The line "a credit card in the main driver's name is required" is one of the most common reasons people abandon a booking. It is not arbitrary: the rental company needs a way to block a deposit, and debit cards historically could not do that. Today this only applies to part of the market.
Why rental desks ask for a credit card
At pick-up the desk blocks a deposit equal to the excess, commonly 700 to 2,000 euros. A block is not a payment — the money is not taken, only made unavailable for the rental period, and it is released within roughly two weeks of the return. With a debit card the amount has to genuinely sit in the account, which is a problem in itself for many people.
How to get around it
Most of our partner rental companies accept a debit card. The usual condition is that you take full cover with zero excess — then there is nothing to block and the deposit is either nil or a token 100 to 200 euros. The card must always be physical and in the main driver's name; virtual cards from banking apps and prepaid cards are not accepted. Cash deposits are effectively extinct.
Just tell us in your enquiry that you only have a debit card. We will shortlist only the companies that accept one and state upfront what deposit to expect. A person builds the offer, not an algorithm, so this condition will not get lost along the way. Our service is free and the price is the same as, or lower than, booking direct.
