Credit Card for Car Rental
Deposit in Germany
Sixt, Europcar, Hertz: every major rental company requires a real credit card. Not a debit card, not a prepaid card. This page shows you what you actually need and how much the deposit will be. Or skip the hassle and book a package tour that includes transfers.
Why Rental Companies in Germany Require Credit Cards
When you pick up a rental car, the company blocks an amount on your card. This is called a pre-authorization (German: Kaution). No money actually leaves your account. The rental company reduces your available credit limit temporarily to protect itself against potential damage, traffic fines, or missing fuel.
Only credit cards support this. Debit cards either do not support pre-authorization at all, or the bank treats it as a real withdrawal. That means your money is gone for weeks until it comes back. Prepaid cards have a fixed balance and cannot support holds beyond what is loaded on them.
This is where many people run into trouble. Since 2022, most German banks, including Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, and several Sparkassen, have replaced their classic Girocard with a Visa Debit card. Your card might look like a Visa, but if it says "Debit" on the front, rental companies will reject it.
Need a credit card comparison in English? We list all options side by side, including no-annual-fee cards that work at every rental counter.
Deposit Amounts by Rental Company
Verified directly from each company, April 2026
Sixt
Prepaid booking: EUR 150 flat deposit, regardless of vehicle class
Postpay booking: 2x the rental price, minimum EUR 150
Debit cards: not accepted. Sixt explicitly rejects Visa Debit, Maestro, and Girocard.
Deposit release: up to 10 business days after vehicle return
Source: sixt.de/help-center, checked April 2026
Europcar
Standard deposit: EUR 300 flat rate, all vehicle classes
With SB0 full coverage: EUR 100 (zero-deductible add-on reduces the deposit significantly)
Debit cards: not accepted. Credit card must be in the driver's name.
Source: europcar.de, checked April 2026
Hertz
Deposit calculation: Rental cost + fuel tank value, minimum EUR 150
Example: A weekend Opel Corsa at EUR 92 + fuel tank EUR 154 = EUR 246 total deposit
Deposit release: typically 5 to 7 business days
Source: hertz.de, checked April 2026
Avis and Enterprise
Avis: EUR 500 to EUR 2,500 depending on vehicle category and booking rate
Enterprise: 120% of estimated rental cost, blocked at pick-up
Both have among the highest deposits of the major companies. Check your available credit limit before booking premium vehicles.
How Much Credit Limit Do You Actually Need?
The deposit is on top of any other charges on your card. If you already have EUR 800 used on a EUR 1,500 limit card, you only have EUR 700 available. That will not cover a standard car rental deposit.
| Vehicle Class | Examples | Typical Deposit | Recommended Free Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | VW Polo, Opel Corsa | EUR 500-800 | EUR 1,000+ |
| Standard | VW Golf, Skoda Octavia | EUR 800-1,200 | EUR 1,500+ |
| SUV / Kombi | VW Tiguan, Ford Kuga | EUR 1,200-2,000 | EUR 2,500+ |
| Premium | BMW 3er, Audi A4 | EUR 1,500-2,500 | EUR 3,000+ |
| Luxury | Mercedes E, BMW 5er | EUR 2,500-5,000+ | EUR 5,500+ |
Your Debit Card Will Not Work
This trips up a lot of people. You see the Visa logo on your bank card and assume it is a credit card. It is not. There are three card types that can carry the Visa logo:
Visa Credit Card
Has a credit line. Supports pre-authorization. Accepted everywhere for deposits.
Visa Debit Card
Draws directly from your bank account. Most rental companies in Germany reject it for deposits. This is what most German bank accounts now come with.
Visa Prepaid
Pre-loaded with a fixed balance. Cannot support deposit holds. Rejected without exception. A prepaid card will not solve this problem.
How to check: look at the front of your card. If it says "Debit" anywhere, you need a separate credit card for car rental deposits.
Deposit vs. Deductible: Two Different Things
This causes real confusion among renters. They are related but separate:
Deposit (Kaution)
The amount blocked on your credit card as security. You get this back after returning the car without issues. No money leaves your account.
Deductible (Selbstbeteiligung)
The amount you pay out of pocket if damage occurs. This is what insurance covers. A higher insurance package reduces both the deductible and the deposit amount.
Europcar's SB0 package (zero deductible) drops the deposit from EUR 300 to EUR 100. If your credit limit is tight, full coverage is worth considering.
Can You Rent a Car in Germany Without a Credit Card?
Short answer: technically yes, but your options shrink dramatically.
Platforms like Sunny Cars offer bookings where you prepay everything online, including the deposit. Some accept bank transfer or PayPal. But even then, the rental station often still asks for a credit card for any extras.
Sixt accepts debit cards in limited cases: only for vehicles up to Fullsize class, only if you are at least 23, and only with a German address. The deposit is charged immediately (not blocked) at 1.5x the rental price plus EUR 70.
Cash deposits: not available at any major German rental company.
The bottom line: if you plan to rent cars regularly in Germany, getting a real credit card is not optional. See our free credit card comparison for cards with no annual fee.
How to Lower the Deposit
If your credit limit is close to the deposit amount, a few approaches help.
- 1Book full coverage (SB0): Europcar drops from EUR 300 to EUR 100. Other companies offer similar reductions with zero-deductible add-ons.
- 2Choose a smaller vehicle: An Opel Corsa instead of an Audi Q5 cuts the deposit by EUR 1,000 or more.
- 3Request a temporary credit limit increase: Most German issuers do this for free. Call 1 to 2 weeks before your trip.
- 4Use prepaid booking platforms: Sunny Cars and similar services let you pay deposits upfront online, bypassing the counter check.
What Happens at the Rental Counter
Knowing the process prevents surprises at pick-up.
Show your rental number and confirmation email.
Must be valid and match the name on your credit card. EU licenses work without an international permit. Some non-EU licenses require one.
The agent verifies it is a real credit card and the name matches. They may check the back for the "Credit" designation.
The agent runs the deposit hold. Your available limit drops immediately. You should get a bank notification.
Walk around the car with the agent. Photograph every scratch and dent with timestamps. This protects you if damage is disputed later.
Read the fuel policy (full-to-full or pre-purchased), mileage limits, and additional driver fees before signing.
When Do You Get the Deposit Back?
After returning the car without issues, the rental company releases the hold immediately. How long it takes to show in your account depends on your bank.
| Payment Method | Release Time | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card | 3 to 10 business days | Available credit restored, no money movement |
| Debit card (where accepted) | Up to 30 days | Real money held, then returned to account |
Sixt takes up to 10 business days. Europcar and Hertz typically release within 5 to 7 business days. If you are also looking into car insurance in Germany, a separate comparison can help fill coverage gaps your rental policy might miss.
Compare Credit Cards for Car Rental
All cards listed are real credit cards with actual credit lines, accepted by Sixt, Europcar, Hertz, and every other major rental company.
Credit Cards for Car Rental Deposit
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Frequently Asked Questions
This guide is available in German at Kreditkarte Mietwagen Kaution. If you are new to Germany and need your first credit card, our guide for expats and foreigners covers what you need to know. Planning a trip to the US? Check our best travel credit cards from Germany. For online bookings before you travel, a virtual credit card can help with reservations while keeping your main card for the counter.
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CheckAlle.de is an independent comparison portal. Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you apply for a card through our comparison tool. Deposit amounts and policies were verified directly from each rental company's website in April 2026. This page does not constitute financial advice.