Comments on: Tips for Renting a Car on Holiday – Part 1

By: Maxiema - Avis Reservations, UK

Maxiema - Avis Reservations, UK — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 07:57:37 +0000

Hi Becky,

I’m afraid you’re right: only credit cards are accepted in Portugal.

Regards,

Maxiema.

By: becky

becky — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:59:43 +0000

hi, i’m going to portugal in 2 weeks and i have booked a car on the travel agents say that visa debit card will be ok but i have just seen on here that a visa debit card is no longer ok in portugal could you please tell me if this is the case or not thank you.

By: Michael O'Donnell- Reservations, UK

Michael O'Donnell- Reservations, UK — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 10:46:23 +0000

Hello Rosie,

We will accept the Visa Debit Card. However, as I say above it must be Visa with the word Debit, i.e. not Electron, Maestro, Solo, Switch etc.

The question about what is held is a tricky one. If you have prepaid then they usually hold the price of a tank of petrol/diesel (released on return if tank full). Some branches also hold part of the excess (€1000 in this case) but this can be reduced at the office. It costs €12.54 per day to reduce it.

If you are paying at the desk then you will have to have the price of the car hire, excess reduction (if you want to reduce the excess) and any extras like GPS or child seats. If you don’t have sufficient funds then unfortunately the branch will not release the car.

Being a member of Avis preferred won’t change the excess but you should go to the “Preferred” desk and you will get you car faster.

Any other doubts please let me know and enjoy your trip.

Michael

By: rosie

rosie — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:02:54 +0000

Hi we’re trying to book a car for a 9 day trip to Nice at the end of August. You are probably fed up with people asking this- but will a Visa Debit card be acceptable? It is identical to a credit card- not an electron/maestro. If it is ok to use, how much would be blocked on it? Was looking to book Opel/vauxhall zafira or similar. I do also hold an actual ‘credit’ card, but the limit on it is only quite low. Have also joined Avis preferred- whether or not that makes any difference! Many thanks:)

By: Michael O'Donnell- Reservations, UK

Michael O'Donnell- Reservations, UK — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 13:01:01 +0000

Hello Mandy,

Avis France have been instructed to accept Visa Debit, however they will not accept Maestro, Solo, Switch etc.

Regards,

Michael

By: Mandy James

Mandy James — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:29:03 +0000

Do Avis at Nice Airport accept visa debit card at pick up. We have had so much trouble on our last visit there as they said they only take credit cards.

By: Maxiema - Avis Reservations, UK

Maxiema - Avis Reservations, UK — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:00:16 +0000

Hi Victoria,

Debit cards are accepted all over the UK, as long as your card is a plain Visa debit card. Debit cards with the Maestro, Switch, Electron logos are not accepted. Bascially, if the numbers on the card are raised, it’s fine to use.

Regards,

Maxiema.

By: victoria haworth

victoria haworth — Sun, 02 May 2010 15:03:13 +0000

Do you accept VISA debit cards in Jersey, Channel Islands for the excess?

By: Jackie

Jackie — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 13:44:04 +0000

HI
Can you tell me if I can use a visa debit card from the uk, to hire a car in Canada when I travel?

regards

Jackie

By: Michael O'Donnell- Reservations, UK

Michael O'Donnell- Reservations, UK — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:30:55 +0000

Hello Rob,

We will accept the Debit Card of your wife but she must be added as an additional driver. However, it must be Visa with the word Debit, i.e. not Electron, Maestro, Solo, Switch etc. To avoid the additional driver charge you would need your own Debit/Credit card. You both need to be over 25 with full clean licences.

To answer your second question about what is held, if you have prepaid then they usually hold the price of a tank of petrol/diesel and when you return it full they will release this amount. If you are paying at the desk then you will have to have the price of the car hire, excess reduction(if you want to reduce the excess), any extras like GPS or child seats. The excess depends on the car size but ranges, from €600-900. To reduce the excess you can pay €15-€18 per day and this will reduce the excess.
If you don’t have sufficiant funds then unfortunately the branch will not release the car.

Any other doubts please let me know

Michael