rental car question

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-20-2010
rental car question
4
Thu, 02-18-2010 - 5:48pm

we are going on vacation in march, and while i am excited to get away for a while, it's also bittersweet because right this very second i would rather be putting the money to debt. but we planned the trip long before we decided to tackle this in january so it remains...

we are prepared for the trip- we started saving a while back for it so it's all set to be cash. the question is the rental car- should we still rent that on a credit card? i am a little worried about it being put on our check card, the foremost being that if they for some reason charge more than they are supposed to that is real money being held while it all gets sorted...

anyone have experience with this at all? thoughts?

tia- andi.


iVillage Member
Registered: 02-17-2010
Thu, 02-18-2010 - 6:05pm

Most rental companys will charge a deposit when you take the car and will put a hold for that amount on whatever card you use. You'll have to use some kind of card so they have something on file in case you return the car damaged even if you want to pay in cash. Your big worry will probably be if all your vacation funds are on the card you used for the rental car then you could have several hundred dollars tied up that you were planning to use for other things. If you don't want to use your credit card then I suggest you call the rental company and ask them how much of a deposit will they hold on your card so you know how much cushion you need in order to cover everything.

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-1998
Thu, 02-18-2010 - 6:13pm
A bit off track here but, I would check to see if putting it on the credit card will give you any kind of insurance so you don't have to pay for the extra one that the rental agency has. Or check your car/house insurance to see if you have any coverage that way.


iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Fri, 02-19-2010 - 10:20am

We rented a 12 passenger van at Christmas and put it on a debt card and had no problems at all.

Norma


"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble"- Plautus


iVillage Member
Registered: 11-14-2008
Fri, 02-19-2010 - 11:18am

I would check to see if you can make a cash deposit or do you have any type of points program on the credit card. Can you cash them in so you don't have to pay at all?

Have a great trip!