Yes. Vehicle pick-up may be denied if the driver or the financially responsible person does not meet the required eligibility criteria or is not approved during the rental company's profile and risk assessment.
Important: Rentcars acts solely as the booking intermediary. We do not perform profile or risk assessments, are not involved in this process, and do not have access to the rental company's internal criteria or the reasons for any decision to deny vehicle pick-up.
What is the profile or background check, and how does it work?
The profile or background check is a security and risk assessment carried out exclusively by the rental company at the time of vehicle pick-up. The process varies depending on where you live and where you are renting the vehicle.
For residents of Brazil renting a vehicle in Brazil: The assessment focuses on financial and registration information, including the customer's CPF (Brazilian tax ID), driving history, and checks with local credit protection agencies (such as SPC or Serasa).
For international customers renting a vehicle in Brazil: As there is no Brazilian credit history available, rental companies assess alternative security criteria, such as the booking details, the validation of international documents, and proof of lawful entry into Brazil.
For customers renting in their country of residence or at other international destinations: approval criteria vary by country and rental company. In general, approval depends on meeting the rental requirements, such as the minimum age, a valid driver's license, and presenting an accepted credit card for the security deposit hold. Specific requirements should be checked in the reservation terms and conditions.
How does a CPF restriction affect customers living in Brazil?
If the driver's CPF (or the financially responsible person's CPF) has active restrictions with Brazilian credit protection agencies such as SPC or Serasa, the rental company may decide not to release the vehicle in accordance with its risk assessment policies.
Is there any flexibility? Although these restrictions may prevent the rental, some rental companies apply more flexible criteria or allow a Financially Responsible Person to be added to the booking. In this case, the credit card and CPF assessed will be those of the designated financially responsible person, who must be physically present at the rental location when the vehicle is picked up.
(To learn more about this option, please see our Financially Responsible Person FAQ.)
How does the profile check work for international customers renting in Brazil?
If you are an international customer or hold a driver's licence issued outside Brazil, the approval process may vary depending on the rental company you choose. Below are examples from some of Brazil's largest rental companies.
Movida approves international customers by requiring only the mandatory documents, as there is no local credit history available for assessment.
Unidas performs an assessment based on rental-specific criteria, such as the rental period, vehicle category, and other booking details, without relying on a traditional credit score.
Companies such as Foco and Localiza carry out risk assessments at the rental counter and reserve the right to deny the rental if they identify inconsistencies in the customer's registration details or documentation.
What documents are required for international customers renting a car in Brazil?
To pick up the vehicle, the foreign customer must present the documents required by the rental company, which may include:
A valid original passport, including the Brazilian Federal Police entry stamp (or an equivalent document proving lawful entry into Brazil).
A valid physical driver's licence issued abroad. Please note that a foreign driver's licence is valid for driving in Brazil for up to 180 days from the date of entry into the country.
A physical credit card in the lead booker's name, with sufficient available credit for the security deposit hold. Important: debit cards, virtual cards, and prepaid cards are not accepted for this purpose.
(To learn more about the requirements, please see our FAQ on the requirements for renting a car in Brazil.)
What if I'm renting a car in my home country (outside Brazil) or in another international destination?
Credit assessments based on Brazil's CPF system or local credit bureau checks are specific to the Brazilian market.
If you're renting a car in your home country (outside Brazil) or in another international destination (such as the United States, Europe, or elsewhere), the approval process typically does not involve credit score checks at the rental counter.
Instead, approval focuses primarily on meeting the rental company's standard eligibility requirements:
Meeting the minimum age requirement.
Presenting a valid driver's licence (as well as an International Driving Permit (IDP) and a valid passport, where required).
Presenting a physical international credit card in the driver's name with sufficient available credit for the security deposit hold. For some bookings, particularly those involving Luxury and Premium vehicle categories, the rental company may require two physical credit cards, both issued in the lead booker's name, in order to authorize the security deposit hold.
Can rental companies outside Brazil also refuse to release the car?
Yes. Although the process differs from the Brazilian market, rental companies abroad also conduct customer profile checks and may refuse to rent a vehicle. Refusal at the counter can happen for several reasons, but for Brazilian customers, the main issue is discrepancies between the documents presented, such as presenting a credit card in someone else's name, failing to present a valid physical passport, or attempting to use prepaid or virtual cards for the security deposit.
What should I do if my profile check is declined and I can't pick up the car?
If the profile assessment is rejected at the rental counter, the vehicle cannot be released. The consequences for the reservation, including possible cancellation and refund eligibility, will depend on the applicable terms and the rental company's policy.
In this situation, we recommend the following:
Contact Rentcars Customer Support: If your booking was prepaid, our support team will help you review the applicable cancellation and refund conditions in accordance with the rental company's policy.
Consider alternative rental options: You may wish to make a new booking with another rental company that uses different profile assessment criteria or documentation requirements.