William Lipovsky
Some car rental companies accept cash deposits, but because doing so means they assume increased liability, there aren’t many companies that do this.
Those that do may also have some additional requirements; for instance, the terms may include a heftier deposit than would otherwise be required.
Most companies will require renters to be 21 in order to pay with cash, and they may also require you to apply for a Cash Deposit ID card, which can take up to a month to process.
Below, we list the rental car companies that accept cash deposits, as well as those that don’t.
All of the companies listed below that accept cash deposits will also accept cash for the final bill. Additionally, some of the companies that don’t accept cash deposits will still let you pay your final bill in cash.
Car Rental Companies That Accept Cash Deposits
We’ve ordered the list below starting with the best overall options, and we’ve included relevant information about renter requirements.
Dollar Rent A Car
- Cash deposit requirements: You can rent a car with cash if you have obtained a Cash Deposit Identification Card. The cash deposit is $350 or 15% of the total cost of the rental, whichever is greater.
- Renter requirements: You must be at least 21 to get a Cash Deposit ID (except in Michigan and New York, where the minimum age is 18). The application takes about 30 days, and a credit check is required.
- Get rates or book online
Thrifty
- Cash deposit requirements: You can rent a car with cash if you have obtained a Cash Deposit Identification Card. The cash deposit is $350 or 15% of the estimated rental charges, whichever is greater.
- Renter requirements: You must be at least 21 to get a Cash Deposit ID (except in Michigan and New York, where the minimum age is 18). The application takes about 30 days, and a credit check is required.
- Get rates or book online
Hertz
- Cash deposit requirements: You can rent a car with cash if you have obtained a Cash Deposit Identification Card. The minimum deposit is $200.
- Renter requirements: You must be at least 21 to get a Cash Deposit ID (except in Michigan and New York, where the minimum age is 18). The application takes about 30 days, and a credit check is required.
- Get rates or book online
Rent-A-Wreck
- Cash deposit requirements: Many Rent-A-Wreck locations will accept cash as an initial form of payment; you can call the specific location ahead of time to verify. The Rent-A-Wreck location may require you to fill out a Cash Qualification Questionnaire at the location during normal business hours. Cash deposit requirements vary.
- Renter requirements: You must be 18 years old to rent, but some locations set the minimum renter age at 25. If you are under 25, you will likely be required to pay with a credit card.
- Get rates or book online
U-Save
- Cash deposit requirements: Policies for payment will vary between different U-Save franchises. For example, some locations require customers to make arrangements by phone if they wish to rent with a cash deposit. Contact a U-Save franchise to find out about its cash deposit requirements.
- Renter requirements: All renters must be at least 21 to rent, and renters under 26 will typically be required to pay with a credit card.
- Get rates or book online
Car Rental Companies That Don’t Accept Cash Deposits
In the course of our research, we found that the following companies do not accept cash deposits for rentals, but they may accept cash for the final bill.
- Alamo (Note: Alamo accepts cash as a form of payment for rental charges at the end of your rental period; however, you must reserve with a debit or credit card.)
- Avis
- Budget (Note: Budget accepts cash as a form of payment for rental charges at the end of your rental period; however, you must reserve with a credit or debit card at some locations.)
- E-Z Rent-A-Car
- Fox Rent A Car (Note: Fox accepts cash as a form of payment for rental charges at the end of your rental period; however, you must reserve with a debit or credit card.)
- Sixt Rent a Car
Be aware that while many car rental companies don’t accept cash, they may accept debit cards. So, even if you don’t have a credit card, you can book a rental. Check out our list of car rental companies that accept debit cards.
Is there a place were you can pay cash only.
Hi Genny,
If you don’t have a debit or credit card, I strongly recommend taking the time to secure a Cash Deposit Identification Card through Hertz or Dollar Rent A Car. It may take up to 30 days to apply for this card and receive it, so make sure to plan ahead. This is a great option because you won’t have to worry any longer about not having a debit or credit card to rent a car. Read more about Cash Deposit ID Cards in the article.
Hi Ken,
Car rental companies can be difficult to deal with! You might be in luck though, it looks like several of these companies have locations in Reno, most at the airport, but some elsewhere. Alamo, Dollar, and Thrifty have locations at the airport. Hertz and Rent-A-Wreck have other locations in Reno that you could also try.
Best of luck!
I have a card but I left it at home by accident I do have cash for deposit my car is in shop for transmission replacement and I’m a healthcare nurse and need a car for work please help
Hi Frances,
Most rental companies require you to have a credit/debit card to reserve a rental car. You can obtain a Cash Deposit Identification Card through either Dollar Rent a Car or Hertz, but this process can take up to 30 days.
I have called almost every car rental and I have had no luck. I have a prepaid card and a driver’s license. I need a car to go see my mom. She had surgery and there is no one to help her.
Hi Echo,
Unfortunately, most car insurance companies require a credit card or debit card with your name on it to secure a rental car. However, prepaid cards can be used to pay for the rental at the end of the rental period, in most cases. It sounds like you need a rental car immediately; otherwise, securing a Cash Deposit Identification Card through Hertz or Dollar Rent A Car is a good idea for consumers without credit cards, but this process can take up to 30 days. The article provides more information on securing a Cash Deposit ID Card.
Hi.
I am looking to rent a car , but i do not have a credit card.
Is posibble to rent at your company in an other way ?
With kind regards Denis
Denis,
First Quarter Finance does not rent vehicles; we’ve provided this article to help you locate a company that accepts cash and/or debit cards. Feel free to give any of them a call to find out more about whether the location you’re hoping to rent from can accept your desired payment type. I hope this helps!
Need a van a mini van but I don’t have a credit card
Lydia,
Most car rental companies don’t accept cash but will accept debit cards as a form of payment in certain circumstances. I recommend checking with one of the companies above to find out if they can accept cash or debit cards at your desired location, since the ability to pay without a credit card varies by location. I hope this helps!
How much is a mid size car
Hi Monika,
The cost of renting a mid-size car can vary widely. The city where you’re renting, the length of time and the time of week/year that you rent, and whether you’ll have added surcharges (for an under-25 renter, adding an additional driver, paying with cash or debit instead of a credit card, etc.) will all impact the cost for a rental. If you’d like to provide some more details about your plans to rent a car, I’d be more than happy to investigate further for you!