Issues renting a car with a French credit card in Bangkok

Hi, Has anyone else run into problems renting a car with a French credit card at Bangkok International Airport with international rental companies (like Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz)? These international car rental companies require a "credit card" to hold the deposit when picking up the vehicle. However, in several countries, French credit cards are considered "debit" cards rather than "credit" cards (even if "credit" is printed on your Visa bank card, for example). The rental agencies can't "block" the deposit with certain bank cards (though paying for the rental itself isn’t an issue), and they’ll refuse to give you the vehicle even if the rental was already paid during booking. I’ve already had this issue in several countries (Chile, Canada) with international rental companies that refused my bank card for holding the deposit, even though "credit" is clearly printed on my Visa Premier card. Has anyone encountered this problem in Bangkok? Thanks for your help! P.S.: I have a valid international driver’s permit, and I’ve searched the forum for answers about Thailand.

Hello, personally I’ve never had this problem (it’s pretty common with some Spanish rental companies, for example) and I’ve rented quite a few times in Thailand with different agencies… with Visa Premier

Hi, Thanks so much for sharing your experience. Yeah, I’ve had the same problem with car rental companies in several countries—I ended up stuck when it was time to pick up the car!

In your experiences, did you rent from international companies like Avis, Budget, Europcar, or Hertz? Was it at Bangkok Airport? Was this in recent years?

Thanks for your help

Hi there,

Before I had my own car, I rented from Budget in BKK multiple times with no issues using my French credit card.

In your experience, have you ever rented from international agencies like Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz...? Was it at Bangkok airport? Was it in recent years?

Thanks for your help

yeah, my last rental was less than a year ago, in Krabi with Sixt. And I returned the car with a big dent in the back—it went through no problem, phew!

I also have a reservation for December at BKK airport with Alamo, 15 days for 420 €, pretty cheap...

Awesome, thanks so much for the details! Have a great trip in December

Thanks so much for your message. That’s exactly the kind of first-hand experience I was looking for!

It’s a country where, no matter what you ask for, for every one that refuses, 10 will accept or find you a solution—because obviously, there’s money to be made.

Personally, I’ve never had any issues. I don’t even have an international driver’s license—just a regular French one. Two years ago, I even rented a vehicle for a month with just a scan of my license, which was still in France! No problems with the card either. I use the Rent Connected app on iOS (https://www.rentconnected.com/) to compare offers. If one agency gives you trouble, just call another. The service is really responsive and available. I like that it includes not just big agencies but also small local rental companies. In Phuket, it’s often a better deal. Have a great trip! 🙂

It's true that rental companies aren't too strict with the paperwork. But if there's a scrape, an accident, or a police check, things could get complicated.

Hi there,

I’ve never had any issues using a French credit card either.

But as Earthquake mentioned, we can’t bend the rules—Thailand isn’t France with its leniency.

People giving advice to just "wing it" won’t be there to help you if something goes wrong.

And later, like I’ve seen before, you’ll end up complaining in the media or on social media about how the "mean Thai authorities" mistreated you, conveniently forgetting to mention that if you’d just followed the rules, none of this would’ve happened.

Though I guess I forgot—"following the rules" has almost become an insult in France, hasn’t it?

Partirdeloin.

Some debit cards can sometimes cause problems, like Revolut or other neo-banks. The authorization might not go through.

Always travel with multiple cards from different banks

Car rentals anywhere in the world require a credit card, never a debit card.

totally false

You’ve received two replies that are clear and to the point. We’ve all done—or at least considered—what you’re doing and suggesting, at least once or twice in our lives. I’m talking about skipping, even temporarily or as an exception, some basic safety rules.

One day, you hear about others who did the same and had a stroke of bad luck. Not being insured or not having a valid driver’s license can cost you hundreds of thousands of euros in fees or even land you in jail—especially abroad.

It’s like acrobats performing without a safety net. Most of the time, it works out. Those who fall don’t get back up.