Prepaid credit card for car hire

al202020

Hi

I've read the guide and it seems the best ppc's for spending abroad are Fairfx and Seasons, neither of which are accepted by car hire companies.

Does anyone know of a ppc that is accepted for car hire in the USA?

Thanks
Al

grumbler

al202020 wrote: »

Does anyone know of a ppc that is accepted for car hire in the USA?

I am no expert, but this seems to be not that simple:

Pre-paid Mastercard abroad/car hire
Pre Paid Credit card?
Hiring a car without a CC. Use pre-pay CC?
car hire with prepaid credit cards
Hiring a car without a CC. Use pre-pay CC?
Sterling Pre-paid MasterCard and car hire
...
...

Reportedly, you can do this with a debit card too: Credit Card for Car Rental

MEM62

A prepaid card cannot be used for car hire.


The point of booking via credit card is that it acts as security against any costs that arise at the end of the hire period, such as damage and parking or motoring fines etc. A prepaid card by its very nature cannot offer this security. Once any funds on it are spent no further charges can be billed to it.

grumbler

MEM62 wrote: »

A prepaid card cannot be used for car hire.

VespaRick wrote: »

I used to have a CashPlus prepaid card and I hired cars many times with it.

MEM62 wrote: »

The point of booking via credit card is that it acts as security against any costs that arise at the end of the hire period, such as damage and parking or motoring fines etc. A prepaid card by its very nature cannot offer this security.

Reportedly it can (at some companies) if it allows pre-authorisation (blocking of funds), that only very few prepaid cards offer.

Anthorn

As grumbler says depends on the card and whether the issuer allows pre-authorisation. They know whether their card works for car hire (and hotels and fuel) or not so ask before you get the card.


From my own personal experience going back to the days a few years ago when I was a financial untouchable, Secure Trust Bank works but that account costs £25 to start and £12.50 a month. But hey, beggars can't be choosers.

shane1104

How would they know its not a C/Card?


It would have MasterCard/Visa on it?
the first 4 digits would probably start with a 5: indicating its a Credit card?


I've used a pre-paid card before and got asked what credit card company it was with (I lied and said Barclays) even though it was through APS


http://cataloguesforbadcreditrating.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/cashplus.gif


this is what it looks like

Anthorn

shane1104 wrote: »

How would they know its not a C/Card?

The name of the issuer. There must be a way to designate it as pre-paid since looking back over the years both Amazon and Paypal attached special conditions to pre-paid cards.

Other than that, like the ability to get cashback in shops, the availability of pre-authorisation varies from card to card.

al202020

Thanks all.

Obviously it's not simple or clear cut.

Will read the links posted and take it from there

Al