GetAround Inc.

26/06/2024 | Press release | Archived content

Do I need a credit card to rent a car

You do not necessarily need a credit card, but you can use one to pay for your rental. As long as the card you use is a VISA or MASTERCARD, it will be accepted for payment. Additionally, you must pay with a card registered to your name, and support 3D secure. Payment forms that are not accepted include checks, cash, single-use credit cards, prepaid credit cards, and a few others listed below.

Here, we'll provide the ways to pay for your Getaround booking. Getarounds policy is digital-first, meaning we only accept digital forms of payment - never cash. See below for more details and conditions regarding our terms of payment.

Paying for your car rental: ways to pay

Once you've created your account, you will have the option to pick your payment method.

Here is our guide to payment methods and settings:

  • You must pay for the rental using a credit card in your own name. (NB: For Getaround Connect rentals, you can select a company card to pay for your rental.)
  • Accepted: Only payments made with a VISA and MASTERCARD are accepted. We also accept VISA Electron cards.
  • Not accepted: Cheques, cash, single-use credit cards, prepaid credit cards, Nickel, Maestro, Chase Manhattan, and KBC cards. PayPal is only accepted for rental charges in Germany or Austria.
  • All Getaround transactions are protected by 3D Secure technology. If your card doesn't support 3D Secure, you won't be able to book or will need to call your bank.

Can I pay the owner directly in cash instead of paying via the site?

No. You are required to book and pay for your car hire using the website every time, as it is this process that activates our insurance policy's coverage of your rental vehicle in all locations. If an owner suggests that you forgo Getaround's insurance by paying anywhere other than the website location, they are running a risk and making you run one too.

You should never use cash to pay the owner unless it's directly specified in the Getaround app or website. The first rental payment is always done through Getaround and never in cash, but some adjustments can be made in cash if you and the owner agree. In this case, this will be specified when doing the checkout.

What should I do if I lost my payment card before the reservation starts?

When you pay on Getaround, you have to use a payment card under your name and first name, identical to the ones appearing on your Getaround account.

NB: For Getaround Connect Rentals, you can use your company card to pay for your rental cars.

If you lose your payment card before the rental starts, you have to cancel the rental and book it again with your new credit card. If cancellation fees are applied, you have 24 hours to contest them from your rental page so we can proceed to return a full refund.

NB: If you show up at the check-in with no payment card or a different one from the one used for the payment, the owner will need to refuse the rental.

We hope we've answered your question! To contact us, or for more answers to your questions, find additional information on our company website! Whether you're a driver or an owner, we have plenty of resources in our help center.