A big ask - info on car hire in UK without a UK debit/credit card

[PhotoLady]

Hi, I know it's been asked and mentioned before but has anyone hired a car recently at Manchester airport without having to pay with a debit card registered or issued to a UK address?

Got friends arriving in a few weeks time and since Barclaycard withdrew from Cyprus and they're a bit stuck.

[trevnhil]

Do they not have a Cyprus bank card. We have always used our Cypriot debit for car hire in the UK and it is registered to our Cyprus address..

[PhotoLady]

Hi Trev
They say they've tried Europcar with both their Cyprus and a UK debit card but both have been rejected.

[trevnhil]

That is very strange.. We have used Europcar this year at Manchester and used a UK debit card (Nationwide) but it is registered to our Cyprus address. I have also used the same card with Hertz and Enterprise..
And in fact I have used the same card to book with Europcar at Manchester next year.

[Jimgym]

I used Europcar at Manchester and had no problems with my Cyprus registered debit card. Not sure why your friends are having trouble. Sorry I can't add anything more helpful.

[WHL]

I use Avis and Enterprise and never had a problem with a Cyprus card.

[Galini]

If you use any debit card then your bank account has to have enough funds in it to cover the amount the car hire company needs as a pre-approved amount. In some cases this could be £1,000 or more.
Could this be the reason your friends are having problems using their card?

[Paul]

We used Indigo car hire with a debit card a few years ago and the car was from Europcar at Manchester.
Try them!

[PhotoLady]

Thanks for the comments everyone. I don't know all the details other than what they've told me.
I've passed on your ideas but also asked if they're trying to arrange a one way hire rather than return it to Manchester airport.
Our friends are returning to UK permanently on this particular flight.

[PhotoLady]

Thanks!
They've now booked a car with Indigo from Manchester airport on a one way trip to sunny Knott End on Sea

[J B]

Thanks!
They've now booked a car with Indigo from Manchester airport on a one way trip to sunny Knott End on Sea

Rather off topic but about ten years ago when I gave up my job, we went to CY on a one way ticket, thinking it would be easy to get back when we wanted.
Bearing in mind that we live fairly equidistant to Manchester, Birmingham and East Midlands.
Long story short, the only flight we could find was back to Norwich so we hired a car from Norwich and returned it to Stoke the next day ... cost us about £35 in hire charges

[Spock]

If we've not been able to arrange a pickup at Paphos airport, we have hired a car for one day and taken it back the next day when we go shopping.
Cost us about €25 I think. Less than half the price of a taxi.

[trevnhil]

I have got good rated from Europacar after booking flights with EasyJet. But Hertz seem to be quite good as well.. It does depend if the hire includes Holidays like Christmas, New year or Easter.