car hire without credit card

I am travelling to west America next May and hopefully hiring a car, the thing is I dont have a credit card and every site that i look on says you need to leave a credit card for deposit. Does anyone know of a way to hire a car for us who dont want a credit card? surely not everyone who hires a car has a credit card

Danny

You'll be hard-pressed to find a rental agency that lets you take out their vehicles without one. The risk of accepting cash deposits makes the agents vulnerable to robbery.

I have had a bit of luck with carhire3000 they emailed me back saying to send them details so they can generate a quote and too put that i would not be able to give a credit card on collection so will have to wait and see what happens

The whole of N. America's car rental network (both USA and Canada) usually insists on a CC swipe. You might want to tell them your dilemma and the chances are they'll know either a way round it, or a company that'll possibly be able to help.
In Eastern Europe a CC swipe is still generally rare, for the only reason that hardly anyone has a credit card. Not so elsewhere sadly.

Travelling in the USA without credit card is unpleasant, because most businesses in the travel industry expect you to pay with plastic. In the USA even people who are totally broke can get a VISA debit card, which functions in many ways just like a credit card. Not having a credit card will get you looked down at.

The easiest way around your problem would be to talk to your bank about getting a credit card. Explain that you intend to travel to the USA. Note that they might have restrictions about issueing credit cards, say you need to have had an account with them for at least a year.

hi there. i just spent 4months in the USA and hired cars at various times and everytime you need a credit card, debit is not accepted. my card is a marks and spencer &more card, and what you can do is give them the details of your card but pay in cash at the end. i think the reason they need the card is for the insurance incase soemthing was to happen to the car. having said this it is only the primary driver who needs a credit card, secondary drivers dont!

Shreya

Every traveler needs credit card for emergency purposes and even renting a car. The process without credit card is that long because you need to fill up some papers and of course the initial payment. But it's your choice.