Car Hire without Credit Card – Debit Card Car Hire
Are you searching for car hire where you don’t need a credit card when you pick up the car rental?
Car rental with a debit card lets you rent a vehicle without the need to produce a credit card, instead you may use a debit card for any local security deposits. If you do not like leaving large deposit then choose a car rental company that offer car rental with zero excess or low excess.
Car Hire Companies That Accept Debit Cards
In the past, most if not all car hire companies would insist on a credit card in the name of the lead driver. This was used to cover any local excess amount. The excess being the amount that you would be held liable for damage to the vehicle that was your fault. So if, like me, you were anti credit cards, it was next to impossible to rent a car.
Over recent years, some of the rental companies are seeing the errors of their ways and are now providing a rental option with no credit card. At most locations it is now possible to find a few suppliers that will accept a debit card and also car rental companies that now offer car rental with no deposit or low deposit.
Most rental companies require a local security deposit, which is normally blocked against the lead driver’s credit card. Some suppliers will let you use a debit card, but most insist on a credit card. Security deposits can vary dependent on the car category. At the moment, car rental security deposits in Glasgow Airport can be between £500 and £1,500.
how to rent a car without a credit card
If you are unable to find a rental provider at your location that will accept a debit card for local security deposits, a workaround does exist. The rule is that the lead driver must have a credit card. If you have another driver with you who has a credit card, you can simply make them the lead driver, and you can then be added as an additional driver.
List of debit card car rental companies
We recommend entering your travel dates to get an up-to-date list of rental providers accepting debit cards at your pickup location. Below is just an indication of some suppliers that we currently have access to that accept debit cards.
Just a few years back, it was next to impossible to rent a car without the lead driver having a credit card. For many this caused a problem, many people do not agree with credit cards as they overcharge if just a few days late etc. Anyhow, the good news is that a growing number of car rental companies such as Avis, Dollar, Hertz, and local suppliers especially in Spain and Portugal will now accept the security deposit with a credit card or a debit card (though the card must be a Mastercard or Visa).
Steps to hiring a car without a credit card
A growing number of suppliers are now offer car hire without needing a credit card, Arnold Clark in the UK is a good example with no deposit car hire Glasgow always in high demand plus other locations including Manchester and Glasgow
Enter your travel dates into the booking engine
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Results Page and Filters
Enter your travel dates into the booking engine. If using Mobile select the Blue Filter Button or if on desktop the filters will be displayed on the left-hand side column next to the results. Please see the filter below, if you see an option with Debit Card then tick the box and the system will only display car hire companies that will accept a debit card, simple!
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Car Hire No Credit Card FAQs
Yes please use the filters to select suppliers that will accept a debit card 
All suppliers will provide rental to senior drivers over 70 or 75, some will charge an addition daily charge if you are aged 80 or over and others like okmobility will not charge any extra for drivers age 80 and above. Spain in general does not try and penalise car hire drivers over 70 when compared to other European countries with addition fees just because you have reached a certain age!
Yes, Ezi Car rental New Zealand, a local car rental company have an excellent reputation and will accept a debit card for the local security deposit and any other payments
You will find that in Italy, car rental Italy without a credit card is possible with close to 50% of the car rental providers, offering this option.
Noleggiare – local security deposit which will be € 190.00 (~£ 160.00)
Sixt Italy – local security deposit which will be € 190.00 (~£ 160.00)
Avis Italy – local security deposit which will be € 200.00 (~£ 170.00)00)
Enterprise Italy – local security deposit which will be € 500.00 (~£ 425.00)
Maggiore – local security deposit which will be € 4392.38 (~£ 3705.00)
Felirent – local security deposit, which will be € 700.00 (~£ 590.00)
Sicily By Car – Sicliy by Car Lamezia and other Sicily and other Italian mainland depots will all accept a debit for the local security deposit, which will be € 700.00 (~£ 590.00)
A good number of UK suppliers will accept a debit card for any local depoists , these include:
AVIS
Keddy
Budget
Sixt
The answer is No. The rental company that we offer access to will NOT accept cash for the security deposit. You may find a local small company that may be open to this, but all mainstream car companies WILL NOT accept cash.
This is an amount that is blocked on the credit card of the lead driver at the start of rental. It normally covers the car excess amount and the deposit for the fuel in the tank.
The amount can be substantial and as it is blocked from your car it can severly limit how much you are able to use your credit card when on holiday or on business.
Arnold Clarke is currently the only supplier to offer no deposit car hire in the UK
The insurance excess amount is the amount that you will be held liable for in the event of damage caused by you to the rental vehicle. With some suppliers this can be a signifiant amount, in the UK it can be as much as £2000 for some car categories.
The rental company will offer additional insurance to lower or waive the excess, but be warned this cover may still not cover damage to windows, underside and tires and can be more expensive than if you had prepurchased cover.
We work with Discover cars and can offer you the option to purchase excess insurance during the checkout process, or you can buy insurance from another provider. In either case, you will still be liable for any damage, but you can then use the insurance policy to claim the costs back when you return home.
Yes, Alamo, Avis, Budget,Noleggiare and others will accept a debit card.
Payment card : You’ll need a credit or debit card in the main driver’s name to leave the deposit.
Accepted cards,
American Express Credit
MasterCard Credit
Visa Credit
Discover Credit
MasterCard Debit
Visa Debit
** Please note:
The card must have chip and PIN capability.
For the latest up-to-date list, please use the filter on left-hand side to select car hire companies that will accept a debit card.
- Reviewed and updated: 07 Oct 2025
- Written by Eamonn Turley, expert in car rental & campervans