Do I need a credit check to rent a car?

A car rental credit check isn’t as common as you may think. If you’re paying for your reservation with a credit card, you probably don’t need to worry about this extra step at all. The only time it may be required by a rental car company is if you opt to pay with a debit card instead. Even then, there are some companies that allow car rental without credit check. Learn about other car rental requirements.

Keep reading to find out how rental car credit checks work, and which companies require them under certain circumstances. 

How to rent a car with no credit check

The simplest way to rent a car with no credit check is to pay using a credit card instead of a debit card. Plus, you can make the most of your credit card rewards for car rentals. There are a couple of reasons why rental companies feel their risk is lower when you use a credit card.

First, it shows that you’ve been approved for credit. With a debit card, there’s no need for a credit check since your ability to pay is based on your account balance. There’s no history to show that a creditor trusted you to manage a credit line. 

Additionally, a rental company is more likely to recoup losses with a credit card than a debit card. Credit cards often come with rental car insurance policies. And a person’s credit limit could very likely be higher than their bank account balance. 

Do you need good credit to rent a car?

Under normal circumstances, a rental car company typically doesn’t require a credit check as long as the renter pays with a credit card. A credit check is only required by a few companies if the driver decides to pay with a debit card. 

Avis

Avis requires a car rental credit check when paying with a debit card. It’s done at the time of rental. You’ll also have a hold placed on your account for the estimated charges of the rental. 

Budget

Not all Budget locations accept debit cards as a form of payment. If they do, they will also run a credit check before allowing you to rent a car.

Hertz

Hertz will run a credit check when a debit card is the form of payment used for the rental. There are also stricter account hold requirements. In addition to the estimated charges, Hertz places an additional $500 hold on the account, meaning you cannot use those funds during the rental. 

Thrifty

Thrifty is another rental company that requires a credit check from debit card users. Like Avis, the credit check is performed when you go to rent the car.

Car rental with no credit check using a debit card

Some car rental companies do let you rent a car with a debit card without running a credit check. Enterprise, for example, allows you to use a debit card at airport locations. However, you need to prove you have a ticketed return travel itinerary. This is one of the differences between car sharing and car rental.

With some companies, you may also be able to make a security deposit instead of using a credit card to pay for your reservation.

How to avoid a credit check when renting

It is possible to rent a car with no credit check. Getting a car through Avail makes the process easy and pain-free; and you won’t damage your credit score with an extra credit check. 

Not only can you pay with a credit card with no repercussions, you can also save in other ways with Avail’s fair pricing. Learn more about what car sharing is.

There’s no additional charge for adding a second driver. Cancellations are free; after all, plans change. Plus, Allstate insurance coverage is offered for every reservation.

Avoid searching through every car rental company’s credit check policy in the fine print. Instead, choose Avail so you know exactly what you’re paying and what your insurance covers — all without having to worry about a credit check.

Bottom line

You shouldn’t have to worry about a credit check when you’re trying to rent a car. Book a car with Avail today so you can move on to planning other parts of your trip — not just how you’ll get around.