Many French people are affected by this verification.
Summer is finally here! The return of the sun begins to rustle among millions of French people the sweet melody of the holidays that are coming. Scheduled for several months or still not organized, the summer break is eagerly awaited. However, it can quickly be ruined because of a detail that many people forget to check before leaving.
Preparing for a vacation is often tedious: finding a place, accommodation, activities and sometimes even a vehicle to get around… A lot of logistics that are as satisfying once completed as they are irritating when preparing for it. And when everything is ready, all you have to do is leave with the risk of a cold shower when you arrive. And we’re not talking about the weather here!
Very often, especially abroad, vacationers face a major disappointment: the car reserved for the stay cannot be recovered. No, they weren’t scammed. It’s their bank card that is at fault. A small inscription on the piece of plastic used to pay prevents the rental from being completed.
Car rental companies generally require the customer to have a credit card and not a debit card in order to borrow a vehicle. The difference is clear: a credit card allows the rental company to provision money (notably the deposit) even if your current account does not show the required amount; on the other hand, a debit card does not authorize a payment or prepayment of an amount greater than the money available in the current account, despite overdraft authorizations.
To find out what type of card you have, nothing could be simpler. On your bank card, the word “Credit” or “Debit” is written on the front of the card. It is better to check it before leaving because, according to UFC Que Choisir, the majority of French people have a debit card, therefore a card which can prevent you from renting a vehicle. However, a solution exists if debit card holders have no other choice: take out particularly expensive insurance directly from the rental company.
Among the countries where a credit card is required to rent a car, professionals in the Sixt, Avis and Hertz sectors indicate that this particularly concerns a few popular summer destinations: Croatia, Greece, Malta and Portugal. On the other hand, in France, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom, debit cards can be accepted in agencies. However, it is preferable to carefully read the general rental conditions, in the “Payment” section, to avoid spending your vacation on foot.