CreditCard amount to be blocked off when hiring holiday car

snowleopard61

Hope this is the right bit of the forum to ask this question. For the first time we have booked a holiday hire car for September this year. We have discovered that the hire company (in this case Auto Europe) require to block off an amount on a credit card, to be refunded when the car is returned.

The credit card (not a debit card) must be in the driver's name. At the moment my OH doesn't have a credit card, while I don't drive, so the only option is for him to apply for a card. He obviously needs to be able to cover the necessary amount, without wanting to request too high a credit limit. The car is something small like a Ford Ka and the excess is £1600.

Can anyone advise what sort of credit limit he will need? Would be grateful for any help.

agrinnall

Book with another company, it should be possible to find one that allows payment on a credit card held by someone other than the driver. And you should also be able to find one that doesn't block such a large amount. And finally, you shouldn't have to cover the hire excess, just take out an excess insurance policy, I use insurance4carhire but there are others who offer it.