Car Rental With A Debit Or Credit Card

Most car rental companies in Iceland require customers to have a valid credit card to be able to rent a car. Lotus Car Rental, on the other hand, allows customers to rent a car with just a debit card. Debit cards are accepted through our online booking system and are perfectly sufficient to secure a rental car without a credit card. Bookings are still accepted through a credit card.

If you choose to pay with a debit card rather than a credit card, a deposit of 150.000 ISK (roughly £926 / €1092 / $1200) will be charged to your debit card upon arrival. The deposit will be refunded in full within 3-9 business days when the car is returned and evaluated by our team to be in good condition.

However, this deposit amount can be reduced by purchasing one of our insurance packages. Choosing to purchase the Gold Insurance Package with the car will reduce this deposit amount to 65.000 ISK (roughly £401 /€473 / $523). Purchasing the Platinum Insurance Package means that no deposit is required to hire the car.

We accept all major debit and credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club, and Union Pay. If you wish to use a different debit card, please check with us in advance of your arrival that it will be accepted. We do require all debit cards to be issued in the name of the main driver of the rental car and to be valid throughout your rental period.

Should I Book My Car Rental With A Debit Or Credit Card?

While we offer car rentals with either a debit card or credit card, the process involved is slightly different for each. We have broken down the differences between the two below, so you can be confident choosing the right booking method for you.

Booking Process Debit Card Credit Card
Card Imprint Required Yes Yes
Third-Party Liability Insurance Included Yes Yes
Safehold Deposit Required Yes* No
Extended Coverage Options Available Yes Yes

*Amount subject to extended coverage package chosen

Ready to embark on your Icelandic adventure? View our full range of vehicles, or book online now