No deposit car hire in the UK

The short version

Of the 5 companies we checked, 0 state a route with no deposit and 5 accept debit cards, at least in part. The lowest stated minimum age is 21.

Worth knowing before you book

• UK licence holders are asked for a DVLA share code at pick-up, so generate one before you travel. source
• Digital driving licences are not accepted by Arnold Clark, so carry the physical card. source
• A debit card deposit is a hold on your bank balance, so you need enough free funds in the account. source
• Proof of address generally has to be recent. Arnold Clark takes utility bills and bank or card statements from the last three months. source
• Enterprise UK takes the estimated rental cost plus a deposit that varies with vehicle size, and not every branch accepts debit cards. source
• Prepaid cards are rejected by the companies checked here, even where debit cards work. source

What to check before you go

• Read the terms for your rate: deposit and accepted cards can change with the car group and branch.
• Check that your type of card is accepted, especially prepaid and digital cards.
• See what you still pay after damage or theft: the excess shown here applies to the rate described on the company page.

All companies

• Practical Car & Van Rental
• Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental
• Enterprise UK
• Europcar UK
• Thrifty UK

Guides

• Debit card car hire