Rent a car in Des Moines without a credit card

By Dillon Davis, owner of CrownPoint Rentals · Des Moines, Iowa

Plenty of people in Des Moines don't carry a credit card, or would rather not put a rental on one. That shouldn't keep you from getting a car. Here's how it usually works at the big rental counters, and how it works with us.

Why big rental counters want a credit card

A credit card gives a rental company an easy way to hold a deposit and to charge for damage, tolls or a late return after you've driven off. That's why most national brands treat it as the default.

Many of them do take debit cards, but with conditions. Depending on the company and the location, that can mean a hold of a few hundred dollars on your bank account, extra paperwork such as a recent utility bill, a credit check, or proof of a return flight at airport counters. Prepaid cards are usually turned down. The rules differ by company and even by branch, so check before you go.

If you've ever been turned away at a counter for showing a debit card, that's why.

How it works with CrownPoint

We're a locally owned Des Moines rental company, and we keep payment simple:

• Pay by credit card, debit card, Zelle or cash. A credit card isn't required.
• A deposit only on select cars. If the car you pick needs a refundable deposit, we tell you before you sign. You get it back once the car comes back in the same condition and passes inspection.
• Week-by-week payments on long rentals. Most long-term renters pay weekly.

What you do need:

• A valid driver's license. You can rent at 18 (21 for the Tesla Model 3), with no under-25 fee.
• Full coverage auto insurance in your name, with collision and comprehensive. We don't sell insurance.

What it costs

Rates are per day or per week, plus Iowa sales tax and rental tax, and a delivery fee if we bring the car to you. You see the full total before you sign.

Every car has unlimited miles except the Tesla Model 3, which includes 150 miles a day.

Getting the car

Fill out the two-minute form at crownpointrentals.com/inquiry-form, or call or text 515-442-0861. We check your license and insurance, and you sign the agreement on your phone. Then we bring the car to your home, your work, the body shop or Des Moines International Airport, anywhere within about 30 minutes of Des Moines. Most days it can happen the same day.

FAQ

Do I need a credit card to rent from CrownPoint? No. You can pay by credit card, debit card, Zelle or cash.

Is there a deposit? Some cars need a refundable deposit. We tell you before you sign, and you get it back once the car comes back in the same condition and passes inspection.

Can I pay cash? Yes. We take cash, Zelle, and credit and debit cards.

Can I rent at 18 and pay with a debit card? Yes. You can rent at 18 with no under-25 fee (21 for the Tesla Model 3), as long as you have a valid license and full coverage insurance in your name.