Car rental - low credit card limit

josephsoap

Hi,

I'm heading on holidays shortly and will be hiring a small car costing €150 for the week.

I have a credit card with a low credit limit of €1,200.00.

I've heard these car rental companies put a hold of 'x' amount on your CC incase of you damage the car etc.

Just wondering has anyone else booked/hired car before with a low credit limit like me?

Gavman84

Iv rented a few times and my limit is only 600 but I always take full insurance so I think they don't put the hold on it then.

mylittlepony

josephsoap wrote: »

Hi,

I'm heading on holidays shortly and will be hiring a small car costing €150 for the week.

I have a credit card with a low credit limit of €1,200.00.

I've heard these car rental companies put a hold of 'x' amount on your CC incase of you damage the car etc.

Just wondering has anyone else booked/hired car before with a low credit limit like me?

Find out what the x amount that will be on hold.
If it over your cc limit they may not hire out to you.

So the next best step is ask your bank monday to increase your limit to match or have some left over for picket money or emergency money not just for the car hire.
I have never hired a car but did ask to increase my limit. You are allow to do this once a year to increase or decrease amount on your cc limit.
Im sure you need to be very good at paying back your cc as they will check your cc history.

theteal

The largest deposit I've ever had to put on a rental car abroad (Spain) was €800. Only in Ireland have I ever been charged €1200 - although needless to say I've never used that company again. You should be fine OP.

josephsoap

Thanks folks for your feedback and replies.

I just checked my booking again and it's say the €130 covers insurance, taxes and unlimited mileage.

I think my limit currently should suffice but I will get on to my bank, a limit of €2k should give me a lot more breathing space.

Gavman84

That's probably the basic cover with an excess I imagine?

josephsoap

Gavman84 wrote: »

That's probably the basic cover with an excess I imagine?

Just checked the small print i.e the terms and conditions

Price includes comprehensive insurance with no excess. including personal accident cover, collision damage waiver, Total coverage in case of the theft of the car

delly

As above, the basic inclusive insurance will cover the amount above the excess. The excess will vary depending on rental company and car class. They usually pre auth your card for that amount.

Most companies will give you an option to reduce the excess, say from €800 to €300 for example. This is usually called super collision damage waiver. Not as many give zero excess cover these days, meaning there is usually no pre auth. Hertz do however, I used them in France last year just that reason. You can get zero excess cover online in advance for a lot cheaper, but the rental company have do dealing with whomever you may purchase it from.

delly

josephsoap wrote: »

Just checked the small print i.e the terms and conditions

Price includes comprehensive insurance with no excess. including personal accident cover, collision damage waiver, Total coverage in case of the theft of the car

That would be very unusual tbh. Even with Hertz they only allow the zero excess to be purchased on the day.

Are you going direct with a rental company or an agent website?

josephsoap

delly wrote: »

That would be very unusual tbh. Even with Hertz they only allow the zero excess to be purchased on the day.

Are you going direct with a rental company or an agent website?

Rental company.

9935452

josephsoap wrote: »

Hi,

I'm heading on holidays shortly and will be hiring a small car costing €150 for the week.

I have a credit card with a low credit limit of €1,200.00.

I've heard these car rental companies put a hold of 'x' amount on your CC incase of you damage the car etc.

Just wondering has anyone else booked/hired car before with a low credit limit like me?

simple solution , lust lodge money into your credit card account. if you have 600 euro in your account and 600 limit , you will have 1200 then

TrailerBob

Who are you renting with OP? Had a megane from Europcar in France a few weeks ago, they only wanted €500 pre-auth deposit.

NorthStars

I rented in Portugal last month from Hertz and the pre-auth deposit was €1,600:eek:

Just a total random comment... But I watched a show and they said if you change your origin when Renting a car it can lower the price.... Just a side note!

9935452

murraychrisg wrote: »

Just a total random comment... But I watched a show and they said if you change your origin when Renting a car it can lower the price.... Just a side note!

Try booking hertz via the ryanair site for a discount too

Stop clocking

I am in Portugal for the week and the car hire company (gold car ) pre authorized 1300 on my Visa card as I declined their full insurance ....,

Car hire excess . Com

20 euro for the week to protect the excess.

PeteK*

Stop clocking wrote: »

I am in Portugal for the week and the car hire company (gold car ) pre authorized 1300 on my Visa card as I declined their full insurance ....,

Car hire excess . Com

20 euro for the week to protect the excess.

You declined their full insurance because you used CarHireExcess.ie?
The whole thing confuses me to be honest.

theteal

PeteK* wrote: »

You declined their full insurance because you used CarHireExcess.ie?
The whole thing confuses me to be honest.

The poster bought his own policy for the week so he wouldn't have to pay the daily insurance fee they offer you at the counter in the rental office - about €15 per day at a guess. I have a similar annual policy with icarinsurance.com for £40. It's when you turn this offer down that they hit you with the deposit fee that's the focal point of this whole thread.

Stop clocking

Exactly.
15 x 7 total 105.
Wouldn't satisfy them so bought my own policy in advance of travelling.