Most car rental companies in Iceland require a credit card. It is one of the first questions travellers ask — and for good reason. Arriving at a pickup desk only to be told your card is not accepted is a frustrating way to start a holiday.

The short answer is yes — at Esja Car Rental, we accept debit cards. But there are a few things worth understanding before you arrive.

Why Do Car Rental Companies Ask for a Credit Card?

The credit card requirement exists because rental companies need a way to hold a security guarantee. If a car comes back damaged, or a toll or fuel charge comes through after the rental ends, the company needs a way to recover those costs.

Credit cards make this straightforward — a hold can be placed on the card at pickup and released when the car is returned in good condition. Debit cards work differently depending on the bank, which is why many rental companies avoid them altogether.

Does Esja Car Rental Accept Debit Cards?

Yes. We accept 16-digit debit cards at pickup. This covers most standard Visa Debit and Mastercard Debit cards issued by banks worldwide.

The card must have 16 digits on the front — this is the standard format for cards that can be used for online payments and holds. Older-style debit cards without a 16-digit number may not be accepted.

One important note: the card used at pickup does not need to belong to the driver. If someone else in your group has a card, they can present it at pickup — they just need to be present at the time of rental.

Do I Still Need a Credit Card to Book Online?

To complete a booking through our online system, a card is required at the time of payment. Most standard debit cards with online payment enabled will work for this. If you are unsure whether your card will be accepted for online payment, contact us directly and we can advise.

What About the Security Deposit?

Esja Car Rental does not hold a cash deposit. We take an imprint of your card at pickup as a guarantee — no funds are blocked or reserved at that point. This applies whether you present a credit card or a debit card.

Tips if You Are Travelling with a Debit Card

Check your card has 16 digits. This is printed on the front of the card. If it does, you are good.

Let your bank know you are travelling. Some banks flag overseas transactions as suspicious. A quick notification before you leave avoids your card being declined unexpectedly.

Have a backup if possible. Even if your debit card works fine, having a second card of any type is always sensible when travelling abroad.

Consider our Esja Summit insurance package. With zero liability coverage, there is nothing for us to recover from your card even if something does go wrong — giving you complete peace of mind regardless of card type.

The Bottom Line

You do not need a credit card to rent a car with Esja Car Rental. A 16-digit debit card is accepted at pickup, and we do not hold a cash deposit. We want renting a car in Iceland to be as straightforward as possible — and that starts with not turning people away at the desk over payment type.

Ready to book? Browse our fleet and reserve your car directly at esjacarrental.is — no hidden fees, hotel delivery available, and debit cards accepted.