Car hire without credit card

vikingaero

Try ringing a few local companies and even the majors. About 7 years ago I lost my wallet and needed to hire a car for work the next day. I explained this to the rental place, and the manager agreed to rent for cash. I paid the rental in cash, gave a cash £250 deposit, had to upgrade to zero excess, take DL and passport and 2 utility bills.

harveybobbles

Thrify will let you use a debit card that reads VISA as it tricks their card machine into thinking it's a credit card. Thrify told me this when I was booking a tranny van a few weeks back.

gner_ex

Buy a cheap car with a couple of months' MOT then sell it again when you've finished?

BennyTheSnitch

vikingaero wrote: »

the manager agreed to rent for cash

Thanks viking, this sounds like good advice. My missus did ask each of the big companies if they would accept cash and they were all fairly adamant that they couldn't do it. However, from what you've said it sounds like they can be pretty flexible if they need to be. Perhaps a little coercion is required here

BennyTheSnitch

harveybobbles wrote: »

Thrify will let you use a debit card that reads VISA as it tricks their card machine into thinking it's a credit card. Thrify told me this when I was booking a tranny van a few weeks back.

Wow, that's honest of them - good work Thrifty! It sounds like my new shiny Barclays Connect VISA debit card will work like a charm then! Thanks harveybobbles


(tee hee, you said booking a tranny) :rotfl:

BennyTheSnitch

gner_ex wrote: »

Buy a cheap car with a couple of months' MOT then sell it again when you've finished?

Hmmm, yup, I guess that's an idea too. But with luck like mine it will sting me. I'll get half way into the edge of nowhere before the engine makes that familiar noise I had with my old car... lol

harveybobbles

You could book a 24/48 hour test drive of a LAguna, Lexus, Skoda etc...

caz2460

Hi

I am hiring a car next friday through enterprise and they have said I can use my solo card no probs. Prices quoted are all normal rates and only £100 deposit.

Doooford

Hi Benny, I can't remember why I ended up doing this, but once I went to Enterprise to hire a car, and I think I hadn't read the terms properly or something, but I just took along a cash deposit. After filling all the forms out I handed over the cash and the guy said that it had to be a card payment. I said that I didn't have the money on the card as I'd just taken it out.
He then started saying that you know, he shouldn't take cash deposits and that his boss would go mental when he got back to the office. I said, well fair enough then mate, don't want to get you in trouble, I'll just see if I can borrow a van off of a mate. He then said that it should be possible actually, and that he'd do me a favour and accept cash.
This was for a long wheel base transit van, and I had to leave £150 deposit, and then paid the discount van price as it was booked on line.
It's maybe a bit risky, but worth a go. I really like Enterprise, but at the end of the day, if it's between taking your money and losing out to somewhere else, I think they'd take cash. Some places may be stricter than others though!