Most major rental car companies in Australia including Hertz, Avis, East Coast, Budget, Europcar, and Thrifty allow customers to book a hire car using a debit card. However, it must be a Mastercard debit card or Visa debit card. They do not accept a normal Savings Account bank card, which is sometimes also referred to as a debit card, nor pre-paid cards. Luxury vehicles cannot be hired with a debit card.
When paying with a Mastercard debit card or Visa debit card, there may also be an adjusted amount for the security deposit. This is based on the terms and conditions of the car rental provider you are hiring with, and the amount may vary between depots. This is because the car rental company cannot guarantee you’ll have available funds on your debit card if the vehicle is damaged or lost. The bond will be refunded at the conclusion of the rental although the funds can take up to 21 days to be returned to your card, depending on your card provider (bank). There may also be a card surcharge that differs to typical credit card surcharges.
For further details on paying with a debit card, click the “Important Information” box that is displayed when you select a rental car using our search form. This information box will display what is required based on the payment option of your choice.
For information on other payment methods, click here.
