Car hire without CREDIT card ?

A friend of mine wishes to fly into Alicante or Murcia and hire a car.

He is 58, and drives many miles in a year, in the UK, with a clean driving licence.

In the past, I have hired at the airport, and he has been named , free of charge, as the second driver.

In the near future, he needs to travel alone, but, because of a poor credit history, he has not got a credit card.

Does anyone know, if any companies take cash, or would allow me to phone them, with my credit card details, effectively  standing as his guarantor. A bit like paying for his Easyjet flight or similar.

Thanks in anticipation.

With many of the car companies you make the reservation online and make the payment when you arrive to pick up the car.  However, with a few companies (Pepe car) etc. you can make the payment before....but as you said, you usually need a credit card upon arrival as a guarantee.

I rent on a long-term basis here with Crown Car Hire and they are exceptionally good...however, whenever I make an initial first booking (if I have suspended it for any reason)....I always need to give a credit card as a guarantee....and then can pay cash for the following weeks....

I know this isnt much help but I think it would be worth contacting them directly.....  ;o)

Hirecarsinspain can arrange credit card free rentals sometimes, but you would have to telephone them and ask the question. Can your friend not get one of the pre pay credit cards that are becoming popular now?

Mark

Some companies will accept hire car bookings without a credit card BUT they do charge a large fee up front.  I seem to recall Auriga asking for a 500 euro deposit on top of the hire car costs when I was standing next to someone in the queue who had forgotten his credit card.  Perhaps you (or your friend) could email the hire car companies first to check on their policy?

We fly in to Alicante / Murcia about 3 times a year, and use Carjet.  I have never used my credit card, but use my debit card.  As you know, through carjet you pay on arrival, and can end up using any of the car hire companies at Alicante - as they go with the cheapest at the time.  Perhaps this will be of help?

tracey

I was reading about this on another big forum, local to Torrevieja.  Do a search, I cannot say here, it's against forum rules.

Many thanks to all for your replies.

Methinks a call to the various rental companies is the way forward.

Thanks again.

i usually use my friends credit card ;they dont seem to bother whose you use as long as you know the pin

Crikey, sammyray, I don't have ANY friend I'd trust with MY PIN ! 

  No only my daughter know;s mine certainly would not give it out, even to friend's even if they are trustworthy I do not think they would want it. 

                                     Pat