Always Pay for Your Car Rental by Credit Card
Even if you rarely rent a car, you probably know the usual restrictions for this: you need a valid driver’s license, you must be at least 25 years old and you need a credit card. But this third rule is changing, at least in some places.
Car rental companies Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty now accept debit cards for payment in Europe , according to The Points Guy . The change was made because debit cards are used more often than credit cards in Europe, Hertz said in a press release.
This can be convenient for many travelers, but it comes at a price. The three car rental companies in the Hertz group will take a pre-authorized deposit if you pay by credit card to cover estimated costs, including a full tank of gas. The deposit will be refunded when the vehicle is returned and the final payment has been calculated, but it may take up to 30 days for customers to return this amount of the deposit to their account. “Acceptable debit / check cards must have sufficient free funds to pay the estimated rent plus a reserved loan or deposit pre-authorized by Hertz, Dollar or Thrifty,” the press release explains .
Yes, you read that right. You will need double the estimated rent in your bank account before you reach the rental counter.
Pay with your credit card to spend less on your rental car insurance
Alternatively, if you book a car with a credit card, this deduction will be removed after you return the car, without affecting the actual amount of money you have. This is just one of the two main reasons why you should always book your car rental with a credit card, even if a debit card is an option.
As we said earlier, many credit cards offer some important travel insurance benefits. Some only offer secondary car rental insurance that covers whatever is left after a claim is filed with your regular car insurance company. Others offer primary insurance, which means you don’t have to pay the extra fees at the rental desk and rely on your credit card benefits for coverage.
This coverage can vary from card to card – usually credit cards only cover collision, not liability – and many rental companies will ask for proof of your card’s coverage when you pick up your car. But if you pay with a debit card, you have no chance of getting coverage for free.