Credit card for car hire only.

Cathyandtwins

Hi all,
I don't have a credit card, I don't think they are a good idea, BUT, it seems that car hire companies require you to have one. 
Any recommendations for a card that is free to get, will almost likely never be used, and only ever quoted for the refundable deposit on a car hire please?
Thank you so much everyone 😀

DullGreyGuy

Cathyandtwins said:

Hi all,
I don't have a credit card, I don't think they are a good idea, BUT, it seems that car hire companies require you to have one. 
Any recommendations for a card that is free to get, will almost likely never be used, and only ever quoted for the refundable deposit on a car hire please?
Thank you so much everyone 😀

The overwhelming majority of credit cards are free to get. If you use them or not is irrelevant. 

So, based on your comments I am guessing you are generally against credit so how good is your credit history? If you've avoided all credit then lenders may not be queuing up to offer you credit as they like to see history. Your best bet may be with whoever you bank with as they'll factor in your personal relationship too. 

There are subprime lenders that will issue cards to those with bad or no history but they may not offer a high enough limit for your needs. Their APR will be crazy but that only applies if you spend on the card and dont repay it within the statement period.

sausage_time

Another thought - you may need to use the card once a year or so to keep it active.  So long as you pay the statement balance in full there will be no interest to pay.

Cathyandtwins

Thanks very much for your advice, very much appreciated 👍👍

MattMattMattUK

Cathyandtwins said:

Hi all,
I don't have a credit card, I don't think they are a good idea, 

Credit cards are a great idea if used sensibly, or a bad idea if used like an idiot.

Cathyandtwins said:

BUT, it seems that car hire companies require you to have one. 

Also very useful for hotel check in (deposit taken on arrival), pay at pump for fuel, flights, etc.

Cathyandtwins said:

Any recommendations for a card that is free to get, will almost likely never be used, and only ever quoted for the refundable deposit on a car hire please?
Thank you so much everyone 😀

Pretty much all cards apart from premium ones like the paid Amex versions.

Why not get a card with cashback and buy everything on it, paying in full every month? That way it costs you nothing and you get free money for using it.

vacheron

If for UK car hire, almost all basic credit cards will be free for what you want. The only consideration is making sure the credit limit is high enough.

We only hire cars when overseas so we use our Halifax Clarity card and this is free for overseas currency purchases, for the holding deposit as this has sometimes been as high as 2500 euros. We also use it for all our overseas purhases and cash withdrawls to save being ripped off by travel money companies both on the way in and especially on the way out! 

DullGreyGuy

vacheron said:

We only hire cars when overseas so we use our Halifax Clarity card and this is free for overseas currency purchases, for the holding deposit as this has sometimes been as high as 2500 euros. We also use it for all our overseas purhases and cash withdrawls to save being ripped off by travel money companies both on the way in and especially on the way out! 

Assuming you dont damage the vehicle or return it late etc then if the card has an FX fee or not is irrelevant as nothing is actually charged to the card

vacheron

DullGreyGuy said:

vacheron said:

We only hire cars when overseas so we use our Halifax Clarity card and this is free for overseas currency purchases, for the holding deposit as this has sometimes been as high as 2500 euros. We also use it for all our overseas purhases and cash withdrawls to save being ripped off by travel money companies both on the way in and especially on the way out! 

Assuming you dont damage the vehicle or return it late etc then if the card has an FX fee or not is irrelevant as nothing is actually charged to the card

Good point. I was going to add something similar as it is just a hold, not a transaction, but at least it keeps my holiday stuff all together, and works out slightly cheaper if I did damage it, (well, for my excess insurance company anyway!) 

Nasqueron

MattMattMattUK said:

Cathyandtwins said:

Hi all,
I don't have a credit card, I don't think they are a good idea, 

Credit cards are a great idea if used sensibly, or a bad idea if used like an idiot.

Cathyandtwins said:

BUT, it seems that car hire companies require you to have one. 

Also very useful for hotel check in (deposit taken on arrival), pay at pump for fuel, flights, etc.

Cathyandtwins said:

Any recommendations for a card that is free to get, will almost likely never be used, and only ever quoted for the refundable deposit on a car hire please?
Thank you so much everyone 😀

Pretty much all cards apart from premium ones like the paid Amex versions.

Why not get a card with cashback and buy everything on it, paying in full every month? That way it costs you nothing and you get free money for using it.

Indeed, travelling in America you'll 99% need to have a card for incidentals, a debit card hold is a pain. I was at a fuel station last week, pay at pump was the only one available due to staff shortages or something, the kiosk was closed though manned. I normally pay inside so they can scan the nectar card off the phone soi would have been stuck as you can't do contactless at the pump with a phone. I had to dig around in the wallet to find the card, then look up my PIN on the phone app to put the card payment through!

sausage_time

Nasqueron said:

MattMattMattUK said:

Cathyandtwins said:

Hi all,
I don't have a credit card, I don't think they are a good idea, 

Credit cards are a great idea if used sensibly, or a bad idea if used like an idiot.

Cathyandtwins said:

BUT, it seems that car hire companies require you to have one. 

Also very useful for hotel check in (deposit taken on arrival), pay at pump for fuel, flights, etc.

Cathyandtwins said:

Any recommendations for a card that is free to get, will almost likely never be used, and only ever quoted for the refundable deposit on a car hire please?
Thank you so much everyone 😀

Pretty much all cards apart from premium ones like the paid Amex versions.

Why not get a card with cashback and buy everything on it, paying in full every month? That way it costs you nothing and you get free money for using it.

Indeed, travelling in America you'll 99% need to have a card for incidentals, a debit card hold is a pain. I was at a fuel station last week, pay at pump was the only one available due to staff shortages or something, the kiosk was closed though manned. I normally pay inside so they can scan the nectar card off the phone soi would have been stuck as you can't do contactless at the pump with a phone. I had to dig around in the wallet to find the card, then look up my PIN on the phone app to put the card payment through!

My local Asda supports contactless pay at the pump.

Nasqueron

sausage_time said:

Nasqueron said:

MattMattMattUK said:

Cathyandtwins said:

Hi all,
I don't have a credit card, I don't think they are a good idea, 

Credit cards are a great idea if used sensibly, or a bad idea if used like an idiot.

Cathyandtwins said:

BUT, it seems that car hire companies require you to have one. 

Also very useful for hotel check in (deposit taken on arrival), pay at pump for fuel, flights, etc.

Cathyandtwins said:

Any recommendations for a card that is free to get, will almost likely never be used, and only ever quoted for the refundable deposit on a car hire please?
Thank you so much everyone 😀

Pretty much all cards apart from premium ones like the paid Amex versions.

Why not get a card with cashback and buy everything on it, paying in full every month? That way it costs you nothing and you get free money for using it.

Indeed, travelling in America you'll 99% need to have a card for incidentals, a debit card hold is a pain. I was at a fuel station last week, pay at pump was the only one available due to staff shortages or something, the kiosk was closed though manned. I normally pay inside so they can scan the nectar card off the phone soi would have been stuck as you can't do contactless at the pump with a phone. I had to dig around in the wallet to find the card, then look up my PIN on the phone app to put the card payment through!

My local Asda supports contactless pay at the pump.

So does Sainsbury's some times (this one required the card to be inserted though), but you're still not allowed to use a phone on the forecourt which doesn't help if you have only got your phone