A relative is going to Salt Lake City next week for a wedding and
needs to rent a car.  She doesn't have a credit card or debit card
(she lives in a small town where checks are always accepted) and is
finding a rental car extremely difficult to get, and there's not time
to order a debit card for use with her bank account (Budget accepts
debit cards, but not cash without one).

The following two companies say they rent cars for cash but on the
phone they said they wouldn't:
http://www.saltlakecarrentals.com/ (and affiliated sites)
http://www.paylesscarrental.com/cities/saltlakecity/fop.html

I will consider the question answered by either of the following:
1) A list of three SLC car rental companies (other than the above)
that say in their Web sites or ads that they will rent a car without
the driver providing a credit or debit card
2) One that actually will

Paying a reasonable deposit (such as $200) is not a problem, and
neither is providing ID. She has a good driving record and is older
than 25.

Thanks!

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Clarification of Question by wantstoknow-ga on 15 Aug 2002 09:39 PDT

The rental needs to be available from either the airport or downtown,
or from someplace that's readily accessible by public transportation.

Wantstoknow-ga: 

You're in luck, 

After calling a few of the major car-rental facilities, I hit gold, so
to speak.  It turns out Alamo will rent your relative a car in Salt
Lake City without a credit or debit card.   They're located in the
airport itself, and have many cars to choose from.   They do have a
few caveats when renting:

When I talked to 'Tracy' at Alamo, she advised me that your relative
would need to bring with them:

1) A Return transportation ticket (I.E., her itinerary with proof of a
round trip ticket)
2) A phone, gas or electric bill in her name (I'd advise a recent one)
3) A form of verifiable employment (I.e., a paycheck stub within the
last 30 days)
4) A deposit of either $50 a day, or $200 a week in cash or
traveller's checks.
5) A picture ID, such as a driver's license. 


I was surprised Alamo was willing to accept a cash-only transaction,
as many of the smaller firms would not.   Here's their toll-free
number:

877-252-6600 

As well as a Discount Code: 479429  that I found on
http://www.bnm.com/salt.htm

Who knows, they might actually save a little. I hope this helps in
getting her to the wedding.   Its always good information to know
which companies don't require you to sign over credit card info.

Enjoy, 

bitmaven-ga

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Clarification of Answer by bitmaven-ga on 15 Aug 2002 14:40 PDT

Dah!

And of course I forgot to include my query string: 

"Salt Lake City" "Rental Cars" "no credit" 

:)   
bitmaven-ga

I spent a good share of an afternoon unsuccessfully trying to track
this down.  I don't know if you're a better searcher than I am or if
you were just lucky, but in any case thanks.

Have you asked about renting the car in your name and designating your
relative as a second driver?

Hi, I called Alamo and they require A DMV report - a current Bank
statement and Credit Report and the list goes on....I started laughing
- You've got to be kidding me.....I think I'll just fly........