At the rental desk a deposit is held on your credit card before you get the keys, at Europcar the rental amount plus at least CHF 350 by its own policy. DRAIV takes no deposit on any car: nothing is held or charged on your card as security, and paying by debit card, TWINT or Apple Pay works just as well.
Why the rental desk asks for a deposit and a credit card
If you've picked up a rental car anywhere, you know the drill. Before you drive off, the company puts a hold for a deposit on your credit card. The money does not change hands, it sits blocked, often for days after you bring the car back, until your bank releases it. On a credit card that eats into your available limit. On a debit card it eats into your balance, because your bank sets aside real money for it. That is where the credit card rule comes from: a rental company needs a payment method that can carry a large amount parked on it for the whole rental, and a debit card or a prepaid card is a poor fit for that. If you just moved to Zurich and your Swiss bank only issued you a debit card so far, this is the wall you keep hitting.
How much deposit Europcar and Sixt hold in Zurich
Classic rental companies in Zurich almost all block an amount on your card, and how much varies widely. Here is what their own terms say, sources at the end of the article:
| Provider | Deposit | What that means for you |
|---|---|---|
| DRAIV | CHF 0, deductible CHF 2,000 (reducible to CHF 200) | Nothing is blocked on your card, you pay for the rental; the deductible only sets the ceiling for costs after you return the car |
| Europcar | Rental amount plus from CHF 350, premium/luxury CHF 1000 to 2500 | The amount is blocked on your card at pickup, not charged, and released only after you return the car |
| Sixt | Not published | The amount depends on vehicle category and booking type and only shows during Sixt's booking process |
| GoMore | Can be requested, amount varies | Varies by vehicle type, rental length and age, refunded automatically 4 days after the rental ends |
| Mobility | No deposit, but a deductible up to CHF 3000 per damage case, new and young drivers up to CHF 1000 more (terms and conditions, as of 15 April 2026) | Carsharing rather than rental: nothing is blocked upfront, the deductible applies in a damage case without liability reduction |
If you are also weighing a peer-to-peer platform, our Turo alternative comparison walks through that trade-off.
Paying by debit card, TWINT or Apple Pay: what gets charged, and when
You can pay by card, TWINT, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Link. You don't need a credit card; debit cards work.
If your rental starts more than 24 hours after you book, nothing is charged when you book: your payment method is saved and the rental is charged 24 hours before the start. With TWINT, CHF 1 is charged when you book and counted towards the rental. If the rental starts sooner, you pay when you book. The checkout shows which applies to your booking.
What can still come after you return the car, and your ceiling
For costs after the rental, the payment method you save can only be charged after the return, and never for more than the deductible you booked: CHF 200, CHF 2,000 or CHF 5,000. Extensions you confirm are rental costs and do not count towards that cap.
Every rental comes with damage protection, and the deductible is the part of a damage that stays with you. Comfort, CHF 2,000 deductible, is preselected. For a daily fee shown at checkout, you can lower it to CHF 200 under Premium. Basic, CHF 5,000, costs nothing, but it requires your own comprehensive cover, whose policy you send to support@draiv.ch beforehand.
Damage is only charged after we have explained it to you by email, with photos, at least 5 days before the charge. Missing fuel or charge, extra kilometres and late-return fees are charged with the final settlement, itemised by email at the latest when they are charged. If a fine reaches us after your rental, we pass it on with a handling fee.
At pickup and at return, take the 4 photos of the car in the app: front, right, back and left. Do it within 30 minutes at pickup. The photos protect you if a damage question comes up.
Disagree with a charge? Write to support@draiv.ch within 14 days of the notification. We reply within 14 days, within 5 working days for return items like fuel, mileage or a late return, and refund what is owed within 5 working days of our reply.
Arriving at Zurich airport: same rule applies
If you're arriving at the airport, the same rule applies as anywhere in Zurich: we take no deposit on any car. You pick up your car at the airport with no desk and no queue, nothing is held on your card, and you pay by card, TWINT, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Link.
Two questions worth asking any rental company
Europcar holds an amount on your card, at Sixt the amount depends on category and booking, and GoMore can ask for a deposit whose amount depends on vehicle type, rental length and age. We hold nothing and ask for no membership. Mobility avoids a card hold too, but through a membership rather than through day rental.
If you're comparing companies right now, two questions settle it: does this company block an amount on my card during the rental, and how much can it charge me after I hand the car back? Both of our answers sit at the top of this page. With other companies, look in the rental terms, usually the section on deposit and deductible. You can book a car in Zurich on the web or in the app, or compare the best car rental options in Zurich first.
Frequently asked questions
Which car rental in Zurich does not require a deposit?
DRAIV takes no deposit on any car: nothing is held or charged on your card as security. Europcar blocks the rental amount plus at least CHF 350 according to its own deposit policy, Sixt only shows the amount during its own booking process, and GoMore can request a variable deposit. Mobility charges no deposit, but requires a membership.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car?
No. You can pay by card, TWINT, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Link. You don't need a credit card; debit cards work.
Can I pay with a debit card or TWINT?
Yes. Nothing is held on your card during the rental, so a debit card is enough, and TWINT, Apple Pay or Google Pay work too. With TWINT, CHF 1 is charged when you book and counted towards the rental.
How much deposit do Europcar and Sixt take?
Europcar blocks the rental amount plus at least CHF 350 according to its own deposit policy, CHF 1000 to CHF 2500 for premium and luxury classes. Sixt does not publish the amount, it only shows during Sixt's own booking process.
Can I choose the amount of my deposit?
There is no deposit at DRAIV to choose an amount for. What you choose is your deductible, and that is also your ceiling for costs after the rental: CHF 200, CHF 2,000 or CHF 5,000. CHF 2,000 comes preselected, CHF 200 costs a daily fee, and CHF 5,000 requires your own comprehensive cover.
What can DRAIV charge after the rental, and how do I learn about it?
Damage is only charged after we have explained it to you by email, with photos, at least 5 days before the charge. Missing fuel or charge, extra kilometres and late-return fees are charged with the final settlement, itemised by email at the latest when they are charged. If a fine reaches us after your rental, we pass it on with a handling fee.
When is my card charged?
If your rental starts more than 24 hours after you book, nothing is charged when you book: your payment method is saved and the rental is charged 24 hours before the start. With TWINT, CHF 1 is charged when you book and counted towards the rental. If the rental starts sooner, you pay when you book.
Sources
All sources retrieved on 25 August 2026.
- Europcar Switzerland: deposit policy, CHF 350 Mini to Fullsize Elite, CHF 1000 Premium/Luxury, CHF 2500 Luxury Elite/Oversize/Special
- Sixt: deposit, blocks automated fetches (HTTP 403), no figure taken from Sixt
- GoMore: rental deposits, amount depends on vehicle type, rental length and age, refunded automatically 4 days after the rental ends
- Mobility: terms and conditions, clause 18 lit. i and j, effective 15 April 2026: no deposit, deductible up to CHF 3000 per damage case, plus up to CHF 1000 more for new and young drivers
Rent a car with no desk and no deposit
Book on the web or in the app, unlock with your phone and drive off.