Can I Rent a Car in Tunisia With a Debit Card? (No Credit Card Needed)

Short answer: yes. At Rent A Car Tunisia (reservations.tn) you book without any card and pay when you collect the car, in cash (dinars or euros) or by debit card. The refundable deposit (€500 for a small car, €700 for an SUV or 7-seater, €3,000 for a premium car) is also paid at pickup, in cash or by card, and given back when you return the car undamaged. Nothing is frozen on a credit card, unlike at the international chains.

Why do the big chains ask for a credit card?

International brands block the deposit (often €1,000 to €3,000) on a credit card in the main driver's name, because a credit card lets them hold money without taking it. A debit card or a prepaid card usually can't do that, which is why travellers with only a debit card get turned away at the airport counter.

Local agencies in Tunisia work differently: the deposit is handed over at pickup, counted with the agent, and handed back at the return.

How it works with a debit card

1. Book online or on WhatsApp, with no card and no prepayment.
2. At pickup (airport arrivals hall or your hotel), you check the car with the agent and sign the contract.
3. You pay the rental in cash or by debit card, and leave the refundable deposit in cash or by card.
4. At the return, the agent checks the car with you and gives the deposit back on the spot if there is no new damage.

How much is the deposit, and can I lower it?

The optional deposit reduction costs 15 TND a day and halves the deposit, for example 3,000 → 1,500 TND.

What should I bring?

• Your original driving licence, from any country, held for at least 2 years.
• Your passport or ID card.
• The deposit, in cash or on a card that can pay it.
• You must be at least 21 (25 for SUVs and luxury cars).

Tips so the deposit comes back in full

• Walk round the car with the agent at pickup and take photos and a video of every side, the wheels and the fuel gauge.
• Ask for a written receipt for the deposit, with the amount.
• Return the car with the same fuel level as at pickup.
• Keep the agency's WhatsApp number so you can send photos if anything happens on the road.

Can I pay in euros?

Yes. The rental can be paid in dinars or euros in cash, and the deposit too. Card payments are made in dinars. You can also leave the deposit by bank transfer before you arrive: see how the deposit works.

How do I book?

Choose a car on our cheap car hire page or send your dates and arrival airport on WhatsApp to +216 93 390 758. For more on safe booking, read how to avoid car rental scams in Tunisia.