How to rent a car in Antalya without overpaying (deposit, insurance, which company to choose)?

Watch out for copycat rental websites with prices suspiciously twice as low as the market — they demand online prepayment. Genuine rental companies only take payment when you actually pick up the car.

It's possible to find a rental with no deposit at all by arranging it remotely before arrival. In one case the car was delivered straight to the airport from Alanya with no deposit required.

On the LocalRent website you can filter offers: if you add full insurance (kasko), no deposit is required — terms depend on the specific rate/insurance chosen.

Example deposit: for a car at ~1000 lira/day, a $100 cash deposit was taken and the exact same bill was returned. Alternative: rent with full insurance (kasko) via LocalRent with no deposit, but at a higher price.

If you receive parking tickets/cards at paid car parks, cash payment may not be accepted: keep the cards and give them to the rental staff so they can pay by card.

Some hotels have a car rental desk on the lobby floor — prices aren't always posted, so compare offers. If it's too pricey, ask your hotel guide or find a rental company in Telegram beforehand.

Deposits are usually taken in cash; pick a larger company with clear corporate policies since small damage won't be waived. There's a daily mileage limit with extra charges if exceeded, relevant for long road trips. Skip full insurance only if you're confident in your driving.

Don't send prepayment online — instead walk around to offices with a 'car rental' sign and negotiate in person. A deposit of about 2000 lira gets you a small economy car like a Renault Clio.