Car hire in Portugal with no credit card??

What_to_do_now?

Hi
We're off to Portugal soon and want to pick a car up at Faro airport. The problem is is that neither me or my husband have a credit card and all the car hire companies i've looked at seem to want a credit card to swipe in case of damage etc.
Is there a way around this - will the car hire companies accept debit cards?
Any help or advice is much appreciated, thank you

richard-

Avoid all the smaller non well-known companies operating from faro airport (car part 4). Avis & Hertz both have offices, maybe try contacting them?

InsideInsurance

The companies will accept a debit card but remember that they will be reserving possibly up to £1,000 or whatever the excess is and so you need to ensure your account has that amount of money in it and wont need to be able to touch it for the next week or so.

We did hire from one of the smaller companies at Faro via a UK broker. No problems with pick up or the car itself at all. They were late for the handback by 30 minutes but we had factored in extra time so wasnt a problem for us just annoying. Never got charged for the motorway tolls either (didnt know about them before going)

AMG762

Hi, I would recommend https://www.luzcar.com

I use them every year. You can book on the Internet without a deposit and pay by cash or card on arrival to faro.

They are very good, the price quoted is fully inclusive. You won't get charged extra for insurance waver, fuel etc like other places do.

When you arrive back to the airport you just leave the car in the car park and go. Hassle free.

Also for the last two years I have never paid the tolls along the A22. Luzcar said don't worry as nobody has ever been chased for the money. I don't know if it's still the same this year but worth asking them by email or at the airport

SimonSays

3 - How old must be to rent with LUZCAR?
The minimum age for car rental is 23 years and the driver must have their driving license for over two years. If the license is not issued in the Latin alphabet (ie, Arabic, Greek, Russian or Chinese), will require a International Driving License (LIC), attached to the original license.

Apparently I need an international license when my EU (UK DVLA) will be accepted by another other company. Also that site looks well rubbish

timbo58

eh? It states if NOT in the Latin alphabet.
Latin Alphabet -UK Passport so you DO NOT need an International License.

Doesn't really matter what the website looks like to be fair, there are plenty of great websites in front of crap companies the world over IMHO -someone else who has used the company appears to have given you a fair opinion which sounds ok, without a CC you are seriously limited as you realise, so I think I'd go with the opinion or go without car hire frankly.

AMG762

SimonSays wrote: »

Apparently I need an international license when my EU (UK DVLA) will be accepted by another other company. Also that site looks well rubbish

I use them with a UK license every year. They are excellent, friendly and hassle free. Just pay in cash (no deposit required) and they have never once checked the car over on my return, its just left in the airport carpark.

What_to_do_now?

Thank you so much for your help, very much appreciated.
Can I just confirm, when you say 'no deposit was required' do you mean a credit card wasn't required?

AMG762

What_to_do_now? wrote: »

Thank you so much for your help, very much appreciated.
Can I just confirm, when you say 'no deposit was required' do you mean a credit card wasn't required?

You do not require a credit card at all to use Luzcar. Just complete the web form, they will reply very quickly to confirm the booking. Take this confirmation with your UK driving license and pay cash at Faro airport.

Also some other companies will try and charge you an additional insurance waiver or deposit for a full tank of fuel. With Luzcar you dont have any additional charges. The cars are normally low on fuel when you collect them, but just return it with the same amount of fuel.

Its nice when you return the car to the airport carpark, leave the keys under the sun visor and go straight into the airport. No waiting at all.

What_to_do_now?

AMG762 wrote: »

You do not require a credit card at all. Just complete the web form, they will reply very quickly to confirm the booking. Take this confirmation with your UK driving license and pay cash at Faro airport.

Thank you so much for all your help! I will contact them today to book the car

AMG762

What_to_do_now? wrote: »

Thank you so much for all your help! I will contact them today to book the car

It would be nice if you could report back after your holiday. They are such a good company and other people may benefit from your feedback