Car hire without a credit card on the Costa Blanca: how it works with a debit card
Hire a car with a debit card: no deposit and no excess at Neptuno. What is held on your card, when it is released and what else you need.
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The short answer: yes, at Neptuno you can hire a car with a debit card. There is no damage deposit on our cars, because fully comprehensive insurance with zero excess is already included in the price. The only amount we pre-authorise on your card is for fuel, and it is released when you bring the car back with a full tank. Here is why so many companies insist on a credit card, exactly what is held for each vehicle, and what to bear in mind if you pay by debit card.
Why most companies want a credit card
It is rarely about paying for the hire itself. It is about the excess. With basic cover you pay for any damage up to a set amount, and to make sure they can collect it, the company blocks that amount on your card when you pick the car up: the deposit. Because these holds often run to hundreds of euros or more, many desks require a credit card with enough available limit, and if you turn up with a debit card you are often offered extra insurance at the counter to remove the deposit.
Take the excess away and there is no reason to hold that money. That is how we work: every car includes SCDW Premium cover with a €0 excess (full details on our insurance page).
What Neptuno holds, vehicle by vehicle
| Vehicle | Damage deposit | What is held on your card |
|---|---|---|
| Car, small or compact | No deposit | Fuel only: €120 |
| Car, mid-size or large | No deposit | Fuel only: €180 |
| Car, premium or 7 to 9 seats | No deposit | Fuel only: €250 |
| Scooter, 125cc | €300 | €300 |
| Motorbike, 350cc | €450 | €450 |
| Van | €300 | €300 |
Scooters, motorbikes and vans do carry a deposit, because their comprehensive cover has an excess; it is returned in full if there is no damage. For any vehicle you can pay by credit or debit card, always in the driver's name. We cannot accept someone else's card, even if they are travelling with you, or cash.
Paying by debit card: three things to know
- The hold is real money. On a credit card a pre-authorisation only reduces your available limit; on a debit card your bank sets the amount aside from your balance until it is released.
- Release takes a few days. When you return the car full we cancel the pre-authorisation, but banks usually take 3 to 5 working days to show it, and some take a little longer.
- Full to full. You get the car with a full tank and bring it back full. If it comes back short, we charge the fuel used plus a €25 refuelling fee (how our fuel policy works).
What else you need
- A full driving licence held for at least 2 years.
- Your passport or national ID card.
- The credit or debit card in the driver's name.
- A minimum age of 21.
A UK licence is valid for tourist stays, and EU and EEA licences are valid as they are. With a licence from outside the EU you also need an International Driving Permit. If a supplement applies to your hire (for example, because of the driver's age), the booking engine shows it before you pay.
Airport pick-ups too
The same terms apply if you collect at Alicante or Valencia airport: we deliver cars 24 hours a day, free of charge and with no airport surcharge. Give us your flight number when you book: we track your arrival and meet you in the arrivals terminal with the car ready, even if your flight is delayed. Scooters and vans are not delivered at the airport; we bring them free to your accommodation within our delivery areas.
How to book
Booking at neptunohires.com/en/reservar takes about 2 minutes: choose the vehicle, dates and delivery point, and confirm with the card in the driver's name. Cancellation is free up to 72 hours before pick-up. Not sure about your card? WhatsApp us on +34 666 599 582 or use the contact form and we will check before you book.
More in our glossary
Cover photo: a contactless card payment. European Commission, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.