William Lipovsky
There are several companies that accept prepaid cards for payment when you return your rental car. However, many still require you to present a credit or debit card at the time of reservation.
Most companies will place a hold on your card for the estimated costs of your rental, and they will release these funds when you return the vehicle. You will not be able to use the funds while the hold is in place.
Some companies also require a deposit, to be released when you return your rental, in addition to the estimated costs.
Below, we explain the policies at the major U.S. rental car companies.
Keep in mind that if a company allows you to book a reservation with a prepaid card, it will require you to do so at a rental office location. You must have a credit card or bank debit card to make a rental reservation online.
What We Recommend
The best overall rental option on our list is Avis. It accepts prepaid debit and credit cards, and it is also the only rental company on our list that does not require an initial deposit (though it may still place a hold on your account).
If you can’t find an Avis rental that suits your needs, NextCar and Rent-A-Wreck accept prepaid debit and credit cards for rental payments, and they also accept these types of cards for initial reservation deposits.
The List
Below, we list the car rental companies that take prepaid debit and credit cards, starting with the best overall options.
Note that the companies listed below accept prepaid cards as payment for a rental, but they do not allow you to book a reservation with a prepaid card, unless otherwise noted.
1. Avis Rent a Car
- Rental deposit: None (it may still place a hold on your account for the estimated charge of the rental)[1]
- Other payment forms accepted: Credit card, bank debit card[1]
- Restrictions: None[1]
- Get rates online
2. NextCar
- Rental deposit: Starting at $150[2]
- Other payment forms accepted: Credit card, bank debit card[2]
- Restrictions: NextCar accepts prepaid cards for in-person reservations, but only those with the renter’s name printed on them.[3]
- Get rates online
3. Rent-A-Wreck
- Rental deposit: Starting at $150[4]
- Other payment forms accepted: Credit card, bank debit card[4]
- Restrictions: Most locations accept prepaid cards for reservations, as long as you also provide identity and insurance verification.[5]
- Get rates online
4. Hertz
- Rental deposit: $200[6]
- Other payment forms accepted: Credit card, bank debit card (credit check may be required when using a debit card)[6]
- Restrictions: None[6]
- Get rates online
5. National Car Rental
- Rental deposit: Varies by location, vehicle class, and payment type[7][8]
- Other payment forms accepted: Credit card, bank debit card (with proof of round-trip travel), cash (at time of return only)[7]
- Restrictions: None[7]
- Get rates online
6. Thrifty Car Rental
- Rental deposit: $200[9]
- Other payment forms accepted: Credit card, bank debit card, cash (only for individuals with a Cash Deposit Identification card)[9][10]
- Restrictions: None[10]
- Get rates online
7. Dollar Car Rental
- Rental deposit: Starting at $200[11]
- Other payment forms accepted: Credit card, bank debit card[11]
- Restrictions: None[11]
- Get rates online
8. Budget Car Rental
- Rental deposit: Varies by location; up to $300[12][13]
- Other payment forms accepted: Credit card, bank debit card (only accepted at some locations), cash (at time of return only)[14]
- Restrictions: Budget only accepts prepaid cards at some franchised locations; you can contact your preferred rental location to find out whether or not it accepts prepaid cards at the time of payment.[15]
- Get rates online
9. Payless Rent a Car
- Rental deposit: $250 for credit card; $300 for debit card[16]
- Other payment forms accepted: Credit card, bank debit card[16]
- Restrictions: None[16]
- Get rates online
10. U-Save Car and Truck Rental
- Rental deposit: Starting at $200; exact amount will vary by location.[17][18][19]
- Other payment forms accepted: Credit card, bank debit card at some locations[20]
- Restrictions: None[20]
- Get rates online
11. Fox Rent A Car
- Rental deposit: $150 to $1,000[21]
- Other payment forms accepted: Credit card, bank debit card (at time of return only), cash (at time of return only)[21]
- Restrictions: None[21]
- Get rates online
Want more information on paying for a rental? See our research on car rental companies that take cash deposits, as well as getting a car rental without a deposit.
Car Rental Companies That Don’t Take Prepaid Debit/Credit Cards
In the course of our research, we found that the following car rental companies don’t take prepaid debit or credit cards:
