Credit Card Deposit Hold for a Car Rental in the USA
Updated October 30, 2026 · By Yaniv Segal, RentCarUSA
In short: When you rent a car in the USA, the rental branch places a "hold" (authorization hold) on the driver's credit card: an amount that is not actually charged, but takes up space in your credit limit. With our rentals this is usually a few hundred dollars and up to about $1,000. The hold is released after you return the car, but the time until your limit comes back depends mainly on the bank that issued your card, and can take from a few days to about two weeks, and sometimes longer.
What is the difference between a hold and a charge?
A charge is money that leaves your account. A hold is a "reservation": the branch asks the card company to confirm that the amount is available and to reserve it. The money does not go to the rental company, but your available limit is reduced by that amount until the hold is cancelled.
The reason for the hold is simple: the rental company gives you a car for several weeks and wants to be sure there is a way to collect costs that were not known on the pickup day, such as missing fuel or a parking ticket.
In your card's app, the hold usually appears as a "pending" or "in process" transaction, and sometimes in your home currency at the current exchange rate. It is not a final charge. If no extra charge is needed after the return, the hold simply disappears.
How much available credit do you need on the pickup day?
The common mistake is to think only about the deposit. In reality, on the pickup day you need space in your limit for two things:
| Item | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Service fee | When the booking is confirmed | Paid in advance, before your flight |
| Rest of the rental price | On the pickup day at the branch | A normal charge, never more than the quote |
| Deposit hold | On the pickup day at the branch | A few hundred dollars up to about $1,000, released after the return |
| Tolls and tickets | After the return, sometimes weeks later | Charged according to actual use |
For example: if you booked a midsize SUV for 26 days ($962 all included), on the pickup day your card must have available the rest of the price after the service fee you already paid, plus room for the hold. If your limit is modest and you have already paid for flights, a hotel and duty-free shopping, there may not be enough left. The solution is simple: ask your card company to raise your limit temporarily before the trip, and tell them you are abroad so they do not block a US transaction as suspicious.
Why only a physical credit card, and not debit or Apple Pay?
For the deposit hold, only a physical credit card in the main driver's name is accepted. Debit cards (including "immediate" cards that are charged directly from your bank account) and Apple Pay are not accepted for the hold. There are several practical reasons:
- With debit, the hold is real money. The amount leaves your bank balance, and its release usually takes longer than with a credit card. Industry sources speak of one to two weeks and sometimes longer.
- The branch needs to run the physical card and compare the name with the licence and passport. A digital wallet does not allow this.
- The card must be in the main driver's name. A spouse's or parent's card will not be accepted, even if the cardholder is standing at the counter.
If you only have a debit card, talk to us before booking, not on the day you land.
When is the hold released on a card issued outside the US?
The process has two parts. First, the branch closes the rental agreement and releases the hold on its side, usually shortly after the return. Then the bank that issued the card needs to receive the release and update your limit. The second step is the one that takes time.
- You return the car. Get a final receipt (by email or printed) with the fuel level and mileage.
- The branch closes the contract. If everything is in order, there is no extra charge and the hold is cancelled.
- Your card company updates the limit. For cards issued outside the US this can take from a few days to about two weeks, and sometimes longer, depending on the card company and the type of card.
- Not released after two weeks? Contact your card company first, with the return date and the final receipt. In most cases it is a hold that was not processed, and you can ask for it to be cancelled manually.
Important tip: if you fly home right after the return, the hold may still appear when you land. This does not mean you were charged.
What can be charged to your card after you return the car?
Our price includes damage and theft cover (CDW/LDW), third-party liability up to $300,000, all taxes and airport fees, and unlimited miles. What is not included, and can therefore be charged to the card you left at the branch:
- Fuel. If the car is not returned with a full tank, the branch will fill it and charge you, usually at a higher price than at the gas station. See the guide to fuel in a rental car in California.
- Tolls. Driving on toll roads such as the 73 or 241 in Orange County, or in Express lanes, is recorded by licence plate and charged later, sometimes with a handling fee. Details are in the guide to toll roads and FasTrak.
- Parking and camera tickets. A ticket sent to the rental company is passed on to the renter for payment, sometimes months after the trip, together with an admin fee.
- Extras you asked for at the branch that were not in the quote.
These charges do not depend on the hold. Even after the hold is released, the branch can charge the card given in the contract. So do not cancel the card right after your trip.
Frequently asked questions
Is a foreign exchange fee charged on the hold?
A hold that is cancelled is not a transaction, so usually there is no fee on it. Conversion fees, if your card has them, apply to actual charges such as the rest of the rental price. Check your card terms with your card company.
Can I pay for the rental with one card and leave the deposit on another card?
The hold must be placed on a physical credit card in the main driver's name. If you want to split payments, tell us when you book and we will check what is possible.
What is the exact hold amount with you?
Usually a few hundred dollars and up to about $1,000, depending on the car category and the branch. We tell you in advance what to expect so you can keep enough room in your limit.
What if the car is damaged?
Damage to the car and theft are covered by the damage cover included in the price. Report immediately and follow the guide to an accident or damage in a rental car.
Want to know in advance how much credit to keep available? Get a quote with all the details, and see also the guide to monthly car rental in Los Angeles.