Wondered if anyone can help, going to perpignan on friday for a weekend and flying so have been looking to hire a car but everyone wants a credit card, i only have visa debit, has anyone hired a car over there before without the needed credit card, just glad were driving in august to the game as it seems impossible!!

I feel victim to this a few years ago at Perpignan airport.
They ALL INSIST on a CC as a guarantee but when you get there you can pay with a Debit card.
To book it really is a Credit Card or nothing, but as I said when we got there I handed over my Debit card they took it and all was fine.

You would need a credit card. Some may take cash but you would have to phone to enquire and to make arrangements, and this being France they are more likely than not to say 'non merci'.

VW,
I know you live over there so will have better knowledge than me but when I was trying to book hire without a CC (which I had lost and no time for replacement )I rang every Car Hire company at Perpignan Airport who wanted a cash deposit of 2500 euros on top of the hire costs for a booking without a CC.

May just go to the desk when arrive and see what happens, if not its only a weekend so will use the bus (sounds easier) went to the game last year and going again in august for 3 weeks so may just leave the sightseeing till then but thanks for your help!

You could try looking at carhire3000 or holidayautos (both .com). I think holidayautos charges you to phone them, but carhire3000 is a freephone number and I found them very helpful when I had a query a few months ago.

I booked with hertz last year with a debit card and had no problem. Even picked up and dropped off at two different places.

Really, these were the ones who were totally insistent with me that it had to be a CC

I've had this in Germany, it's a credit card (that belongs to the driver) or you don't get a car, same with three different companies.

Yep I dont have a credit card so I banged my debit card details under visa on the website and they scaned my debit card when I was over in France. No problem.

Thanks for your help, however still didnt get one! the bus was fine and we will leave the sightseeing untill we go back for the game, couldnt believe how quiet it was compared to last year when the game was on, it was like the land that time forgot!!

I am (sadly) back in the UK at the moment! That sounds about right amount wise. The thing with a CC is that once you allow a company to swipe it they have a right to charge it whatever, a debit card is different you could report it stolen etc and they can't charge it hence why asking for such a large cash deposit. On a seperate note (ish) cheques in France are cashed immediatly rather than waiting 3/4 days to clear and it is illegal to write a cheque when you dont have the cash in the account to cover it hence why the Frenchies write cheques and they would be accepted for car hire!

you can get a prepaid credit card the tuxedo card or something in quite alot of supermarkets now!