For rental cars booked at a Hotwire Hot Rate, your account will be charged for the full rental amount -- including applicable tax-recovery charges and fees -- when you complete your booking. Hotwire accepts the following major credit cards: MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express, Diners Club, and JCB.

You may also pay with a debit card; your bank will immediately deduct the booking amount from your checking account balance. Note that there are some restrictions on the use of debit cards, such as daily withdrawal limits and limitations on the number of daily transactions.

When you reserve a car through Hotwire at a regular-rate, actual rental charges will be billed by the agency when you return the car. Regular-rate rentals may include agencies that accept only credit cards. Please contact the rental agency to determine its debit card policy, as rules and regulations vary by company and location.

Neither Hotwire nor car rental agencies accept a prepaid or "stored value" card, including those showing a MasterCard or Visa logo.

However, regardless of the type of rate, the rental agency will require a credit card as a deposit when you pick up the car. (Some rental locations may accept debit/check cards for deposits but may have additional requirements such as requesting proof of a roundtrip transportation itinerary in order to rent the vehicle) The card must be in the name of the primary driver, and must include sufficient available credit to secure your rental. The amount of available credit necessary varies depending on the car type and rental period. If you opt to purchase additional items (such as insurance) at the rental counter, additional available credit will be required.