USA car hire help

scorpio_stu

Hi,
We are traveling to Orlando on 25th August and trying to arrange car hire.
A few problems .....
My credit card only has a £300 limit and the card company won't increase it for another few months as its new.
My wife doesn't have a credit card.
We have ALL our spending money split between two dollar prepaid cards. I don't have the cash on a debit card to pay for a car hire.
Apparently there is also a deposit to be paid ??
I'm at a bit of a loss as they won't accept cash for car hire As I wanted to pay cash and then the deposit on a credit card.
Can anyone help ?

NiftyDigits

If you arrange the car hire direct, say with AVIS or Hertz and take their relatively expensive Super CDW etc, there should be a minimal deposit of no more than £150.
I'm not even going to ask why you bought US$ Prepaid cards......

scorpio_stu

Thanks for the reply.
Have emailed Alamo directly and awaiting a response.
We purchased dollar prepaid cards as it seemed a safe option ?

NiftyDigits

scorpio_stu wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.
Have emailed Alamo directly and awaiting a response.
We purchased dollar prepaid cards as it seemed a safe option ?

Likely poor value. The best products keep your money in Pounds until you are ready to exchange.

scorpio_stu

We secured a rate of 1.539 which I thought was reasonable.
I think the prepaid cards are a very good option but wa are trying to find out about the car hire. I do appreciate your opinion though.

eDicky

scorpio_stu wrote: »

I'm at a bit of a loss as they won't accept cash for car hire As I wanted to pay cash and then the deposit on a credit card.

Why cash? Would you not pay in advance and/or with the prepaid cards?

NiftyDigits

scorpio_stu wrote: »

We secured a rate of 1.539 which I thought was reasonable.
I think the prepaid cards are a very good option but wa are trying to find out about the car hire. I do appreciate your opinion though.

It's still less than what you would obtain with a fee free card, so you've actually just given your money away for nothing and.. if you don't spend every single cent on the card, that's another loss, unless you head out to the USA again soon.
Just so that you know for the next time.

For USA rentals, purchasers from the UK are quoted all inclusive rates. I can't remember if I paid a deposit and how much it was.
When I used to have a credit card with a £500 limit, I would simply pay the balance off early, so that I could continue to use the card.
In that case, I would have paid for the car with the CC and then covered the payment immediately via Faster Payments. A couple of days and your zero balance would be restored, ready for the deposit.

I don't know how much you've been quoted, but if no joy, you can also call AVIS to see what they can offer. Don't neglect to ask them if they can apply a Promotional Code to your booking for an added discount.

steve1500

We are currently in Florida. Hire car with Alsmo. Although my credit card has been swiped , when I went to my online banking a week later, nothing is being held against the card.

Not sure if that is of any help

scorpio_stu

steve1500 wrote: »

We are currently in Florida. Hire car with Alsmo. Although my credit card has been swiped , when I went to my online banking a week later, nothing is being held against the card.

Not sure if that is of any help

It is, thanks. Have a great time. Did you book and pay for the car in the uk or book in the uk and paid in Florida ?

steve1500

The car was booked & paid for in the UK via netflights

scorpio_stu

Ok,
I've just booked and paid for a car through auto Europe.
Car hire is with Dollar but the chap on the phone said the deposit will be 100 dollars that'll be blocked on the card and dollar website says 409 dollars.