No, you generally cannot use Afterpay to pay for a rental car directly at the counter. Major rental car companies like Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis require a major credit card or, in some limited cases, a debit card in the customer's name for the primary transaction. This is primarily to cover the security deposit and any potential additional charges, such as fuel or tolls.
Afterpay and similar "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) services are designed for retail and e-commerce purchases, not for service-based industries with open-ended cost structures like car rentals. The rental process involves a credit card authorization hold, which is a temporary freeze on a portion of your credit limit to secure the vehicle and cover incidentals. BNPL platforms do not function in this way; they provide a fixed-term loan for a specific, pre-determined purchase amount.
Why Rental Companies Don't Accept Afterpay:
- Security Deposits: The variable cost of a rental (mileage, fuel, potential damage) makes a fixed, four-installment payment model impractical. The company needs immediate access to funds for a security deposit, which a BNPL service cannot provide.
- Risk Management: Credit cards offer rental companies a proven and secure method to verify customer identity and creditworthiness, reducing their financial risk.
- Industry Standard: The requirement for a credit card is a long-standing industry standard that is built into rental agreements and insurance policies.
Potential Workarounds:
While you can't use Afterpay at the rental desk, you might find third-party travel booking sites that offer BNPL options for vacation packages that include a rental car. However, the rental company itself will still require a physical credit card upon pickup. Your most reliable option is to use a traditional credit card or to check the specific debit card policies of your chosen rental agency, which often come with stricter requirements like additional proof of return travel.
