Quick Summary:
- Bring a physical Visa, Mastercard, or Amex credit card in name.
- Ensure the card has enough available credit for the deposit hold.
- Avoid prepaid, virtual-only, and most debit cards for deposit purposes.
- Match driver licence name exactly, including initials and double surnames.
At United Estates car hire counters, the phrase “major credit card” is often the deciding factor between a smooth pick-up and a refusal at the desk. It usually does not mean “any plastic that can pay”. Instead, it refers to a credit card from a widely recognised network and issuer, presented in the main driver’s name, that can support a refundable deposit hold.
This guide defines “major credit card” in practical terms, including the card networks typically accepted, why the name match matters, why you usually need the physical card, and how credit cards differ from prepaid cards at pick-up. The goal is simple, to prevent surprises when you collect your car hire in the United Estates.
If you are comparing options and want to understand how deposit rules can vary by provider and vehicle type, it can help to start with an overview such as car hire in the United States, then check the specific rental conditions for your chosen supplier and location.
What rental desks mean by “major credit card”
In everyday rental terms, a “major credit card” is usually a card that meets all of these conditions:
1) It is a credit card, not a prepaid card, and not a “credit builder” product that behaves like prepaid. The rental desk needs to place a deposit authorisation, which temporarily reduces your available credit without taking the money as a purchase.
2) It runs on a major network such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and sometimes Discover. In the United Estates, Visa and Mastercard are the most universally accepted, with American Express commonly accepted and Discover accepted less consistently depending on the supplier and desk systems.
3) It is in the main driver’s name, matching the driving licence and the rental agreement. If the cardholder is not the renter, many desks will not accept it for the deposit.
4) It is presented physically at pick-up. Many locations still require chip and PIN, swipe, or a card imprint. Virtual cards and phone wallets can be refused even if they work elsewhere.
These rules are not there to be difficult, they are about risk management. The supplier needs a reliable method to cover fuel, tolls, late returns, damage excess, or extra days. A major credit card provides a standardised way to do that.
Accepted card networks, issuer versus brand
Travellers often focus on the bank name, but rental desks usually care first about the card network logo and whether the product is true credit. A card “issued by” Barclays, HSBC, Chase, or another bank can still be rejected if it is a debit or prepaid product, even though the bank itself is well known.
As a practical checklist for the United Estates:
Visa and Mastercard credit cards are normally accepted nearly everywhere for the deposit.
American Express is commonly accepted, but there can be exceptions at smaller locations or where systems are configured for Visa or Mastercard only.
Discover can be accepted by some suppliers, but it is less universal. If you rely on Discover alone, confirm acceptance in the rental conditions before travel.
Also be aware that “co-branded” travel cards or airline cards are fine if they are genuine credit cards on a major network. What matters is the network and credit functionality, not the rewards programme.
Credit card versus debit card versus prepaid
The most common pick-up problem is confusing a debit card with a credit card. They can look similar and may even share the same Visa or Mastercard logo, but the underlying product type changes the rental desk’s risk profile.
Credit cards allow the supplier to place an authorisation hold against a revolving credit line. This is what most suppliers require for the deposit on standard car hire, particularly at airports.
Debit cards draw from your current account. Some suppliers accept them at some locations, but may require extra documentation, a larger hold, a credit check, a return ticket, or may restrict the vehicles you can take. Policies differ significantly by supplier and by state.
Prepaid cards are typically not accepted for deposits because the balance can be unstable and authorisations can behave unpredictably. Even when a prepaid card works for a purchase, it can fail for a deposit hold. If your card says “prepaid” anywhere in the app or paperwork, treat it as risky for pick-up.
Reloadable travel money cards and “multi-currency cards” are also commonly treated as prepaid for deposit purposes, even if they have Visa or Mastercard branding.
Because deposit acceptance can be stricter for larger vehicle groups, it is worth keeping this in mind when looking at categories like SUV rental in the United States, where suppliers may be less flexible about debit or prepaid alternatives.
Name matching rules: how exact is “exact”?
The deposit card generally must be in the name of the main driver, and the name must match the driving licence and booking details closely. A mismatch is one of the fastest ways to be refused at the counter.
In practice, desk staff are looking for these points:
Same first name and surname as on the licence. If your licence shows a middle name and your card does not, that is usually fine, but the first and last name must align.
Hyphenated and double surnames should match as closely as possible. If your booking uses one surname and your card uses both, bring supporting ID and expect extra scrutiny.
Initials versus full name can cause issues. If your card shows “J Smith” but your licence is “John Smith”, some desks will accept it, others will not. If you can, travel with a card that prints your full name.
Different scripts or truncated names can also be problematic, especially with long names that are shortened on the card. If you know your card truncates your surname, consider carrying a second card that displays more of your name, or bring additional identification.
A useful precaution is to ensure the booking name matches your licence, then use a matching credit card for the deposit. This is especially important when you are choosing between supplier pages such as Alamo car rental in the United States or other brands with their own counter procedures.
Why the physical card is often required
Even in 2026, many rental counters still require you to present the physical credit card used for the deposit. There are a few reasons:
Fraud prevention, checking the card security features and verifying the cardholder.
Terminal limitations, some desks cannot reliably process contactless-only or wallet-only deposit authorisations.
Chargeback and dispute handling, rental systems are built around card-present transactions and standard authorisation flows.
As a result, a virtual card number, a one-time card number, or Apple Pay or Google Pay may be refused for the deposit even if it works in shops. If you want to avoid desk delays, bring the physical card and do not assume a phone wallet will be accepted.
What “sufficient funds” really means for a deposit
A deposit is usually taken as an authorisation hold, not a completed charge. The amount varies by supplier, location, and vehicle group, and it can increase if you choose optional extras or if you do not have certain coverages included.
Key points to understand:
Available credit matters more than your credit limit. If you have a £2,000 limit but £1,800 is already used, a £500 hold may fail.
The hold can stay for days after return. Your bank controls the release timing. Plan your remaining travel spending with this in mind.
Multiple holds can happen. Changes at the desk, upgrades, or extensions can trigger new authorisations, sometimes while the previous one still exists.
Foreign transaction settings can block authorisations. If you are travelling from the UK, make sure your card is enabled for international use and that fraud alerts will not freeze the card mid-transaction.
For travellers aiming to keep costs predictable, it can help to compare offerings on a page such as budget car rental in the United States, then read the rental conditions to understand how deposits and optional items affect the hold amount.
Common reasons a “major credit card” still gets declined
Even with a Visa or Mastercard credit card, deposit processing can fail. Typical reasons include:
Name mismatch between card, booking, and licence.
Insufficient available credit for the hold amount at that moment.
Card security blocks from your bank due to unusual travel activity.
Damaged card or unreadable chip, especially after heavy use.
Country-issued restrictions where the supplier’s payment processor flags certain issuing countries for extra checks.
Corporate, lodge, or purchasing cards that require additional verification. Some corporate cards work perfectly, others trigger desk policy restrictions depending on the card programme.
If you are travelling with only one payment method, a single decline can derail the pick-up. Many frequent travellers carry a second major credit card as backup, kept separately.
Practical checklist before you fly to the United Estates
To reduce the risk of a refused pick-up, run through this checklist before travel:
Confirm the card type in your banking app, it should explicitly state “credit”.
Check the printed name on the physical card matches your licence.
Bring the physical card and avoid relying on phone wallets.
Increase available credit by paying down balances ahead of time.
Notify your bank or set travel notices if your bank uses them.
Carry a backup card from another network if possible, such as Visa plus Mastercard.
Finally, be cautious with cards marketed as “prepaid”, “top-up”, “spend card”, or “travel card”. They may still be refused for a deposit even if they have a major network logo.
FAQ
Q: Does “major credit card” include Visa and Mastercard debit cards?
A: Usually no. Many suppliers require a true credit card for the deposit. Some locations accept debit cards with extra conditions, but it varies widely by supplier and pick-up location.
Q: Will Apple Pay or Google Pay count as a major credit card at pick-up?
A: Often not for the deposit. Many desks require the physical card for verification and for card-present authorisation. A mobile wallet may work for payment at return, but can be refused for the deposit hold.
Q: Can I use a prepaid travel money card for the deposit?
A: In most cases, no. Prepaid products frequently fail deposit authorisations or are excluded by policy. Bring a standard credit card from a major network instead.
Q: Does the deposit card have to be in the main driver’s name?
A: Yes in most cases. The deposit cardholder typically must match the renter listed on the agreement. A companion’s card may be rejected even if they are travelling with you.
Q: How much available credit should I have for the deposit?
A: It depends on the supplier, vehicle group, and options, but you should plan for a meaningful hold in addition to your trip spending. Having several hundred dollars of spare available credit is commonly necessary, and larger vehicles can require more.
