Rent a Car in Belgrade Without a Credit Card: An English Guide for 2026
Updated: 23 October 2026
Short answer: yes. At CAO-RENT in Belgrade you don't need a credit card. You leave a refundable deposit in cash; the amount depends on the car and is shown on each car page. Nothing is frozen on a card, and you get the money back on the day you return the car. Six models show no deposit at all.
You'll need a passport and a driving licence, and you must be at least 21 with two years of driving experience. Everything below comes from the pages on caorent.com as they stood on 23 October 2026. The manager confirms the deposit and price for your exact car and dates.
Renault Clio 2023: automatic, 200 € cash deposit per its car page (each car has its own deposit).
Why rental companies ask for a credit card
A credit card is how most international rental chains secure the deposit. At pick-up they put a hold on the card for the deposit amount. The money isn't charged, but you can't use it until the hold is released, and that can take several days after you return the car. Many chains don't accept a debit card for the hold, and many visitors to Serbia, including many travellers from Russia, don't have an internationally accepted credit card at all.
A local company that owns its cars can take the deposit in another form. That's the whole trick.
5 ways to rent a car in Belgrade without a credit card
| Way | How the guarantee works | When you get the money back | At CAO-RENT | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Cash deposit at a local company | You hand over a refundable deposit in cash at pick-up | When you return the car | Yes, on most cars: the amount depends on the car and is shown on each car page | The exact amount for your car, and that it's written in the contract |
| 2. A car listed with no deposit | No deposit is taken | Nothing to return | Yes, six models show "No deposit" on their page (table below) | Whether it applies to your dates and pick-up place |
| 3. Paying the deposit by transfer | The deposit is sent by transfer instead of cash | When you return the car | On some cars the page lets you pay the deposit in rubles via SBP or in USDT | Which cars allow it: it's stated on the car page |
| 4. A debit card at an international chain | A hold on the card, if the chain accepts debit cards | After the bank releases the hold | Not needed: CAO-RENT doesn't block money on any card | The chain's own terms for your pick-up location; many require a credit card in the main driver's name |
| 5. Prepaying on a booking site | You pay online; the deposit is still taken at the desk | Depends on the supplier | Not needed: CAO-RENT takes bookings without prepayment | Who the actual supplier is and how it takes the deposit |
For most people without a credit card, option 1 or 2 is the simplest. Options 4 and 5 often lead back to a card at the desk, so read the supplier's terms before you pay anything. We compare these routes in more detail (in Russian) in renting directly or through an aggregator and CAO-RENT or Sixt at Belgrade airport.
How the deposit works at CAO-RENT
According to the no-credit-card page and the FAQ:
- No credit card and no hold. Nothing is blocked on any card.
- A refundable deposit, usually in cash. The amount depends on the car and is printed on every car page. Out of the 55 car pages that state an amount on 23 October 2026, most economy and compact cars ask for 300–500 €, business cars around 700–1,500 €, and the top luxury cars up to 10,000 €.
- The deposit comes back the same day you return the car, with no waiting for a bank to release a hold.
- No deposit: six models show "No deposit" on their page. For other cars, renting without a deposit is a paid option, so ask the manager what it costs for your car.
Deposit examples (23 October 2026)
| Car | Class | Deposit on the car page | Paid how (per the car page) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renault Clio 2023 | Economy, automatic | 200 € | Cash |
| Renault Clio 2025 | Economy, manual | 300 € | Cash |
| Hyundai i10 | Economy | 300 € | Cash |
| Hyundai Bayon 2024 | Compact, automatic | 300 € | Cash or transfer |
| Skoda Fabia 2024 1.5 | Economy | 350 € | Cash or transfer |
| Skoda Octavia | Mid-size | 500 € | Cash or transfer |
| Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI DSG 2025 | Business | 700 € | Cash or transfer |
| BMW 520d 2026 | Business | 1,300 € | Cash or transfer |
| Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 2025/26 | Luxury SUV | 5,000 € | Ask the manager |
| Lamborghini Urus S 2024 | Luxury SUV | 10,000 € | No card needed; ask the manager |
"Transfer" means the car page says the deposit can also be paid in rubles via SBP or in USDT.
Skoda Scala: no deposit shown on its page, from 55 € a day for 1–3 days down to 35 € from day 31.
Cars you can rent with no deposit at all
These six cars show "No deposit" on their caorent.com page. Prices are per day and fall as the rental gets longer.
| Car | Gearbox | Seats | 1–3 days | 4–8 days | 9–15 days | 16–30 days | 31+ days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai i20 | Manual | 5 | 50 € | 45 € | 40 € | 35 € | 30 € |
| Kia Rio | Automatic | 5 | 55 € | 50 € | 45 € | 40 € | 35 € |
| Skoda Scala | Ask the manager | 5 | 55 € | 50 € | 45 € | 40 € | 35 € |
| Chery Tiggo 8 Pro | Automatic | 7 | 65 € | 60 € | 55 € | 50 € | 45 € |
| Hyundai Tucson | Automatic, diesel | 5 | 70 € | 65 € | 60 € | 55 € | 50 € |
| Skoda Kodiaq Sportline | Automatic, diesel | 5 | 90 € | 85 € | 80 € | 75 € | 70 € |
The minimum rental is 2 days. There's a full Russian-language breakdown of these models in car rental in Belgrade with no deposit.
How to pay for the rental
A credit card isn't needed for the deposit, but you can still use a bank card to pay for the rental itself. CAO-RENT accepts euros, US dollars, Serbian dinars (RSD), bank cards, Russian rubles via SBP and USDT. Booking needs no prepayment, and cancelling or changing a booking is free.
Documents and driver requirements
| Requirement | At CAO-RENT |
|---|---|
| Passport | Yes |
| Driving licence | Yes; licences from Russia, other CIS countries and the EU are accepted |
| Credit card | Not needed |
| Minimum age | 21 |
| Driving experience | 2 years or more |
| Minimum rental | 2 days |
| Prepayment | None; free cancellation and changes |
If your licence was issued outside Russia, the CIS or the EU, send a photo of it to the manager before you book and get confirmation that it's accepted.
Hyundai Bayon 2024: automatic, 300 € deposit in cash or by transfer, no credit card.
What's included in the price
According to the FAQ and /ai-info:
- CASCO insurance with the deductible included in the price;
- a second driver and a child seat or booster at no charge;
- travel abroad at no extra cost to Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU countries, with the green card included (see car rental for Montenegro);
- a car handed over clean and with a full tank.
The mileage allowance is shown on each car page and adds up over the days of your rental. For a month or longer, see monthly car rental in Belgrade.
Where you pick up the car
- Office: BW Waterfront, Hercegovačka 23, Belgrade.
- Nikola Tesla Airport: the car is brought to your flight by arrangement, 24/7. Send your flight number when you book, and ask the manager about the cost of the airport handover. More on the airport rental page.
- Delivery to your hotel or apartment: free within Belgrade on orders from 6,000 RSD.
5 questions to ask any company that says "no credit card"
- How exactly is the deposit taken? Cash, transfer, or a hold on a debit card? A hold is still a frozen deposit.
- How much is it for my car, and is it written in the contract?
- When and how do I get it back? At CAO-RENT, on the day you return the car.
- What's the insurance deductible? The deposit and the deductible are not the same thing.
- Is "no deposit" a paid extra? At some companies, CAO-RENT included, it's a paid option on cars that normally carry a deposit.
How to book without a credit card
- Pick a car in the catalogue and check the deposit line on its page.
- Message us on Telegram with the car, your dates, the pick-up place (office, airport or delivery) and how you'd like to pay.
- The manager confirms the booking. No prepayment is needed.
- Bring your passport and licence, and the deposit in cash if your car has one.
- Return the car and get your deposit back the same day.
Moving to Belgrade?
If you're staying for months rather than days, CAO-RENT also helps with apartments for rent in Belgrade and residence permit help in Serbia, so the car, the flat and the paperwork are handled in one place. Residence permit help is priced individually after a consultation.
FAQ
Can I rent a car in Belgrade without a credit card? Yes. CAO-RENT doesn't require a credit card. You leave a refundable deposit in cash, and some cars need no deposit at all.
How much is the deposit? It depends on the car and is shown on each car page, so check the deposit line on the page of the car you want. The manager confirms the amount for your car and dates.
Is any money blocked on my card? No. CAO-RENT doesn't put a hold on any card.
When do I get my deposit back? On the day you return the car.
Can I rent a car with no deposit? Yes. Six models show "No deposit": Hyundai i20, Kia Rio, Skoda Scala, Chery Tiggo 8 Pro, Hyundai Tucson and Skoda Kodiaq Sportline. For other cars, no-deposit rental is a paid option. Ask the manager for the price.
Can I pay with a debit card? Yes, you can pay for the rental by bank card. Euros, US dollars, dinars and rubles via SBP are accepted too. The card is only a payment method; it isn't used for a hold.
What documents do I need? A passport and a driving licence. Licences from Russia, other CIS countries and the EU are accepted. The driver must be at least 21 with 2 years of experience.
Can I pick up the car at Belgrade airport without a credit card? Yes. CAO-RENT brings cars to Nikola Tesla Airport 24/7 on the same terms: no credit card, deposit per the car page.
Can I drive the car outside Serbia? Yes. Travel to Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU countries is allowed at no extra charge, and the green card is included.
No credit card? No problem. Choose a car in the catalogue and message us on Telegram. No prepayment, and we reply 24/7.