A common question we get asked on this blog is about the use of debit cards when renting a car. We’ve had a lot of questions on our original blog post entitled ‘Information on accepted credit cards’ so we thought it would be useful to create a new, updated post.
We appreciate it’s a confusing topic so hopefully this up-to-date info will put your mind at ease when renting with Avis.
Payment in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)
Most countries within Avis EMEA accept Visa debit and credit cards and MasterCard debit and credit cards. The countries that do not accept debit cards are Spain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg. You must have a credit card to rent in these countries.
Many countries in EMEA also accept American Express, Discover and Diners cards – in the UK we will accept them for Avis rentals but we recommend contacting our reservations team on 08445 818181 if you wish to use these in any other country.
Please note that we do not accept Visa Electron, Maestro, Cirrus, Solo or any other type of payment card in Europe, Middle East or Africa.
The name on the payment card must match the name on the driving licence of the main renter/driver. You are not able to pay on anyone else’s behalf.
Payment for higher value cars
If you are renting from our range of large premium or luxury cars you are required to present two payment cards at the time of pick up as an added security measure. The cards must comply with the above terms and must each be from different providers. For example, you can use one Visa credit or debit plus an American Express.
Whilst members of Avis Preferred do not have to present a credit card every time you rent you do still need to present two cards when renting a large premium or luxury vehicle. This excludes those Avis Preferred renters with a corporate AWD who do not need to present a credit card.
Payment outside Europe, Middle East and Africa
If you’re renting with Avis in the USA you are able to use Visa debit and credit and MasterCard debit and credit cards, American Express, Diners, Discover and JCB cards.
Avis Canada do not accept debit cards – so you will need a credit card.
Australia, New Zealand, Latin/South America and Mexico accept the same cards as the USA with the exception of JCB cards and the Discover card.
July 11th, 2012 at 10:42 pm
Can you use your visa debit card to rent a car in spain if you have paid for the car and fuel in advance?
July 13th, 2012 at 11:04 am
Logged a complaint 4weeks ago, sent 3 reminders. Still nothing.
Does the AVIS ART team ever answer a logged complaint??????
Yours hopeful
July 13th, 2012 at 2:20 pm
Hi Joanne-
We’re afraid not. Spain are one of the countries that are only able to take credit card.
Sorry that’s not ideal.
Sabrina
July 13th, 2012 at 4:25 pm
Hi -
Sorry you’ve been waiting on a response. Could you please send your reservation details to comments@avis.co.uk and we’ll find out the status of this complaint for you.
Thanks
Sabrina
July 13th, 2012 at 10:04 pm
I am flying in to Trieste on Sunday. I rang the Avis desk in Trieste airport this evening to check whether they would accept a Visa Debit Card to rent a car when I arrive and the lady who answered said “No!”. This would seem to conflict entirely with the opening statement on this blog.
What I need to know is whether I can use a Visa Debit card, and a Visa Debit Card only,(with the raised letters and starting with 4) to pay for and collect a car at Trieste Airport?
July 20th, 2012 at 10:14 pm
- As you say that we can use the VISA or Master debit card to rent and pay the deposit, but why in my confirmation email it is said that the debit cards are not accepted? (I will rent the car from Marseille Airport, France)
- I booked the car using my name and email. The information in the reservation name is mine and I haven’t paid any rent nor deposit, but the driver will be my father. Is it possible if we all show up there at the pick up point and pay by his debit card?
Thank you in advance.
July 25th, 2012 at 10:23 am
Hi,
If you use a debit card to hire a car how much will be blocked off your card until you return the car?
Thanks
Shelley
July 26th, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Hi Eoin-
I’m really sorry for the delay. Appreciate you will have already gone on your holiday so I hope you had a great rental!
You will probably know this now but, for the benefit of other customers, this is actually a translation issue…
‘Carte di debito’ translates in Italian as a ‘pre-paid card’ which Italy cannot accept for car rental payment.
This may explain the confusion when you contacted the location directly but they will in fact accept debit cards as a method of payment.
Hope that helps
Sabrina
July 27th, 2012 at 11:13 am
Hi Tanchan,
Thanks for your comment.
Apologies that the confirmation email says this. We are in the process of updating them but please be assured you can still use a debit card.
We do, however, require the ‘main named renter’ to be the person who makes the reservation and pays for the rental at time of pick up. I would suggest you contact our reservations team on 08445 818181 and they will be able to amend the details. Reason being, the name of the main renter and the name on the payment card must match.
Hope that helps – have a great rental
Sabrina
July 27th, 2012 at 11:16 am
Hi Shelley-
Thanks for your comment.
This depends on the country of rental but in the UK, for example, for pre-paid rentals we hold the cost of a tank of fuel against your card. If you return the car full, this will not be taken from your account.
It is very similar in most countries across Europe but some countries may hold a percentage of the total cost of rental as well as the cost of fuel.
Let me know if there’s anything else we can help with! Enjoy your rental.
Sabrina
September 8th, 2012 at 10:28 pm
Oh my God… THANK YOU. I’m from Spain and the information here is SO confusing… I rented a car in France for next weekend and, as I have a debit card (MasterCard, not Maestro), I called some weeks ago to Avis Spain and, after checking it, they told me a credit card is MANDATORY for rentals IN FRANCE. And today, after reading the general conditions (in french… and no, I DON’T speak french) I found out debit cards ARE accepted! And finally, after googling A LOT, I’ve got here.
I think this sort of things should be clear enough for all of the Avis staff (in my case, Spain staff), as it’s harmful for both the company and the customer.
Anyway, I’m glad to have found the correct answer to this huge and, apparently, common problem.
Regards from Spain.
September 17th, 2012 at 9:58 pm
I am going to Orlando in October and would like to hire a car. I have a visa debit card. I phoned Avis at international airport and they said I would have to pass a credit check before I could hire a car with a debit card. Is this true for uk citizens?
September 24th, 2012 at 12:05 pm
Hello Alison, we have spoken to the location directly and they have re confirmed on the phone they would actually do a credit check at time of pick up.
October 13th, 2012 at 10:10 am
I am visiting Germany and would like to hire a car from Frankfurt airport. I have a prepaid mastercard which I would like to use for payment. I also have a Visa Debit card, but don’t really want to use this unless I have to.
Can I use my prepaid mastercard to make payment and is this also acceptable to present when picking up the car?
or
Can I pre-pay on your website using my prepaid mastercard and then present my Visa Debit card for security, but then pay at the end of the hire using my prepaid mastercard.
or
Is my only option to use my Visa debit card? and is this acceptable at Frankfurt?
My prepaid card issuer say they are happy for the card to be used for car hire as long as there is sufficient credit to cover the amount to be reserved against the card at the time of hire.
October 24th, 2012 at 9:01 am
Hello Gary,
When renting in Germany, pre paid credit cards or Visa debit cards are not accepted for security purposes. You can pre-pay online for the rental with a visa Debit but a credit card must be presented at time of pick up or alternatively a cash deposit which may vary according to the length of rental and car group selected.
October 31st, 2012 at 2:45 pm
HI
I know this seems to have been covered already but the last reply seems to contradict the thread :
Could you please answer ,I have a car booked via British Airways already paid for to be picked up from Athens airport next month, Can I use a Visa Debit card for the deposit, and also if the deposit is just for a full tank of Petrol?
Thanks
Nick
November 12th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Hi Nick,
I can confirm that we would accept Visa Debit for all purposes in Greece (this is the only debit card we would accept however and we do not accept Visa Electron). The normal deposit is just a fuel deposit which would be the cost equivalent of a tank of petrol for the car received on the day of rental (obviously this would vary depending on the cost of petrol at your rental location on your day of rental and the car you received on the day’s fuel tank capacity).
November 27th, 2012 at 9:43 pm
I have prepaid for my car hire in cape town next month but need to know how much they hold against my credit card, so that i can budget my spending money correctly
November 29th, 2012 at 11:59 am
Hello Mark, I’ve spoken with the office in Cape Town and the deposit is 1000ZAR, hope this helps.
January 14th, 2013 at 7:33 pm
Hi I will shortly be travelling to USA and Australia and wish to pay with a visa DEBIT card which I believe is ok!? My question is will AVIS do a credit check on me? because I have never had a credit card or any form of credit my credit score is very low!?
Please help! Many thanks
January 16th, 2013 at 12:29 am
Hello. My son will be traveling to UK from Australia and wishes to hire a car for the duration of the visit, will he be able to use his ING visa debit card to pay if we book on line in Australia?
January 20th, 2013 at 11:31 am
hello i would like to hire a car from LAX international airport for 1 month but i would just like to confirm in writing that i dont need a credit card and that i can use my debit card for payment and to secure my booking? so i wont have any problems when picking up the car, and want to confirm that im 24years old and i will have to pay 25USD per day?
January 27th, 2013 at 9:54 pm
Hi we’re going to menorca in August and wanting to hire a car. We don’t have a credit card only a visa debit. Can a car hire be booked
January 31st, 2013 at 12:00 pm
Hi Sal,
I’m afraid debit cards aren’t accepted in Spain- only credit cards.
January 31st, 2013 at 12:31 pm
Hello Sarah,
Debit/check cards issued outside the US and Canada are accepted as credit identification and payment at locations in the US. The usual authorization hold will apply. Debit cards issued in the US are also acceptable at most locations. An under 25 fee of USD 27.00 per day is applicable for renters 21-24.
January 31st, 2013 at 12:33 pm
Hi Terry,
The minimum requirements to hire a car with Avis in the UK are: Minimum 3 years Full Driving Licence, at least 1 year Full Clean Licence and a Credit or Debit Card at the Driver’s name (no Electron, Maestro or Switch cards).
January 31st, 2013 at 12:38 pm
Hello Paul,
Debit cards issued outside the US and Canada are accepted as credit identification and payment in the US. The usual credit card authorization hold will apply. Debit cards issued within the US are accepted at most locations.
Hope this helps,
Jordan
January 31st, 2013 at 5:55 pm
The Switzerland Avis site states “You can pay for your rental car using an Avis method of payment or any recognised international credit card. Debit and prepaid cards are not accepted.” Is Switzerland one of the countries that do not allow the use of a Visa debit card to pay for a car rental?
February 3rd, 2013 at 9:10 pm
Hi
We are going to Spain in August and have booked and pre paid through British Airways for a vehicle to be collected on arrival at Alicante airport.
I do not have a credit card and do not want one.
Would a pre paid credit card be accepatable to use as security.
Also can you please advise me on how much money will be secured against which ever card I do use.
Thanks
February 6th, 2013 at 8:28 pm
I’m more and more frustrated trying to hire a car with a debit card, On this blog it seems ok to hire a car in France, yet when queried, Avis.ie has stated “Avis France only accept a credit card in the main drivers own name.”
Who’s right?
Anyone know a taxi no. in Paris?
February 8th, 2013 at 9:42 pm
Hi.
What about Iceland? You say most European countries, but there appear to be a lot of exceptions. Hopefully not Iceland?
Thanks,
Roger
February 12th, 2013 at 3:49 pm
Hello Dean,
Avis Europe (Italy, France, UK, Germany, Netherlands etc and also including Greece) does accept Visa and Mastercard Debit cards in most European countries but not Solo, Switch, Maestro, Electron etc. The card must just have the word DEBIT written on it and the numbers will be embossed (raised).
The Avis Europe countries that currently don’t accept Debit cards are Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg.
I hope this helps and I hope you have a nice time in Switzerland!
February 12th, 2013 at 3:50 pm
Hello Rob,
Avis Europe (Italy, France, UK, Germany, Netherlands etc and also including Greece) does accept Visa and Mastercard Debit cards in most European countries but not Solo, Switch, Maestro, Electron etc. The card must just have the word DEBIT written on it and the numbers will be embossed (raised).
The Avis Europe countries that currently don’t accept Debit cards are Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg. In order to hire a car in Spain it’s mandatory the use of a Credit Card. The deposit made on the card will usually be a full fuel tank plus about 20% of the total rental cost.
Hope this helps,
Jordan
February 12th, 2013 at 3:54 pm
Hello Andrew,
I understand your frustration and I’m sorry.
Avis Europe (Italy, France, UK, Germany, Netherlands etc and also including Greece) does accept Visa and Mastercard Debit cards in most European countries but not Solo, Switch, Maestro, Electron etc. The card must just have the word DEBIT written on it and the numbers will be embossed (raised).
The Avis Europe countries that currently don’t accept Debit cards are Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg.
As stated in the France Terms and Conditions (excuse the caps):
CARS MAY BE RENTED BY USING AN AVIS CHARGE CARD, FULL CREDIT OR FIXED VALUE VOUCHERS (SUPPORTED BY CREDIT OR CHARGE CARDS), CREDIT OR CHARGE CARDS APPROVED BY AVIS. SEE DETAILS BELOW.
AVIS ISSUED CHARGE CARDS.
FULL CREDIT (WITH OR WITHOUT AWD NUMBER) AND FIXED VALUE
VOUCHERS (SUPPORTED BY CREDIT OR CHARGE CARDS).
ACTO.
CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED: AMEX, DINERS, VISA, VISA DEBIT, EUROCARD, MASTERCARD
CREDIT CARDS NOT ACCEPTED: VISA ELECTRON, VISA+, INDIGO, KYRIEL, MASTERCARD MAESTRO, CIRRUS
I hope this makes it slightly more clear.
Jordan
March 6th, 2013 at 2:18 pm
Hello Roger,
I’m afraid Avis Iceland do not accept debit card as a payment method.