Chapter 1 of 6
Deposit, excess and insurance in plain English
Deposit is security for the rental, not an extra charge. Depending on the company it is left in cash or on a debit card. If it is blocked on your card, the money is reserved rather than taken as a payment, and when you return the car as agreed it is released or handed back the same way you left it.
Insurance cover is what pays for covered damage to the car under the rental agreement.
Excess is the maximum amount you could be responsible for under the agreement in the situations it describes. It is a ceiling, not a bill. If your excess is €1,500 and a covered repair costs €20, you are not charged €1,500 for that €20 repair. How a deposit or excess changes the real cost comparison is covered in my car rental prices guide.
Chapter 2 of 6
Why local companies have an excess at all
The excess is there to protect the company from irresponsible use: ignoring traffic rules, speeding, drink-driving, deliberate damage, off-roading where it is not allowed, smoking in the car, sitting on the roof of a convertible, or bringing the car back with wet seats or full of rubbish.
My advice is simple. Drive responsibly, follow the rental agreement and tell the company straight away if anything happens. For a normal holiday driver who does that, the excess is generally not something you end up paying, and the insurance handles covered damage according to the agreement.
Chapter 3 of 6
Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Rhodes?
Usually not. Local Rhodes rental companies generally do not require a credit card. Where a deposit applies, it is normally given in cash or by debit card, depending on the company.
This is one of the big differences from the international chains at airports, which typically build the whole rental around a credit-card hold. If you only travel with a debit card, a local company is the easy choice.
Chapter 4 of 6
Which cars I would pick for a no-deposit rental
No-deposit offers are most common on small and mid-size cars, which are exactly what I would drive on Rhodes anyway: easy to park in Lindos or Rhodes Town and comfortable on the mountain roads. Larger or premium cars are more likely to come with a deposit.
The listing shows the conditions for each car, so you can see before you send anything whether a deposit applies.
Chapter 5 of 6
How booking works on the Rhodes Booking Marketplace
Use the car listings in the Rhodes Booking Marketplace to see the real cars available from local companies. Browse the actual car listings, compare the displayed prices, vehicle details and rental conditions, then complete the booking/contact form with the requested information and submit it. The rental company contacts you to confirm availability and confirms the booking.
You do not need to call around several offices or work out which company is behind each car. One request is enough.
Chapter 6 of 6
My recommendation
Choose a small or mid-size car from a local company, take the no-deposit option where it is offered, drive the way you would at home and keep the company informed if something happens. That is all most visitors need to worry about. For company choice and airport or hotel pickup, go back to the main car rental Rhodes guide.
Find a no-deposit car in Rhodes
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent a car in Rhodes without a deposit?
Yes. Many local companies offer cars with no deposit, mostly smaller and mid-size models. The listing shows whether a deposit applies to the car you choose.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Rhodes?
Generally not with local companies. Where a deposit applies, it is usually left in cash or by debit card.
Is the deposit an extra charge?
No. It is security for the rental. If it is blocked on your card it is reserved, not taken, and it is released or returned when you bring the car back as agreed.
What is the insurance excess?
The maximum you could be responsible for under the agreement in the situations it covers. It is a ceiling: a €20 covered repair does not become a €1,500 charge just because the excess is €1,500.
When would I have to pay the excess?
The excess exists to protect the company against irresponsible use, such as speeding, drink-driving, deliberate damage, banned off-roading or ignoring the rental agreement. Drive responsibly, follow the agreement and report incidents promptly, and in normal cases it is not something you pay.
What happens after I send a booking request?
The rental company contacts you to confirm availability and confirms the booking.