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Can I Use My Debit Card To Pay For My Rental Car?
Most major rental car companies in Australia including Hertz, Avis, East Coast, Budget, Europcar, and Thrifty allow customers to book a hire car using a Debit Card. However, it must be a Mastercard Debit Card or Visa Debit Card. They do not accept a normal Savings Account bank card, which is sometimes also referred to as a Debit Card.
When paying with a Mastercard Debit Card or Visa Debit Card, there may also be an adjusted amount for the security deposit. This is based on the terms and conditions of the car rental provider you are hiring with, and the amount may vary between depots. This is because the car rental company cannot guarantee you'll have available funds on your Debit Card if the vehicle is damaged or lost. There may also be a card surcharge that differs to typical Credit Card surcharges.
For further details on paying with a Debit Card, click the Important Information box that is displayed when you select a rental car using our search form. The Important Information box will display what is required based on the payment option of your choice.
For other payment methods, click here.
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- Car Hire Without Credit Card
No credit card? No problem. It's possible to pay for your car rental on our website using a debit card, including American Express, Visa or Mastercard. We also compare car rental options at most locations that accept a debit card when you pick-up the car.
How can I find car hire options that accept debit card?
Use the filters on our search results page to view car hire options that enable you to use a debit card on collection.
You can also compare our premium cover options on the extras page to significantly reduce the insurance excess. Sometimes these also allow you to use a debit card on collection
Collecting car rental with a debit card
When you pick-up the car, the car rental company will usually charge the following amounts to your credit card or debit card...
The insurance excess - the amount that is held on your card in case the vehicle is damaged or stolen. The amount varies significantly depending on the vehicle and location (and can be as much as $3,300 in Melbourne). The excess is usually held on your credit card as something known as a 'pre authorisation'. 'Pre authorisation' means that the money is held on your card instead of taken, so you won't pay interest on the amount. If you collect your car rental with a debit card this amount will be taken from your bank account and returned once you return the car.
The fuel deposit - all of the car hire we compare in Melbourne includes a fair full to full fuel policy. This means you'll leave a deposit on a credit card for a full tank of fuel. When you return the vehicle with a full tank the amount is refunded. If you decide to collect the car hire using a debit card, this amount will be charged to your bank account and refunded when you return the car.
Things to remember when driving away your car rental
You will have received car rental pick up location details with your confirmation email. Take time to read through how to find the vehicle rental pick up location before you set off
If you've not already ,check the vehiclehire T&Cs. There might be extra fees for border crossing etc so make sure you understand these.
Beside the exterior, it's also recommended documenting any damage to the inside of the car and informing the vehicle rental provider before starting your trip
Be sure to check the fuel type for the car and check which side of the vehicle the filler cap is on
Always check the wheels and locks for issues as well. These are easy to miss if you're in a rush to start your journey
Spending some time to photograph and report any damage, whether internal or external, will help to prevent any issues with the vehicle rental provider when you return the vehicle
All the rentals listed on the web site include a full to full fuel policy. You should check that the fuel tank is full prior to setting off. if you find that it isn't you must inform the car hire company before driving away