Car rental in Tunisia with a debit card is possible at VIPCAR: we accept a debit card for the security deposit, where most agencies insist on a credit card. Founded in 2001, with 250+ vehicles and three offices in Tunis Lac 2, Gabès and at Djerba airport, VIPCAR applies the same refundable deposit whichever card you use: it is held for the rental, returned in full when the car comes back in good condition, and it is your maximum liability. The deposit still applies; only the card changes. It is a way to rent a car without a credit card in Tunisia, on exactly the same terms as with a credit card. This page covers the amounts, the difference between the reservation deposit and the security deposit, the documents to bring and what to check with your bank.
Debit card accepted for the deposit: what changes
At most rental companies, the deposit is taken as a pre-authorisation on a credit card, and a debit card is turned down at the counter. For many travellers that is a real obstacle: young drivers who do not have a credit card yet, Tunisians living abroad who carry the debit card of their European bank, Gulf visitors whose main card is a debit card. At VIPCAR both are accepted: credit card or debit card, your choice.
Renting a car without a credit card does not mean renting without a guarantee. The deposit amount is exactly the same; it is simply held on your debit card instead of a credit card. On a debit card, the sum is blocked on your account balance for the duration of the rental: it is not paid to us, and it is returned to you in full when the car comes back in good condition.
Deposit amounts by category
The deposit is refundable, held for the whole rental, and the amount depends on the car's category. The exact figure is shown on each car page and in your written quote, before you confirm anything:
The deposit is your maximum liability: whatever happens during the rental, nothing is ever charged beyond that amount. It replaces the insurance packages we do not sell, since basic third-party insurance is included in every rental. With a debit card, choosing an economy car remains the simplest way to keep the amount blocked on your account during your stay as low as possible.
- Economy (Kia Picanto, Hyundai i20, Suzuki Ciaz): 1,500–3,000 TND.
- Standard: 5,000 TND.
- Luxury: 6,000–8,000 TND.
- The same amount whether you use a credit card or a debit card.
Reservation deposit vs security deposit: two different amounts
The two are often confused, yet they are separate amounts with different jobs:
A debit card works for the reservation deposit as well as for the security deposit. Full details are in our deposit policy.
- The reservation deposit is a payment: 10% of the rental (standard car) or 20% (luxury), required to confirm a booking made more than 7 days ahead. It locks in the car and the quoted price.
- Within 7 days of pick-up, the reservation deposit is optional or subject to availability.
- The security deposit is not a payment: it is held on your credit or debit card for the duration of the rental, then returned in full if the car comes back in good condition.
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up; inside 24 hours the reservation deposit is not refunded and a 20% fee applies. Refunds within 5–7 business days.
Documents and conditions: your checklist
Rental conditions are exactly the same with a debit card or a credit card. To rent a car without a credit card in Tunisia with VIPCAR, simply have the following ready:
No bank card at all? A cash deposit or any other arrangement is not guaranteed: tell us before you book, and any possible solution is confirmed at booking, in writing, before you arrive. Nothing is promised at the counter without that prior confirmation.
- Driver aged 21 or over, holding a driving licence for at least 2 years.
- A valid passport or national ID card.
- Your driving licence; an International Driving Permit is recommended if your licence is not written in the Latin alphabet.
- A bank card, credit or debit, with enough available balance or limit to cover the deposit for your chosen category.
- A minimum rental of 3 days.
What to check with your debit card before you travel
A debit card works perfectly well for the deposit, provided you sort out a few points with your bank a few days before the trip:
The deposit is set in Tunisian dinars (TND). If your account is in euros, dollars, pounds sterling or riyals, your bank applies its own conversion, both when the amount is held and when it is released.
- Check your available balance: the deposit amount must be available in the account on the day the car is handed over.
- Check your card's spending limit: many banks cap amounts over 7 or 30 days; have it raised temporarily if needed.
- Tell your bank you will be using the card in Tunisia, to avoid a security block.
- Keep a margin for your travel spending: the blocked sum cannot be used during the rental.
- After the return, how quickly the release shows on your statement depends on your bank.
Who a debit card makes the difference for
Young travellers. From age 21 with 2 years of licence, you can rent with VIPCAR even if your only card is a debit card, which is common early in a career. No young-driver fee is published, and an economy city car keeps the deposit at its lowest level.
Tunisians living abroad. Many accounts in France, Germany, Italy or Canada come with a debit card. Use it for the deposit, pay for the rental in euros if you prefer, and collect the car free of charge at Tunis-Carthage, Enfidha-Hammamet or Djerba-Zarzis airport, for the summer or a family celebration.
Gulf visitors. Debit card accepted, payment possible in SAR or USD, and an International Driving Permit recommended if your licence is not written in the Latin alphabet. For a family, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and the Mercedes V-Class offer 7 seats with an automatic gearbox, with the deposit for their category shown on the car page.
Cars that keep the deposit low
With a debit card, the amount held matters as much as the daily rate. The economy, compact and sedan categories are the best fit for car rental in Tunisia with a debit card:
Today's rates, in TND with a EUR conversion, are shown on each car page and on our pricing page; they are the figures your quote is based on. The cars in these categories are listed in this page's selection. To compare the most affordable models, see also our cheap car rental in Tunisia page.
- Kia Picanto: 4-seat city car, ideal in town, economy-category deposit.
- Hyundai i20: manual compact, economical and easy to park.
- Suzuki Ciaz: automatic sedan with a large boot, economy deposit.
- Volkswagen Golf 8 and Toyota Corolla hybrid: automatics with more motorway comfort; deposit shown on the car page.
What stays the same, whichever card you use
Leaving the deposit on a debit card changes nothing else in the contract:
The rental itself is paid in cash, by card (credit or debit), bank transfer, PayPal, Revolut or secure payment link, in TND, EUR, USD, GBP or SAR. You pick the currency and method that suit you, independently of the card used for the deposit.
- 300 km per day included, cumulative over the whole rental.
- Basic third-party insurance included, no insurance package sold.
- Free delivery and collection at Tunis-Carthage (TUN), Enfidha-Hammamet (NBE) and Djerba-Zarzis (DJE) airports.
- Full-to-full fuel: the car comes back with the same level as delivered.
- One-way rentals possible (for example Tunis to Djerba or Gabès): €70–100 depending on the route.
- Driving outside Tunisia is not permitted, no exceptions.
Booking with a debit card, step by step
Send your dates, delivery point and flight number on WhatsApp at +216 55 771 077, or use the online booking form, and mention that you will leave the deposit on a debit card. You receive a free, fixed quote in TND with its EUR conversion, stating the car, what is included and the exact deposit amount. For a booking more than 7 days ahead, the 10% (standard) or 20% (luxury) reservation deposit confirms the car.
On arrival, an agent meets you with a name sign. You show your documents, the deposit is held on your debit card, you walk round the car together and drive off. On return, tank full, the car is checked and the deposit is released in full if it is in good condition.
