Do cabs take credit cards or debit cards?

Is there a way to know how much do car rental agencies and hotels lock on credit cards when booking? Settle the bill from separate (debit) card?

• It is a little confusing because I hear amounts from anywhere between $200 to $5000 to lock on your credit card for a car hire. It is important to know because I know in the US $10,000 credit limits are not uncommon but in other parts of the world limits of closer to $1,000 are more common. Sure, the amount locked may depend on the location, size of the car and rental length but some more guidelines? Also, how about booking hotel rooms? What is the way to settle the actual bill both for car rentals and hotels from a separate (debit) card than you used for booking (your credit card)? Both online and in person booking. The rational behind booking with the separate credit card is they release the locked amount from a credit card more easily than from a debit card, not to mention you are considered a more trustworthy driver for the rental agency if you own a credit card (if they let you rent by debit card, cash at all). But you use to spend mostly from your debit card in your day to day life, that is most common than spending from credit cards depending on where you live.

• Answer:

  I guess the easiest way, and frankly the only way to know for sure, is to ask the hotel or rental agency how much they are planning to charge your card.  The reason this is the only sure way, is because as a rule each business who engages in this process will have a different rule or policy about how much they will charge.  In my experience many hotels will pre-charge the cost of your entire stay, others will only charge a percentage - it all comes down to how they do business - it's their decision, not Visa/Mastercard. On the second part of your question, most of these types of business should be perfectly happy to let you pay via a different card to the one they pre-charged.  Frankly as long as they get paid they are happy.  The reason they generaly pre-charge is as a security, so if it's a hotel and you steal the towels, drink the mini bar and leave without paying  - they have a means of recouping some what you owe them.  With rental cars, it's there to cover some of the cost if you damage the car.   It's extremely rare they will ever use the initial pre-charge, even when settling your bill, they will usually ask for a separate payment.  At that point you can choose whatever method you like to settle your bill.