Without Credit Card Cyprus Car Hire

What are the Benefits of Renting a Car in Cyprus Without a Credit Card?

Saving time is arguably the biggest benefit of renting a car in Cyprus without a credit card. This is because there is no need for a credit check, or waiting for a credit card to arrive if you have not already ordered one.

Making the booking process simpler, quicker and easier is a clear benefit of hiring a car without a credit card in Cyprus.

What are the Common Policies for Car Hire in Cyprus?

Cyprus has some fairly strict rules when it comes to car hire policy.

Drivers must be at least 21 years old, but must also have held their driving licence for at least 3 years. This means that say you are 37 for example, and you passed your driving test aged 35, you would be ineligible to hire a car in Cyprus as you would only have held your licence for two years.

In addition, drivers under 25 are subject to a young driver surcharge, so car hire is more expensive for young drivers, and they are limited in which type of vehicles they can choose from (sports and luxury cars are excluded, unsurprisingly).

At the other end of the scale, drivers must be aged under 70 at the time of rental, as drivers over this age are excluded from renting a car in Cyprus.

What Alternative Payment Options Are Available for Car Hire in Cyprus?

There are several alternative payment options available for car hire in Cyprus if you do not have a credit card, or do not wish to pay using a credit card.

The next-most popular method is by paying via debit card, and the payment system works much the same as via credit card – although this will again be discussed in greater detail later in this article.

Next, some companies may accept prepaid cards (such as Revolut) or vouchers for car hire, but this is at the discretion of each individual car rental company, so it is always best to check with them directly first.

Finally, some companies may accept cash payments. The currency used in Cyprus is the Euro, which is about equivalent to the Pound Sterling.

How Can You Rent a Car Without a Credit Card in Cyprus?

If you wish to rent a car without a credit card in Cyprus, there are several ways to do so. As mentioned earlier, debit card payments work in a similar way to credit card payments.

However, instead of the car rental company taking a temporary deposit from your credit card, they will instead take the full amount from your debit card. Therefore, it is essential that you have sufficient funds to complete the transaction via debit card.

In addition, you could also be charged a foreign transaction fee via your bank when paying via debit card, and in addition, debit card refunds take longer to be returned to your bank account than credit card transactions – up to 10-15 working days in some instances, so be prepared to go without this large sum of money for quite some time.

Cash payments also work in a similar way, so you will have to be prepared to carry a large amount of cash to pay for the deposit this way if this is how you would like to pay.

How Can You Rent a Car with a Prepaid Card in Cyprus?

Unfortunately, no car rental companies accept prepaid cards in Cyprus.

How Do You Rent a Car Using Cash in Cyprus?

There are a couple of companies that accept cash payments in Cyprus. One is Priority-Rentals, although they only accept payment in €20, €50 and €100 notes, and not €500 – this is because of the number of high-quality forgeries circulating in Cyprus, so be aware of this before paying via cash.

Can I Use a Debit Card to Pay for the Security Deposit in Cyprus?

Most car rental companies that accept debit card payments will also accept payment for the security deposit via debit card – however, some companies charge a debit card transaction fee, so you can expect to pay more if you are using a debit card rather than a credit card.

When Should You Consider Renting a Car Without a Credit Card in Cyprus?

If either you or the named driver in your party does not have a credit card or does not plan on having a credit card for your trip to Cyprus, then you should explore alternative payment options such as debit card payments or cash payments instead.

Why Do Some Car Hire Companies in Cyprus Require a Credit Card?

Credit cards act as a safety net for car rental companies. This is why most of them require a credit card – it shows that the customer also acknowledges that they have enough to pay for the deposit, as most credit cards have a minimum of £1,000 on them.

Additionally, should anything go wrong during the rental process, then it is much easier for the company to simply add to the deposit amount via a credit card transaction. This includes driving penalties such as speeding tickets or parking fines.

If the customer paid via a debit card, they would then be charged additionally at the end of the rental agreement, and they may not have sufficient funds to pay for this or any damages to the car.

Why Is It Important to Understand Security Deposits?

As well as protecting the rental company, security deposits also help to protect the customer, which is why it is important to understand them.

For example, security deposits make the customer naturally more inclined to drive more carefully and safely – if they wish to receive their full deposit back (and why wouldn’t you want the full deposit back?) they must avoid driving penalties such as a parking fine or a speeding ticket, as well as avoiding any damages to the car caused by reckless driving.

Why Should You Check Local Policies and Restrictions?

It is always important to check local policies and restrictions before you arrive in Cyprus, as many rules and regulations surrounding car hire can be changed at short notice, or are at the discretion of the car rental company – this means that a company that currently accepts cash payments may no longer accept them by the time you plan on visiting Cyprus. Always check in advance to avoid disappointment.