Skip the Deposit and Save Money on Rental Cars: Learn How (But Be Careful)

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A rental deposit is a sum you give the car rental company as a security guarantee.

If the car is returned undamaged and clean, the deposit is fully refunded.

In most cases, the deposit is actually a guarantee on your debit or credit card, and not an actual charge. This is similar to when you pre-pay for a tank of fuel at the gas station.

This means that, once you return your car in good condition, the deposit is typically released within a few business days.

The deposit varies depending on the company, vehicle type, your age, rental duration, and booking location.

You are, however, asking the question, ‘can I skip paying the deposit’ altogether. We’ve put together this quick guide to help with an answer.

Skipping Car Rental Deposit

First of all, ask, why do you want to skip payment of the deposit?

If you have a credit card, the deposit usually sits on the card as a guarantee, and not as a charge. While it will temporarily reduce the accessible card balance, if you have a reasonable credit limit, it shouldn’t affect your travels.

If you can't afford the deposit hold, you should carefully consider whether you can truly afford the rental.

Almost all companies like Avis, Budget, Hertz, and National require a deposit. They won’t let you out of it, no matter how much you plead.

Some smaller, lesser-known car rental agencies may allow rentals with lower or no deposits. One place you can compare these at is Stress Free Car Rental.

By default, their website will sort car rental in a given location by the lowest security deposit.

You can then further filter by the amount of the deposit, so you only see results within a given deposit bracket.

You can see an example below showing a search result filtered for “$150 or less”:

However, be careful, as some of these low security deposit options actually end up way more expensive than those with slightly higher deposits.

Below shows a comparison example where we have instead filtered by “Cheapest Price”, showing that for a slightly higher security deposit, you’d be saving hundred upfront on your car rental.

Remember, even if you find an option where you can skip the deposit, it doesn't eliminate responsibilities.

In fact, it’s even more vital to document pre-existing damages before starting your trip to avoid disputes upon return.

Summing Up

In conclusion, though rental deposits are the norm, there are ways to reduce them.

You should however be careful that the goal of avoiding a deposit doesn’t see you spending more on the rental itself, or potentially being lumped with other costly extras.

The world of car rental can seem full of rip-offs and surprise charges.

By being savvy, planning ahead, comparing options, and being aware of potential hidden costs, you can save significantly on your car rental expenses.

Remember, every dollar saved on car rental is a dollar you can spend enjoying your trip!