Credit checks generally show a person’s credit score which in turn helps to determine the privileges you can be extended. Almost all car rental companies use the credit check to determine the liability attached to renting to a certain individual. If you have a poor credit score then most car rental companies will be reluctant or shy away from extending to you any further credit and increasing the risk of working with you. However, some car rental companies which do not necessarily look at your credit score have come up. They include;
National car rentalEnterprise rent-a-carDollar car rentalAlamo rent-a-car
National car rental
This is a car rental agency based in Missouri but it has branches all over the US and UK. Their client base is mostly business corporate who need to move from one place to another swiftly and efficiently either locally or globally.
Although this car rental agency does not need to check your credit to offer you a vehicle for hire, they usually make sure that other conditions are met by the individual getting the car, like;
You must be 21 years old or olderYou can pay with a debit card upon return, that is, Visa, MasterCard, or DiscoverYou will only pay cash when you return the vehicle
The fact that the agency only requires these three conditions gives customers the freedom to choose the vehicles they need without having to stop and fill out forms or deal with customer representatives.
Enterprise rent-a-car
This agency based in the US too does not require a credit check but their requirements are as follows;
You must be at least 21 to rent a car, and at least 18 if you are working for the governmentYou can pay for the car using your debit card tooCash payment is accepted after the car is returned
The agency also offers a discount if you are a student who meets all the other conditions.
Dollar car rental
In addition to not carrying out credit checks for their clients, this car rental agency only requires two more things before they rent the car to you;
You can pay cash upfront if you have a cash deposit ID and if not, you can pay with your debit cardYou must be at least 20 years old to rent out a car from them
Alamo rent-a-car
This is rated as one of the most common car rental agencies in the US and it’s because they are very cost-effective and reliable. Additionally, they do not carry out credit checks before you rent a car from them. However, they require that you have proof of return, pay using your debit card, and require that no one else drive the vehicle apart from your spouse or partner.
Other companies
Other car rental companies prefer that you pay using a major credit card or if you intend on using a debit card instead they set out to perform a credit check on you. Some of the companies that require a credit check before renting a car to you include;
Avis rent-a-carTuroThrifty car rentalBudget car rentalHertz
Conclusion
Although some car rental companies do not need to do a credit check and prefer payment using a debit card, the agencies that do credit checks usually perform either the hard pull credit check which shows your whole credit report and may lower your credit score, or they do a soft pull which does not affect your general score. It is important to ask the company you are dealing with about which method they use to check your credit if any.
Do you need a credit check to rent a car?
Not necessarily, there are options now that allow you to pay with your debit card or cash which has been convenient for the millions without good credit scores.
Why do some companies do a credit check before renting out a car?
It is basically to determine the risk level of a person and the liability that comes with renting them a car.
What do I need to rent a car?
You need to know the purpose of renting, the location, the available options you have in terms of payment, and the duration of renting the car.
