Debit Card Car Hire in Spain

Which debit cards are accepted?

The following card types are accepted by all suppliers:

• Visa debit — accepted everywhere
• Mastercard debit — accepted everywhere
• Maestro — currently accepted by Drivalia only

The card must be:

• A physical card (not a virtual or online-only card)
• In the main driver's name
• A standard debit card — not a prepaid card

Which debit cards are NOT accepted?

• Prepaid Visa or Mastercard cards, including most travel money cards
• Virtual-only cards with no physical plastic
• Cards not in the main driver's name
• Prepaid versions of Revolut, Monzo, Wise or N26

Standard debit versions of Revolut and Monzo (where the card is classified as debit in the app, not prepaid) are generally accepted, but acceptance can vary by supplier. It is always worth bringing a backup card from your main bank as well.

What about the deposit?

This is the key question for debit card users. Most car hire companies hold a security deposit at the time of collection — typically between €1000 and €2000, depending on the car and supplier. With a credit card, this is a simple authorisation on a credit line and the money is not taken from your account. With a debit card, the funds are actually withheld from your current account for the duration of the rental, and sometimes for several days after return.

The way to avoid this entirely is to book at a zero excess rate. When full cover is included in the hire price, the rental company has no financial exposure and no reason to hold a deposit. On spain‑car‑rental.com you can easily choose between a basic rate (with excess) and a zero excess rate.

Paying on booking vs paying on collection

Payment terms vary by supplier. With most suppliers on spain‑car‑rental.com, payment is made on collection at the rental desk — nothing is charged to your card at the time of booking. One of our suppliers (Solcar) does require payment to be made in advance of pick up (but not at the moment of booking).

Useful links

• Debit card car hire — search and book
• Car hire in Spain without a credit card
• Zero excess car hire explained
• How to hire a car in Spain