William Lipovsky
Short Answer — Alamo’s car rental deposit amount varies by location, vehicle type, and other factors. You can, however, expect the deposit to be at least or equal to the total estimated cost of the rental reservation. Deposits will act as a hold against your credit or debit card until you return the vehicle.
Alamo Car Rental Deposit Details
Alamo requires a deposit, or credit card hold, on all rental reservations, Alamo customer service representatives said. The deposit must be paid at the time the vehicle is picked up. Deposit amounts range based on a few key factors, including location and vehicle type, corporate customer service representatives said.
You can expect the deposit amount to be at least or equal to the total estimated cost of the rental reservation. This will appear as a hold against your available credit limit or bank account funds for the duration of the rental period. After you return the vehicle, your credit or debit card will be charged the final cost of the rental and the hold amount should be removed within one to seven business days, Alamo representatives said.
We contacted Alamo locations in Arizona, Florida, and New York to find out more about the range in deposit amounts. Our findings are as follows:
- If you are renting a car from an Alamo location in a different state than the state on your driver’s license, the deposit/hold will typically be the total estimated cost of the rental reservation. Rental reservations in the same state as your driver’s license may be subject to an additional hold amount.
- For example, renters with a Florida driver’s license renting a car in Florida are required to make a deposit equal to the total estimated cost of the rental reservation plus about $200. When we asked Florida-based Alamo customer service representatives why residents are subject to an additional hold amount, they said it’s a statewide policy.
- Similar to the policy in Florida, when renting a car from Alamo in New York, the required deposit is the total estimated cost of the rental reservation plus 20%. This is across the board — for out-of-state renters and in-state renters. One notable exception is the Alamo at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where the required deposit is just the cost of the rental reservation.
Accepted payment methods for your Alamo deposit include major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover) and debit cards (not prepaid) — provided your debit card meets specific criteria, including being linked to an open and active bank account.
If your debit card does not meet the criteria, you will be required to provide a credit card; you may still be able to make your final payment with the debit card once the vehicle is returned. Cash is not accepted for Alamo car rental deposits. Deposit amounts do not vary by payment type.
