The short answer is yes, but you may need to call ahead or read the fine print to confirm. Major rental car companies typically allow rentals on a debit card; however, they typically assume more risk as the cardholder needs to be present to enter their pin to make charges. So you may have to take a couple of simple steps to use your Swell Debit Mastercard® such as:
- Make a deposit. If you pay with a debit card, you’ll be charged an additional deposit on top of the rental fee when you pick up your car.
- Offer proof of insurance. Show that you have sufficient coverage or purchase additional coverage from the rental company. Debit cards don’t offer insurance coverage for rental cars as some credit cards do.
- Provide extra identification. You may have to present multiple forms of I.D. in addition to your driver’s license—such as a passport or a utility bill.
Also note the transaction may be preauthorized for the purchase amount plus up to 20% or more to ensure there are sufficient funds available to cover incidental expenses incurred. A pre authorization will place a hold on those available funds until the rental company sends us the final payment amount of your purchase. Once the final payment amount is received, the pre authorized amount on hold will be removed. Check out Section V of the Swell Cash Account Agreement for further details.
Accepting a debit card not only varies by company but also by location. So when making a reservation, it’s a good idea to call the rental office where you plan to pick up your car to confirm if they accept debit cards.