Hotwire Car Rental QuestionJim asks: I'm looking to book a Hotwire car rental for my daughter, who is coming to visit me next month. She's over 25, but doesn't have a credit card. With Hotwire I can book the car in advance and pay for it with my credit card. I'm kind of nervous about giving my credit card online. Are these kind of sites safe to use? I want to make sure that she'll have no problem picking up the rental car.
My Response: While sites like Hotwire are most certainly safe, what you're looking to do, will not work. When you got to Hotwire to book a car, after putting in your pickup and return city and dates, they ask "What type of card you would like to use for deposit." It also states:
"The rental agency will require a credit card or debit card as a deposit when you pick up the car. The card must be in the name of the primary driver, and must include sufficient available credit to secure your rental." That means she would have to show a credit card in her own name at the rental counter, or they would not release the car to her.
Before you book, there is a section entitled Know before you go: It states: "Your account will be charged at the time of booking for the full rental amount, including all tax recovery charges and fees.
The rental agency will require a credit card in the primary driver's name. Sufficient credit must be available for a deposit. Amount of available credit required depends on car type, rental period, and optional items.
Bringing you rock-bottom priced rental cars means bookings are final (no refunds, no changes, non-transferable)."
If you book the hotwire car rental and your daughter goes to pick it up without a credit card in her own name, with the deposit amount available on it, NOT ONLY will they not give her the vehicle, but YOU will be charged anyway. As they clearly state above, bookings are final (no refunds, no changes, non-transferable).
I hope this answers your question, and I hope that you and your daughter can find a way to make her rental possible. Good Luck!
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