Upgrade To A Premier Or Business Account
Set this up when you open your account, or upgrade your existing account to Premier or Business.
Be sure to read through the differences between these accounts to know which is best for you. Upgrading to either is free, and they both come with features not available to a personal account.
Basically, if youll use PayPal for online business or freelance work, upgrade to a Business account. For personal use with the additional features, Premier should have you covered.
When Does Enterprise Return Your Deposit
After you return the vehicle, Enterprise will refund your security deposit in full. This is provided that there are no additional charges for fuel replacement, late return or other incidentals. When you get your security deposit back depends on how you paid.
If you rent with a credit card
Enterprise puts a hold on your account for the full cost of the rental plus the security deposit. When you return the vehicle, Enterprise releases the hold and charges the amount of the rental. In effect, the security deposit portion of the hold disappears immediately.
Recommended Credit Cards for Travelers
Lets say you rent a car at an airport. If the rental costs $300, the security deposit would be $60. When you pick up the car, Enterprise would put a hold of $360 on your credit card. When you return the car, the hold is released and, provided there are no extra charges, your credit card will be billed $300.
If you rent with a debit card
On the day of pickup, Enterprise will put a hold on your bank account tied to your debit card for the full cost of the rental plus the security deposit. The rental agreement gives the company the right to withdraw the security deposit from your bank account to cover late fees or damage repair.
When you return the vehicle undamaged and on time, your debit card is charged for the rental and the hold on the security deposit is lifted. Depending on your bank, it can take five to 10 days for funds to reappear in your bank account.
If you rent with cash
Renting A Car With Cash
For security reasons, many Enterprise branches do not accept cash payments. However, some branches may accept cash or money order using the “cash qualification” process for customers who do not have a credit card. Check below to see if this may apply to your specific situation. We apologize for any inconvenience.
More detailed information is available below.
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Can I Use Cash For A Rental Car
A few rental car companies allow you to pay with cash, though youll still need a debit or credit card to make the reservation. Some Enterprise locations allow you to do this and Dollar accepts cash for car rentals in most states if youre at least 20 years old, complete the Cash Deposit ID Card application and pay a $15 processing fee. It can take 30 days to process this application, so youll want to plan way in advance if youre choosing this option.;
Renting A Car Without A Credit Card

That was a lot of information to take in, so heres a simple checklist:
Create or upgrade your PayPal account to Premier or Business.
Apply for the PayPal Business MasterCard Debit Card.
Link a backup funding source to your Business MasterCard.
Keep a low balance in your PayPal account when you travel.
Read the payment policies for rental car companies and choose one that will allow you to rent without a credit card.
Swipe your PayPal Business MasterCard for the rental car deposit.
Dana Sitar is a contributor to The Penny Hoarder.
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Remember To Check The Payment And Security Deposit Info In Advance
As an extra tip, remember that not all rental locations may accept payment with debit cards or follow the same rules. The best option is to check directly with the car rental locations to check if they have any special conditions in addition to the ones weve discussed above.
Attention!All efforts were made to validade the information published in this blog at the moment they were written, however, Rentcars.com does not take responsibility for inaccuracies or future adjustments that can happen as a result of different offers and conditions. The posts here published, as well as the eventual comments from its readers, are merely informative and it is the client’s duty to confirm with Rentcars.com and/or suppliers any content that may affect their vacation plans.
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Renting A Car With A Credit Card:
The credit card must be presented with available credit, in the renter’s name. The signature must match the name imprinted on the card. In addition, if the renter has an online transaction, the number and name printed on the card presented by renter must match the name and number stored for the online transaction.
Renters without a ticketed return travel itinerary will need to provide a credit card with sufficient funds to cover the cost of the rental plus an additional amount between $200 to $400 based on rental location.
If you need to update the credit card you have on your Emerald Club Profile, please see this FAQ: How do I update or change the credit card on my profile?
Puerto Rico: The following credit cards are accepted for rentals in Puerto Rico: American Express, MasterCard, VISA, Diners Club and Discover Network.
Canada: The following credit cards are accepted for rentals in Canada: American Express®, MasterCard®, and VISA®
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What Available Balance Do You Need On Your Credit Card To Rent A Car
Theres no hard and fast amount of available credit required to rent a car. It depends on the per-day cost of the rental and the number of days you need it. Typically, the rental agency puts a hold on your credit card for at least the amount of the rental and a little extra on top of that, in case there’s a problem.
Tips
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You’ll need enough available credit on your card to pay for the full amount of your rental as well as any extra charges that could apply. You can check with your car rental company about its specific policies.
What Deposit Would I Have To Leave
In general, an authorization of a minimum of $200 plus the amount due for the rental will be taken as an authorization against the payment method for security purposes. For debit cards, a deposit of $200 plus the cost of the rental will be taken as a deposit from the debit card. The deposit for high-value vehicles may be higher. These funds will not be available to you during the rental.
The rental location may also perform a credit check or may require additional qualifications in accordance to local policies to determine whether the renter qualifies for a rental of a luxury vehicle. The renter must meet the minimum criteria determined by the location to qualify.
Note: Depending on the banking institution the amount is not immediately debited but held on the;cardholderâs bank account until the final rental charge amount has been debited. When the vehicle is returned, the invoiced amount will be charged to the credit card provided, unless you present another form of payment.
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Security Deposit Refunds For Debit Card
If you pay by debit card, the full cost of the rental and security deposit will be charged to your checking account when you pick up your vehicle. Once the vehicle is returned, Enterprise will refund your checking account the amount of the deposit.;Refunds for Interac debit cards will be processed by check and mailed to the address on the rental agreement.The time it takes to post the refund to your account will depend on your bank. Typically, you should see a refund in approximately 5 to 10 business days. If you do not see your refund after 10 business days, please call the branch you rented the vehicle from, so we can review your charges with you.
How Much Do Rental Car Companies Hold On Credit Card
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If you rent with a When you return the vehicle, Hertz charges the full amount of the rental and will release the hold on the deposit within 24 hours.
Furthermore, how much does Avis hold on credit card? In general, if you pay with a or debit card, Avis will place a hold equal to $200 plus the estimated rental charges. These funds will not be available to you during the rental period.
Then, how much does enterprise hold on a credit card?
Recommended for TravelersWhen you pick up the car, Enterprise would put a hold of $360 on your . When you return the car, the hold would be released and, provided there were no incidental charges, your be billed $300.
How much money do you need on a credit card to rent a car?
It is a common practice for car rental companies to place a hold of the total estimated charges plus a possible security deposit of about 25%. The minimum hold amount is roughly $200. These factors could influence the hold amount.
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Look For A Hold On The Available Balance
When the rental car company swipes your card, the deposit will take your available $1.
The authorization will be valid because the charge sees your backup funding and reads that as sufficient funds for the charge, regardless of your checking accounts balance.
But your checking account will not be charged, because the transaction will not be completed.
You can also subsequently receive payments or otherwise deposit money to your PayPal account and have access to it. That wont be tied up in the hold.
Check The Requirements For Your Rental Location

The requirements to rent a car may vary by location, so it is always a good idea to verify all rental information in your reservation confirmation. You can also check with your rental location to find out if there are specific restrictions that apply to your reservation. Check the details by following the steps outlined below.
On that page, scroll down to the Terms & Conditions section.
Other useful information can be found under Drivers License Requirements and Additional Fees and Credit Holds.
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Rent A Car With A Prepaid Card
Enterprise and Hertz both allow you to use a prepaid card to pay for your rental car. Some Enterprise locations accept cash and money orders for final payments only, while others allow you to secure a rental this way. Hertz accepts prepaid cards for final payment only. You still need to provide a credit or debit card at check-in to secure your rental. Keep in mind that this may not work abroad, where prepaid card acceptance is extremely limited.
Renting A Car With A Gift / Prepaid Card:
National accepts pre-paid gift cards with a Visa, Mastercard® or Amex symbol as a form of payment at the end of a rental. We do not accept gift cards to secure a rental*. Payment is never required when making a reservation.
*National does not issue gift cards and will never ask you for credit card or other payment information over the phone. For more information, visit our pre-paid gift card alert page.
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Prepaying For Rental Car
Alamo offers car rental discounts;for customers who take advantage of pre-payment options.; Since your car rental reservation is prepaid, you’ll spend less time at the rental counter and get on the road faster!;Your credit card will be charged at time of reservation and the Pre-Pay discount will automatically be applied to your rate. This discount is 5% off.
Note: Debit cards are not;accepted;for Advance Pay reservations.
To qualify for Pre-Pay:
A major credit card and a valid driver’s license in the name of the renter will be required at the time of rental. The credit card presented must be the same credit card used to;pre-pay for;the reservation.
Alamo does not accept online-only, virtual credit cards or any other type of “”single-use”” card number security product or one-time use credit card number that may be provided by credit card companies for online use.
Advance reservation is required ;to take advantage of pre-payment options.
Prepay is not available at all locations, all of the time. If available, the pre-pay option will appear when selecting a vehicle;during the online rental process.
Additional Driver:;Additional charges will apply for additional drivers. Additional driver fees must be paid for at the rental counter at pick-up.
Any optional insurance or CDW product selected at the time of reservation may be cancelled at the counter at the time of rental without incurring a cancellation fee.”
Rental Car Companies That Accept Debit Cards
Most of the major rental car companies will accept debit cards in place of a credit card. There are a few caveats to be aware of. For starters, many of them require you to be at least 25 years old and will run a before allowing you to rent a car. Companies such as Avis also restrict the type of vehicle you can rent, with high-end options being off limits. Be sure to check the individual rental company requirements before booking with a debit card.
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Should You Use A Debit Card To Rent A Car
While you can use a debit card to rent a car, there are some significant trade-offs. For starters, youll often be liable for a security deposit that may take a few weeks to be refunded. You will also undergo a in some instances and be required to provide at least two forms of ID.;
Most importantly, youll forego primary rental coverage, which is something you normally have to pay for but you get as a benefit with a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. If you decide not to and end up in an accident, youll have to process the claim through your own insurance and risk a higher premium. This trade-off is not worthwhile. I wouldnt recommend renting a car with a debit card unless its your only option.
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Why Is Renting A Car With A Debit Card Harder
The list of extra requirements above is quite scary, right? But why are rental companies making it harder to rent with a debit instead of a credit card?
Basically, when rental companies let you rent with a debit card, theyre assuming a greater risk. With the credit card information, the rental supplier can charge for extras like parking tickets, fines and little scratches even when the driver is not present. But that isnt possible with a debit card, as the PIN number is required to make any charges.
That means that if the rental company receives a parking ticket after youve returned the car, for example, its much harder to charge that from you as they cant just use the credit card info.
Keep in mind that the credit card is not only used to pay for your rental car, but also for a credit hold, also known as a security deposit. The rental company may ask for a deposit anyway, but when using debit the money wont be available for you to use with travel expenses, for example. This is an important thing to remember.
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Renting A Car With A Debit Card
Debit cards are accepted at airport and non-airport locations in the US and Puerto Rico. In Canada, debit cards are accepted only at non-airport locations. Please be advised when using a debit card, special conditions may apply, so please read all conditions below.;Renters without a ticketed return travel itinerary will need to provide a credit card with sufficient funds to cover the cost of the rental plus an additional amount between $200 to $400 based on rental location.
Deposit $1 Into Your Paypal Account

A few days before you travel, deposit a small amount into your PayPal account. I always stick with just $1.
Depending on your bank, a deposit could take a few days to hit your PayPal account. Mine usually takes two or three days.
If you need it more quickly, you can coordinate with a friend or family member to transfer money directly from another PayPal account, which happens almost instantly.
Make sure you keep the balance low. If you already have a higher balance in your PayPal account, transfer most of it into your bank account.
Any available funds in your PayPal account will be held for the deposit, so the less available when the card is swiped, the better.
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When Does Dollar Return Your Deposit
Once you return your car in good condition and on time, Dollar will return the deposit back to your credit or debit card. You can expect this process to take between five and 10 days, depending on your bank or credit card company.
If you rent with a credit card
When you rent with a credit card, Dollar requires you to have enough credit available to cover the estimated rental reservation and up to $200 beyond that price. When you return the vehicle, the additional hold amount should be released within a few days.
Lets say you rent a car that costs $375 and the security deposit is $200. When you pick up the car, Thrifty would put a hold of $575 on your credit card. When you return the car, your credit card would be billed $375 and you would receive the $200 back within a few days.
Dollar accepts credit cards from American Express, MasterCard, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Visa and China Union Pay.
NOTE: You can avoid this authorization hold with Dollar by simply signing up for the Dollar Express Rewards program, and attach a Visa credit or debit card to your profile. Your card must already be attached to your profile before you make the reservation.
If you rent with a debit card
Dollar will put an incremental hold of $500 on debit cards. You can use debit cards as long as they are imprinted with the Visa, MasterCard or Discover logo and take funds directly from your account.
If you rent with cash
The deposit for Canadian rentals