Can you rent a car without credit?

First, thanks to all of you--this site is god-send. I'm so happy to have found it.

My question: Can you rent a car without credit? Not lease, but rent, as in Hertz, Avis, National/Alamo?

My husband and I are going to have to file for Ch.7 (we live in downtown NYC and our businesses tanked after 9/11 . . . we were tenacious, or stupid, and tried to keep them running using our personal credit).

We'll probably file pretty soon . . . in the next two or three months. Two years back I took a job making about $46K, which is about half of what we need to survive in NYC.

In the meantime I applied for a cash rental card from Avis, but was turned down because, of course, our credit report is really bad now. Up until October 04 we kept it together, but then we had to stop making the minimum payments. Somehow I thought the fact that I was employed would matter. Guess not!

If we can't rent a car without credit, how soon will we be able to get a credit card for this express purpose? (We don't really want alot of credit again . . . it cushioned us after 9/11, but it also meant that we didn't really keep close enough track of how badly our businesses (and household finances) were doing.)

And BTW, why do I want to be able to rent a car? Job interviews outside the city and away from public transportation . . .

Any thoughts you have would be appreciated! Thanks!

My father-in-law worked for the Bank of NY downtown, and lived in Westchester county. The trains don't run everywhere! I know that you can rent a car with a debit or check card from your bank. Usually they have a Visa or Mastercard logo on them. It does not have to a CC. Hope this helps, :) Good Luck on the interviews!

As far as I know, they do not check your credit report to rent a car. But if you don't use a credit card, you will need to pay in advance. As for getting a credit card, you can't get new credit during the pendancy of the BK.

Most rental car companies accept Visa Check Cards, but "hold" a certain amount of money until the car is returned. Some also accept debit cards, and cash. You're going to have to call them to get current up to date information on the forms of payment they can accept.

Good Luck!

Just FYI, most rental car companies in NYC do NOT accept debit or check cards, unfortunately (I live here too and am struggling with the same thing currently.) Some of them do but you have to call first to make sure. (Make sure you call the actual branch you want to rent from, not just the 800 number. Ask to talk to the manager and get names. I've called the 800 numbers of both National and Enterprise and have been told it's okay to use a debit card only to get to the location and have them refuse it even with my offering a giant cash deposit.) Good luck!!

Just FYI, most rental car companies in NYC do NOT accept debit or check cards, unfortunately (I live here too and am struggling with the same thing currently.) Some of them do but you have to call first to make sure. (Make sure you call the actual branch you want to rent from, not just the 800 number. Ask to talk to the manager and get names. I've called the 800 numbers of both National and Enterprise and have been told it's okay to use a debit card only to get to the location and have them refuse it even with my offering a giant cash deposit.)

Thanks for that tip, and thanks to all for your advice. I sort of thought that these NYC car rental branches didn't take debit cards b/c I've seen them arguing with people about it at the counter. My debit card does have an MC logo on it, but is also clearly says "debit card." I wonder if the Visa Check Card idea might work. I'll call around when I have a pressing need. Since we're getting ready to file I want to try to anticipate various issues in advance. . .

Thanks again! This board is really wonderful! :-)

Hi Mothersvox, just wanted to give you a word of encouragement. I'm still fairly new to this whole process (just filed a month ago) but I wanted to let you know that so far the ONLY problem I've run into in the BK process is renting cars, so that's not too bad. As you know, NYC is a very cash-friendly city, so I think you and I both lucked out in that aspect. Good luck to you! You will feel much better after you file!

Thanks for that encouragement! I worry about the car rental thing, but I think it may be a way of focusing my overall anxiety about all of this on something specific!

I stopped using all my cc and went to a debit card. On my first business trip out boy was i in for a big surprise. Between the deposts from the hotel and the rental car i was left with a card that could not even buy dinner. Now i will be using two debit cards so the hotel can debit for the cost of the room not the extra deposet they like to hold on to and the rental car will get their deposet and i can still eat. I have used my debit card and just tell them it is a visa because the bank said " it is a visa and works just like one" just be perpared to have the deposet and some extra on hold for a few days. What once was easy now takes a lot more thought and i need the money up frount.

Thanks for that info . . . It's very helpful!