Can you rent a car with a debit card?

Most rental companies accept debit cards somewhere, but acceptance is set per branch, not per brand. The same company can take debit at one airport and refuse it at another.

Check your airport and company

Answers come from the published requirements for the exact branch, across 35 airports.

What to know before you book

Acceptance is branch-level

A company that accepts debit at a city branch may require a credit card at the airport counter. Always check the exact pickup location.

Debit often means extra checks

Where debit is only accepted conditionally, the counter typically asks for extra proof: a return flight itinerary, a credit check, or a larger deposit hold.

The card must be in the renter's name

A card belonging to a partner, parent or employer is refused even if the renter is present.

Prepaid and virtual cards are usually excluded

Cards without an embossed name, or that cannot hold an authorization, are normally not accepted at all.

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