With the Gold package, this is reduced to 65 000 isk, and no security deposit is required when purchasing the top-tier Platinum package.

This clearly illustrates why it is not enough to simply look for the statement ‘we accept debit cards’.

Equally important are the amount of the deposit and the conditions for its refund.

Enterprise in Spain

Enterprise in Spain accepts major debit cards, with the exception of Maestro, Electron, Solo and prepaid cards.

However, a credit card is still required for 4x4s and premium category vehicles. The card must be in the name of the main driver.

SIXT in Portugal

SIXT in Portugal accepts Visa and Mastercard debit cards as well as credit cards.

It does not accept Maestro, prepaid cards or cash. Further restrictions may apply to more expensive vehicle categories, so always check the terms and conditions for your chosen car.

Alamo at US airports

Alamo accepts debit cards at US airports, but only subject to certain conditions.

Upon collection, the customer must present a confirmed return flight ticket or other proof of return travel.

The address on the driving licence may also be checked.

How to find a car you can hire with a debit card

First, use a comparison site to view offers from available car hire companies. However, do not book the cheapest car until you have read its full terms and conditions.

Search for a car and check the terms and conditions

For a specific offer, look out for the following sections in particular:

• Payment cards
• Accepted payment methods
• Cards accepted at collection
• Security deposit
• Deposits and excess
• What you need at collection

Please check these seven points:

1. Is a debit card specifically permitted when collecting the car?
2. Does this also apply to paying the security deposit?
3. How much will the security deposit be?
4. Does the card have to be a physical card?
5. Does it have to be in the main driver’s name?
6. Do you accept my specific card and card issuer?
7. Are there any restrictions on the selected car category or branch?

If the terms and conditions are unclear, write directly to the specific branch. It is not enough to ask in general terms whether the company accepts debit cards.

Save the reply and take it with you. Even a statement from customer support may not carry more weight than the rental terms and conditions, but in the event of a dispute, it is significantly better than verbal information.

What to look out for before your trip

Even though I hire a car several times a year, I personally check the following things before every single journey.

Sufficient available balance or credit limit

Don’t just check your credit card’s total limit. What matters is the amount currently available after other payments and holds have been deducted.

You may already have a hold on the same card from a hotel, petrol station or another car hire company.

This happens to me quite often, which is one reason why I prefer to carry two credit cards.

Very often, for example, when travelling to various archipelagos, I visit several different islands, and a new deposit is required at every car hire company.

A typical example for me is the Azores.

• My experience of hiring a car on Flores
• My experience of hiring a car on Pico
• My experience of hiring a car on São Miguel

Overseas payment limit

Check the limit for payments at retailers in your banking app.

The limit for ATM withdrawals is not the same as the limit for online payments.

Card validity

The card must be valid at the time of collection and, usually, for the entire duration of the hire.

You may encounter problems if your card expires during your trip.

Credit card PIN

Some car hire companies may require you to enter your PIN during pre-authorisation. Make sure you know it before you travel.

(This is my biggest problem! I usually only use my credit card at car hire companies and I can’t seem to remember the PIN...)

Physical card

Apple Pay, Google Pay or an image of the card in a mobile app usually won’t replace a physical card.

The car hire company may need to read the chip and verify the cardholder’s name.

Virtual and prepaid cards

A virtual card can be a credit, debit or prepaid card, but many car hire companies do not accept it, regardless of the type.

This is the case, for example, with Revolut cards. The brand itself is not the deciding factor.

Some car hire companies will accept a standard physical Revolut debit card, but will refuse its virtual or prepaid versions.

Name of the main driver

It is safest if the name of the main driver matches that of the cardholder, the booking and the driving licence.

Another person may pay for the hire online. However, this does not automatically mean that their card can be used for the security deposit.

Will comprehensive insurance sort the problem out?

Sometimes it does, but only if it is the highest level of cover purchased directly from the car hire company and its terms and conditions explicitly waive the requirement for a credit card or reduce the security deposit (ideally to 0).

External insurance purchased via Booking.com, another booking portal, a bank or an insurance company will not usually help. The car hire company may still block the full deposit and require a credit card.

Therefore, do not confuse these three different pieces of information:

• zero excess
• zero deposit
• the option to use a debit card

One does not automatically imply the other.

Is it worth getting a credit card just for car hire?

If you hire a car regularly, a credit card will make the process much easier. You’ll have access to a wider range of offers, and the security deposit won’t tie up money in your current account.

Before you set off, however, check that you have a sufficient credit limit. For a standard car, the hire company may require a deposit of around 1 000 eur; for more expensive vehicles, this may be 3 000 eur or more.

A credit card alone does not mean that your hire car is insured.

Only some cards include rental insurance, and this always comes with its own terms and conditions, limits and exclusions.

If you only hire a car once every few years and do not wish to apply for a credit card, look for a local company that explicitly accepts debit cards.

However, be sure to compare the total cost, including insurance and any higher security deposit.

Frequently asked questions

I know that some of these questions might seem a bit odd to experienced travellers, but we’ve all been there at some point.

And these really are the most frequently asked questions we come across in the forum or in the comments.

Is Visa Debit a credit card?

No, it isn’t. A Visa Debit card is a debit card that uses the Visa payment network.

Is every Mastercard a credit card?

No. Mastercard issues both credit and debit cards. It depends on the product offered by your bank, not the Mastercard logo itself.

Does a credit card have to be embossed?

Usually not. The raised numbers are a remnant of an older method of processing payments and do not determine whether the card is a credit card.

Can I use my partner’s card?

Usually only if your partner is listed as the main driver.

Some car hire companies allow the card of another person present, but this must be expressly permitted in their terms and conditions.

Is a card stored on my phone sufficient?

Usually not. You’ll need to bring the physical card with you to collect the car, even if you paid for the booking via Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Can the car hire company charge me even after I’ve returned the car?

Yes, if the amount is authorised under the hire agreement.

This could include, for example, toll charges, fines, missing fuel or damage discovered at a later date. The car hire company often charges an administration fee on top of these charges.

What if my card is declined at the counter?

The car hire company may offer more expensive insurance, a higher deposit or a different category of car. However, they are not obliged to offer you any alternative solution.

In the worst-case scenario, you won’t be given a car and your booking will be treated as a no-show or a breach of the rental terms.

Therefore, make sure you sort out your card type before paying for the booking, not after you arrive.

Our recommendation

If you have a credit card, take it with you, even if the car hire company also accepts debit cards under its terms and conditions.

If you do not have a credit card, you do not have to give up on hiring a car.

However, only book an offer where the use of a debit card is explicitly permitted for the selected branch, rate and car category.

Before you travel, double-check the security deposit amount, your available funds or credit limit, the cardholder’s name, the card’s expiry date and its physical condition.

We explain other pitfalls regarding booking, collecting and returning a car in the article ‘How to hire a car abroad for the first time’.

💬 Have you had any personal experience with a car hire company that accepted a debit card without any issues? Please write the company name, country and specific branch in the comments. The pick-up location is often the most important factor for other travellers.

Compare prices across all car hire companies