Automotive Car Rental Deposits - 15,000 USD? (on credit card)

[StatusNomadicus]

Just browsed car rental prices and it seems like $40-50 USD per day is pretty common in Buenos Aires and Cordoba (overall total of around 78 USD for 1.5 days in my search). But, when I got to the bottom of the price on Travelocity.com a little note said:

Not included in your total​

• Refundable deposit payable at counter
  ARS17,066,764.00

...ummm, i thought i had some killer credit limits on some of my card, but i don't know a lot of people who have a 15,000 USD+ credit limit! Anyone rent a car recently? the card i want to spend on has a 5k limit, and i'm not thrilled about the games that will surely be played at the rental car office desk (i know the usual drill from renting in 4 countries already, and they all try to scam you)

was wondering if a massive deposit, worth what the car is worth, is just an Argentina thing? super weird; usually you can just buy Full Coverage.

"Refundable security deposit - A refundable security deposit of ARS17,066,764.00 will be held on your credit card at the time of pick-up. This amount is refundable and will be automatically released if there is no theft or damage during the rental period."

 

[Larry]

Just browsed car rental prices and it seems like $40-50 USD per day is pretty common in Buenos Aires and Cordoba (overall total of around 78 USD for 1.5 days in my search). But, when I got to the bottom of the price on Travelocity.com a little note said:



...ummm, i thought i had some killer credit limits on some of my card, but i don't know a lot of people who have a 15,000 USD+ credit limit! Anyone rent a car recently? the card i want to spend on has a 5k limit, and i'm not thrilled about the games that will surely be played at the rental car office desk (i know the usual drill from renting in 4 countries already, and they all try to scam you)

was wondering if a massive deposit, worth what the car is worth, is just an Argentina thing? super weird; usually you can just buy Full Coverage.

"Refundable security deposit - A refundable security deposit of ARS17,066,764.00 will be held on your credit card at the time of pick-up. This amount is refundable and will be automatically released if there is no theft or damage during the rental period."

I know they charge a big deposit but it can't be that high. I was going to rent a car a few times and avoided it. But call the rental office and see what the exact charge is. I doubt it can be that high. I had a few friends that rented here and I believe they talked about a few thousand dollars but not that high.

 

[oil rush]

That has to be a typo. I have rented a car in Buenos Aires before. It has been a few years and was right after covid but although rates were really high of about $150 USD per day. I think they did a deposit of $500 USD for damage deposit. I can't imagine them charging that much. Sounds like a typo or something.

 

[Betsy Ross]

No way deposits should be that high. Try this company. My friend used them when she came in town last year.

16 Things to Know BEFORE Renting a Car in Argentina - Destinationless Travel

If you are thinking about renting a car to explore Argentina, great choice! This guide includes tips on where to rent, insurance, and more.

destinationlesstravel.com

 

[StatusNomadicus]

I know they charge a big deposit but it can't be that high. I was going to rent a car a few times and avoided it. But call the rental office and see what the exact charge is. I doubt it can be that high. I had a few friends that rented here and I believe they talked about a few thousand dollars but not that high.

https://www.travelocity.com/carsearch/details?date1=2%2F21%2F2024&date2=2%2F22%2F2024&time1=1030AM&time2=1030AM&dpln=6054205&locn=Cordoba+%28and+vicinity%29%2C+C%C3%B3rdoba%2C+Argentina&rfrr=page.Cars&piid=AQYJpZdrD_2V--wNoUlgU_LVGV-R0AMluD1XWFJfF-9IaGuH7y5IUNRg0IB1Mb8GTSUHx4yvtPNG_NK9MG0ff_JLAlxwmlNqVxxtTxXSuOogfvSg6aRUZnjJiAdDQuPeWKFGdHuNYoEjeUrTlkH995Og&dailyPriceShown=34.6&totalPriceShown=34.61&searchUrl=%2Fcarsearch%3Fdate1%3D2%252F21%252F2024%26date2%3D2%252F22%252F2024%26time1%3D1030AM%26time2%3D1030AM%26dpln%3D6054205%26locn%3DCordoba%2B%2528and%2Bvicinity%2529%252C%2BC%25C3%25B3rdoba%252C%2BArgentina%26rfrr%3Dpage.Cars&isOffAirport=true&isTravelApiSearch=false&offerQualifiers=GreatDeal%2CGreatDeal&avgCatPR=55.4&period=daily

 

[StatusNomadicus]

I can't imagine them charging that much. Sounds like a typo or something.

i pasted-in the 17-million Peso line, and just responded to Larry about the 12-million Peso one. it might only be the "RentaCar" vendor, but since it was so strange, i figured i'd create this thread in case future expats got the same message. (rentacar is the cheapest on Travelocity's website for Cordoba)

 

[StatusNomadicus]

No way deposits should be that high. Try this company.

i'm looking at different pick-up locations, and with Hertz that section doesn't appear (i put the screenshot a couple responses up, on this thread)

but it exists on Expedia's results for Rentacar as well:

Car rental fee x 2 days
$76.11

Not included in your total
Refundable deposit payable at counter
ARS 12,047,128.00

that blog just links to https://www.discovercars.com/?a_aid=destinationlesstravel - is that right?

 

[Betsy Ross]

i'm looking at different pick-up locations, and with Hertz that section doesn't appear (i put the screenshot a couple responses up, on this thread)

but it exists on Expedia's results for Rentacar as well:



that blog just links to https://www.discovercars.com/?a_aid=destinationlesstravel - is that right?

That is crazy. I can't imagine many people would want to have an authorization like that on their card. As you mentioned, that would eat a lot of people's credit lines for their trips. Avoid that company.

 

[StatusNomadicus]

Avoid that company.

done! weird that it's the cheapest on so many sites. i was going to use Hertz instead, the next-best-price, but they haven't responded on their Support WhatsApp line for 6 hours (a test i do sometimes to see if the business gives a sh*t). so i then saw Cordoba Airport (COR) has a Sixt location with glowing reviews. it wasn't much more expensive, and charged in Pesos anyway, so for those curious here's my travel costs for next week to drive my dog from CABA to Cordoba...priced in USD using a USA credit card:

Flybondi one-way flight AEP-COR, $35
Sixt rental car (using Visa credit card with CDW/third-party coverage included) at COR with included toll pass (we shall see what the Deposit is), $86
-not too shabby, and google says these small cars get 25 km per liter of fuel, so assuming conservatively 1500 km = 60 liters at $1 USD per liter is $60, so i'm budgeting for $100 USD in tolls, airport entry fees, gas, etc. on this roundtrip drive. total estimation right now is 181 bucks plus some Ubers/Sube card use/taxis so i'll call it $200 USD over 2 days to move my dog for 3 months to Cordoba.

and Airbnb 30 nights in Nueva Cordoba with large patio and Queen bed, $720 on credit card

tracking all of this in USD for future Expats with big dogs. got my visa extended 90 days, pretty easy if you read this forum, and i'll be documenting all of this on my Twitter/X once i finish up some more research/planning. and i'll get the daily credit card spends tweeted, too...been planning this CABA exit

 

[Betsy Ross]

i'm looking at different pick-up locations, and with Hertz that section doesn't appear (i put the screenshot a couple responses up, on this thread)

but it exists on Expedia's results for Rentacar as well:



that blog just links to https://www.discovercars.com/?a_aid=destinationlesstravel - is that right?

Yes that is the company my friend said she used to rent a car. I guess you can just rent on Expedia as well and see which company is highly rated. I have used Sixt before renting cars in Argentina and never had issues with them. I am looking forward to your posts on Cordoba. I haven't yet been there but read nice things about it.

 

[StatusNomadicus]

but read nice things about it.

any specific requests? i'm going to be applying to a university there. and staying Nueva Cordoba, to see which areas are affordable and nice. seems like prices are fairly consistent with BsAs, but the housing is ~15% cheaper.

 

[Betsy Ross]

any specific requests? i'm going to be applying to a university there. and staying Nueva Cordoba, to see which areas are affordable and nice. seems like prices are fairly consistent with BsAs, but the housing is ~15% cheaper.

I read that it is safe and more affordable. I believe there are some Universities there. Slower paced. I personally love BA and the bigger city pace. But I am eager to read how you view quality of life there. Definitely it should be more affordable vs. BA. BA is typically more expensive vs. other cities. Good luck and safe travels.

 

[Utopos]

Can anyone recommend a rental car company? An American friend is coming to town and want to rent a car. I tried talking them out of it but they are taking a few trips outside of CABA. Any good companies that won't break the bank and won't charge high deposit fees? @StatusNomadicus which company did you end up using?

An important note, they don't drive manual transmission and need automatic.

 

[James Bond]

Can anyone recommend a rental car company? An American friend is coming to town and want to rent a car. I tried talking them out of it but they are taking a few trips outside of CABA. Any good companies that won't break the bank and won't charge high deposit fees? @StatusNomadicus which company did you end up using?

An important note, they don't drive manual transmission and need automatic.

Try Baires Rent a Car. I used them several times over the years. They have automatic transmission rentals and I like that the cars aren't too old. Some of these rental cars the cars are all older and beat up. Never had any issues with them. It's a smaller company and more of a feeling dealing with a friend vs. big corporation. Rental cars are very expensive in Argentina.

 

[Wally]

Try Baires Rent a Car. I used them several times over the years. They have automatic transmission rentals and I like that the cars aren't too old. Some of these rental cars the cars are all older and beat up. Never had any issues with them. It's a smaller company and more of a feeling dealing with a friend vs. big corporation. Rental cars are very expensive in Argentina.

That company is great! My brother used them. Most don't like driving in Buenos Aires as drivers aren't great and parking can be problematic. Also make sure you don't park on the street at night. Better to park in a garage as lately crime is higher with break ins. If Baires Rental Car doesn't have you can try Hertz too. But prices are higher usually.

 

[Blockchain]

I looked into renting a car during my trip to drive out to an estancia but it wasn't worth it. Really expensive but the biggest reason is that people drive terribly in BA!