Without Credit Card Greece Car Hire

What are the benefits of renting a car without a credit card?

When visiting Greece, or any of the Greek islands, hiring a car is a popular way to get around. It saves relying on public transport and gives you the freedom that you only get with a car. You can also explore the local area by road, and discover hidden gems off the beaten track.

However, many car rental companies require you to have a credit card. The reason for this is that a deposit is usually held on the credit card – and should everything be fine with the car when you return it, then the deposit will be refunded.

The issue with hiring with a debit card is that you may not have the required funds to hold a deposit, and transactions on debit cards are usually more difficult to trace than those on credit cards.

Either way, this article will aim to explain the several different methods that you can hire a car within Greece without a credit card.

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

Perhaps the first benefit that comes to mind is the time that can be saved by renting a car in Greece without a credit card. This is because you do not have to wait to be approved for a credit check or worry about having a large enough credit limit on your card.

It also makes the booking process much quicker and easier as a result, when compared to booking with a credit card.

What are the Common Policies for Car Hire in Greece?

Regardless of using a credit card for the booking or not, drivers of hire cars in Greece must be at least 21 years old and have at least one year of driving experience on their international driving licence.

It is also worth noting that this figure can be subject to change (in Greece) depending on what type of car you want to hire – sports cars usually require drivers to be older with more years of experience on their driving licences.

In Greece, there is also a young driver surcharge, which generally applies to drivers under the age of 25 who want to hire a car. This is worth factoring into your travel or holiday budget if you are under 25 years old (or have a driver in your party who is under 25) for when you visit Greece.

At the other end of the spectrum, some suppliers usually set an age limit. The maximum age to hire a car in Greece is usually 70 years of age – anyone older than this at the time of rental may be refused.

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

If you do not wish to rent a car with a credit card in Greece or do not have the means to do so, there are several alternative payment methods that you can use to pay for a hire car.

Most suppliers will accept payment from a debit card, while some will also accept cash payments. The currency used in Greece is the euro.

Some companies will also accept payment via bank transfer from your mobile phone banking app, and others may accept payment via apps such as PayPal.

These are just a few of the alternative payment methods that can be used in Greece – however, it is worth bearing in mind that not all suppliers will accept this range of payments, but almost all of them will accept payment via a credit card.

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

If you wish to hire a car in Greece without a credit card, you can do so in several ways.

As mentioned above, there are a range of different payment options – but how do these work when it comes to hiring a car?

Usually, the fees charged to your credit card will be applied to your debit card or cash amount. This can typically include the excess options on your insurance policy, which can amount to a large sum, so be prepared to have sufficient funds in your current account if using a debit card, or in cash if using cash.

Sometimes, companies will also take a fuel deposit. Again, the same amount that would normally be applied to your credit card will be applied to your debit card or the cash that you have with you.

While both will be returned if the car is brought back in good condition, it is worth bearing in mind that this can amount to a large amount of money – upwards of €2,000 in some cases – so be prepared to have the right amount in your bank account or in cash if this is the case.

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

There are also several suppliers based in Greece who can offer car hire through a prepaid card. For example, Thrifty offer a 10% discount for those hiring a car in Greece without a credit card, and instead opting to pay for it with a prepaid card.

Beepit Rental Cars is another supplier in Greece that also accept prepaid cards as a form of payment for a hire car.

How Do You Rent a Car Using Cash in Greece?

Aramis, one of the major suppliers in Athens, offer cash as an acceptable form of payment when hiring a car in Greece. However, while Aramis do not require cash to be given as a guarantee, other suppliers who acknowledge that they accept cash may ask for a large cash deposit, an amount which is usually in the hundreds of euros.

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

Some car rental companies in Greece will accept a debit card as a valid form of payment for the security deposit, while most insist on it being paid with a credit card.

However, for those that do accept the security deposit being paid with a debit card, the card must be under the name of the primary driver, and the amount – again, typically in the hundreds of euros – will be charged at the point of transaction, and returned back to the customer (minus anything owed to the rental company) upon successful return of the hire car.

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

If you do not have a credit card in your name, or the main driver of your party does not, then exploring alternative options such as paying via a debit card, PayPal, cash or online bank transfer may be preferable.

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

The primary reason why a credit card is preferred over a debit card is because a credit card essentially acts as a safety net for the rental company.

For starters, it guarantees that the customer has enough funds to cover the cost of the rental, while a deposit paid by credit card is much easier for the car rental company to block, should something go wrong during the rental process.

For example, if there are traffic fines such as parking tickets or speeding tickets, these can be deducted from the amount much easier than when it is paid with a debit card, or cash, for example.

Why Is It Important to Understand Security Deposits?

Security deposits protect the rental company and the user, hence why it is important for both parties to understand them.

They protect the car rental company by being able to deduct any amount from the deposit should there be any damages to the car, while they protect the user by encouraging careful handling and safe driving of the vehicle so that they do not incur any additional charges on top of their security deposit amount.

Why Should You Check Local Policies and Restrictions?

In order to avoid any shock expenses or unexpected payments, you should always check local policies and restrictions. For instance, while some car rental companies in Athens offer car hire deposits without a credit card, some of them in other places such as Rhodes, Crete or Zakynthos may require a credit card for their deposit. Check locally before your visit to avoid any disappointment.