How to Rent a Car in Boston Without a Credit Card

If you've ever tried to rent a car without a credit card, you know how it usually goes. Many rental counters want a credit card in your name, and those that take debit cards often add extra checks, larger holds or limits on which cars you can drive. For a lot of people in Boston, including students, rideshare and delivery drivers, and anyone who simply prefers debit, that's a dead end.

It doesn't have to be. This guide explains why rental companies ask for credit cards, how renting without one works at BlueCar, and exactly what you'll pay and need before you pick up the keys.

Why rental companies ask for a credit card

A rental company is handing you a car worth tens of thousands of dollars. A credit card gives them a way to cover anything that comes up after you return it: damage, tolls, parking tickets, a late return or a car brought back without fuel.

The credit card itself isn't what matters, though. What matters is that the company knows who you are and has a clear deposit to cover those costs. Once a company handles both of those another way, the credit card stops being necessary.

How renting without a credit card works at BlueCar

At BlueCar, a credit card is never required. You can pay with any of these:

• Debit card
• Cash
• Zelle
• Venmo
• Cash App
• Credit card, if you'd like to use one

Instead of relying on a credit card, we verify your driver's license before the rental begins and take a flat security deposit. That's it. The same payment options apply to every car in the fleet, whether you rent for three days or three months.

What you'll pay up front

There are two deposits, and both are simple flat amounts:

• Booking deposit: $350. This holds your car, and it counts toward your rental total. It's refunded if you cancel 7 or more days before your rental starts. Inside 7 days it's non-refundable. See our cancellation policy.
• Security deposit: $250. Any fees after your trip come out of it, and you pay anything beyond it. With no damage or fees, it's refunded within 2 weeks after you return the car.

Rentals start at $99 a day with a 3-day minimum. Weekly rentals are 15% off and monthly rentals are 20% off, and every rental includes unlimited miles. Taxes and any surcharges depend on where your rental starts, and they're shown before you book. The full breakdown is on our pricing page.

Example: a one-week rental

Say you rent a car at $99 a day for a week. Seven days at $99 is $693, and the 15% weekly discount brings it to $589.05 before tax. You'd also put down the $250 security deposit, which comes back within 2 weeks of your return if there's no damage or fees. No credit card involved at any step.

What you need to rent

• Be 18 or older. There's no young-driver surcharge, which many rental companies add for drivers under 25.
• A valid driver's license. US and international licenses are both accepted. With an international license, you also need an International Driving Permit and your passport. We verify it through a third-party service before your rental starts, so there's no paperwork at the car.
• A plan for insurance. You don't need your own insurance to rent, but you should decide how you'll be covered (see below).

Insurance and the damage waiver

If you have your own auto insurance, you can share it through the same verification service we use for your license. If we confirm your policy extends to the rental, your coverage transfers to it. Sharing it alone doesn't transfer coverage; we have to confirm it first.

Without transferred coverage, you're responsible for damage to the rental and for any liability costs. You can add our optional Damage Waiver for $30 a day, which limits your responsibility for covered damage to the rental car to a maximum of $3,000. The Damage Waiver is not insurance and doesn't cover liability to others. Full details are in our rental policies.

Tips for a smooth rental

• Get verified early. Your license has to be approved before the rental starts, so do it as soon as you book.
• Return it charged or fueled. Bring the car back at the same level you picked it up. It doesn't need to be full, but if it comes back lower there's a flat $50 fee for an electric car, or $100 for a gas or hybrid car.
• Return it on time. Late returns are $30 an hour, and after 3 hours it's billed as a full extra day.
• Plan for tolls. Tolls, parking tickets and citations during your rental are your responsibility.
• Stay in the service area. Cars stay in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island unless you ask us for approval first.

Pickup or delivery

You can pick up your car yourself any time, day or night, at 650 Ocean Ave, Revere, MA, with no delivery fee. Or we'll bring it to you anywhere in Massachusetts, New Hampshire or Rhode Island for a flat $120, including a meeting point by Logan Airport if you're flying in.

Renting for longer? Our weekly and monthly rentals use the same payment options, and rideshare and delivery driving is allowed on our rideshare picks.