In most cases, no. Some car rental companies accept debit cards, but beware they are likely to put a hold on your card that is much higher than the price of the car rental. With a debit card this means less access to cash for you. If you need to rent a car and don’t have a credit card, you can apply for a secured card if you have enough lead time before your trip. Secured credit cards work just like regular credit cards and are reported to the three major credit bureaus. What separates them from regular credit cards is that they require a security deposit – usually starting at around $200. If you have a debit card, but don’t have enough time to apply for a secured credit card, be sure to contact the rental company to find out how much of a hold they require. Then be sure the available balance on your debit card account is enough to cover the rental reservation.