Credit Card for Car Hire Abroad Only

saabstar

I am going to France in May with my sister and dad and as part of the visit I have booked car hire. One of the conditions is that I give credit card details when I collect the car. I do not have any credit cards as I m currently in financial difficulies with CAB helping me out with paying back debts until our house is sold. Under normal circumstances I would not go for a credit card but the visit is an important one and I must have the facility. Any ideas - my dad has a credit card but conditions state the driver of the vehicle must have the credit card - i am the only driver. Is there a legal way around this or can someone recommend a credit card which I will not use after just using it to secure car hire? Thanks

as400

Will the company involved accept American Express? most car hire companies do...if so Amex do a card that you can pre-load with money prior to your hols...I think pretty much everyone gets it as there is no credit granted.

http://www.americanexpress.com/uk/tcc/index.shtml

saabstar

Didn't know that - thought that American Express was for business folk - only trouble is that I don't have any money to put up front on a card anyway (have debt problems) - i don't expect to actually use the credit card, I only need one to provide to the car hire co in case, I suppose, I do a runner with their car! Only visiting special place in France on the cheap (caravan holiday) with Dad and sister to scatter Mum's ashes! Sad times ho hum. Your help is much appreciated.

Dave_the_Ginger_Cat

saabstar wrote:

Didn't know that - thought that American Express was for business folk - only trouble is that I don't have any money to put up front on a card anyway (have debt problems) - i don't expect to actually use the credit card, I only need one to provide to the car hire co in case, I suppose, I do a runner with their car! Only visiting special place in France on the cheap (caravan holiday) with Dad and sister to scatter Mum's ashes! Sad times ho hum. Your help is much appreciated.

Sorry for your loss.

Do bear in mind that if you have negotiated reduced repayments through the CAB then the companies will either be showing you at the Credit Reference Agencies as in arrears, or arrears with an agreed repayment. Most of these will have some bearing on a lending decision that a new card will give. If you do go down this route, take some advice from some of the other forums and apply for one which you feel likely to receive based on your financial circumstances.

Here's a more practical suggestion though: If your father/sister (or A.N Other who trusts you) has a credit card account in their own name, they can simply request an additional card in your name. That way, you are not messing about with applying for more credit, it will exist in your name for the rental people, and you can destroy it when you've returned. Most issuers are pretty quick about processing this, you should be fine for May. If the rental company do make a charge for anything unforseen, the debt would be in your relative's name and you'd need to think through what would happen in this eventuality.

Best regards & trust you travel safely
DTGC

PeeWee

Capital one wil give you one, but you might have to pay a £200 deposit, but this will give you a card with £200 limit.

You could get this card, use it, then cancel it and get your deposit back.

If you need the £200 you could always use the £200 off the card for the time being, you might have to pay some interest and charges though obviously.

inmypocketnottheirs

Another thing to bear in mind is that when you give a credit card as a deposit for car hire they will do what they call a pre authorisation for a specified amount. I hired a car last week in Holland and the amount was €500. Now they tell you they are not charging the card, just taking an authorisation, but you will need the amount of the authorisation available on the card. Therefore if they take a pre authorisation for €500 you will need the sterling equivalent on the card - about £350. Then when you return the car, undamaged, they will then clear this authorisation off the card. It can take upto 7-10 days for this to come off the card and release the blance as being available to spend.

One slight way around this is to give a visa delta debit card, then you can phone your bank immediately and ask for it to be cancelled off your balance as you paid by another card :-) . They will give you a standard script that if the amount does come through (i.e. if you damage the car, return it late, get any speeding or parking fines) then they will have to pay it.

The best solution is, if possible, get your dad to hire the car, have him use his card for the deposit pre authorisation, and name you as a driver.

In any event, to save embarrasment, ask the rental company in advance how much pre-authorisation they require. Out of interest which company is it?

I travel extensively for business, in the past with little or very restricted credit, and these procedures have caused me a lot of hassle and inconvenience. This system of pre authorisations no body tells you reduces the available amount of credit on your card, and is something I think consumers should be aware of.

Hope this helps!

King_Of_Fools

It may also be worth noting that some car hire places request that the credit card is a Gold card or better (they do this because this ensures there will be enough credit available on the card and they can request up-to £1000 but a standard credit card might only have a credit-limit of £300).