Car Hire with no credit card

Cardave

Hi.
I wonder if anyone could help.
I am going to Portugal faro Airport) and went on line to hire a car and compare prices etc. Then ran in to a big problem...I think.
It seems easy to hire the car and pay for it at this end on-line, but the problem is, when you get there, they seem to want to take details of my credit card (I think its an insurance thing)... problem is I have no credit card or for that matter a debit card and always use a pre-paid card. When I get to the airport to pick up the car...what happens ?? My girlfriend has a credit card and could leave the deposit or card details...will they accept this ?? I would hire the car in both our names, but she can't drive !!
Any help would be truely appreciated.

Obviously_the_best

Could you not apply for a credit card, they are free you know after all, and can help your credit rating. Try an Aqua cashback card.

If she can't drive the car can't be hired in her name, as to hire a car you must have a driving license in portugal.

You could always try to find a place that'll accept debit card, or prepayed, but they'll usually ask for a deposit in the region of €500.

d123

CashPlus prepaid appears to allow car hire (but after a "account review").

http://www.mycashplus.co.uk/customer-help/using-your-card.aspx

Just a couple, so if you want to:

Buy petrol or diesel at a Pay at Pump, we’ll need to switch this service on. Please contact our Customer Services team, so that we can review your account.

Hire a car in the UK or abroad, we’ll need to switch this service on. Please contact our Customer Services team, so that we can review your account.

Might be worth asking them.

mcc100

Last year we used Zitauto and they actually asked for cash payment on arrival. They only asked for a credit card slip if the CDW insurance was not taken out.

As we took out the CDW insurance a credit card was not required.

I don't know whether this still applies but it may be worth checking.

davidjwest

We're using Alamo and they take deposits on a Visa Debit.

Gloomendoom

If your girlfriend has a credit card, ask her to get a second card in your name on her account.

Or just get one yourself.

lagoslife

Use Luzcar.com (no excess charges). Unless you are arriving late in the night they wont ask for a credit card when booking. We use a prepaid card to pay on arrival. I have used them for nearly 10 years.