Quick Summary:
- Credit card authorisations usually clear in 2–10 business days.
- Debit card holds can take 7–20 business days to disappear.
- Keep the return receipt, final invoice, and vehicle condition photos.
- Delays often stem from pending charges, weekends, or bank processing rules.
When you pick up a car hire in the United Estates, the deposit is commonly taken as a pre-authorisation, also called a hold, rather than a charge. That matters, because a hold can linger on your statement after you return the vehicle, even when everything went smoothly at the desk. The good news is that most holds clear automatically, the less good news is that the timeline depends more on your card issuer than the rental company.
This guide explains typical release windows by card type, the most common reasons a hold takes longer to drop off, and the exact proof you should keep so you can challenge an extended hold quickly and confidently.
If you are comparing options for car rental in the United States or prefer UK-focused terminology for car hire in the United States, it helps to understand how deposits are handled before you travel.
What a deposit hold is (and why it is not a refund)
A deposit hold is an authorisation placed on your card at pick-up to cover potential costs, for example fuel differences, toll administration, late return time, damage excess, or extra driver fees. The funds are not transferred to the rental company in the same way as a completed purchase. Instead, your bank earmarks part of your available credit or balance until the authorisation is released or expires.
Because it is not a refund, you will not always see a separate “release” transaction. Often the hold simply disappears. Some banking apps show the hold in “pending”, some show it as a temporary transaction, and some show nothing beyond a reduced available balance.
A separate thing can happen at return: the rental company may finalise the rental charges (the actual hire cost, plus any extras) as a posted transaction. In that case, the original hold may remain until your issuer matches and clears it in the background. This overlap is a common reason people think the deposit has not been returned, when in reality the bank is still reconciling both items.
Typical release timelines after return, by card type
There is no single universal timeframe, but there are reliable patterns. The ranges below are typical for United Estates car hire deposits after you return the vehicle with no new charges. Your issuer can be faster or slower depending on internal processing, weekends, and local holidays.
Credit cards (most common and usually fastest)
For credit cards, deposit authorisations commonly clear within 2 to 10 business days after the rental company closes the agreement. In many cases it is sooner, sometimes the same day, sometimes within 48 hours. If you returned the car on a Friday evening, you may not see movement until the next banking day because weekends can pause batch processing.
If the hold remains beyond 10 business days, it is often because the authorisation has not been released in the bank’s system, or because a final charge was posted and the bank is still matching it against the initial authorisation. At that stage, the most effective next step is to contact your card issuer with the return documentation and request a manual release or an investigation of the authorisation.
Debit cards (often slower and more variable)
Debit card holds can take longer to drop off, frequently 7 to 20 business days. That is because debit authorisations may be treated more like cash earmarks, and some banks allow them to linger until the authorisation naturally expires, even if the merchant has already released it.
If you have a debit card and you are worried about access to funds during your trip, consider that the held amount can reduce your spendable balance for the full duration of the hold. This is one reason many travellers prefer a credit card for deposits when available.
Prepaid cards and some digital wallets (often restricted)
Many rental counters do not accept prepaid cards for deposits, and digital wallets can be accepted only if the underlying card supports a standard security authorisation. If a hold is placed via a non-standard method, the clearing behaviour can be unpredictable. If you are unsure, confirm deposit requirements before you arrive and bring a backup payment method to avoid an unexpected decline at the desk.
What can delay a hold dropping off
If your deposit has not cleared as quickly as expected, the cause is usually one of the following. Understanding which category you are in helps you gather the right proof and ask the right questions.
1) The rental is not fully closed yet
The return process often involves a desk closure, a vehicle inspection, and back-office posting. If you used an after-hours drop box, the contract may not be closed until the vehicle is checked the next day. Until the agreement is closed, the authorisation may remain active.
2) A revised authorisation replaced the original
Sometimes the rental company will adjust the authorised amount during the hire, for example if you extend the rental, add an extra driver, or change the return location. Your bank might show the original hold plus a new hold briefly. In most cases the older one drops off, but the overlap can make it look like you were “charged twice”.
3) A pending charge is waiting to post
If there is a final rental charge that is still pending, some issuers keep the deposit authorisation until the posted amount is confirmed. This is common when you return the car and receive a “zero balance” receipt, but the final amount posts a day or two later.
4) Fuel, tolls, or admin fees are processed later
Fuel is usually settled at return, but tolls, traffic charges, or toll programme admin fees can take longer to appear. Some locations keep a hold longer when there is a chance of later-reported charges, though this varies by operator, state, and toll provider.
If you are travelling with a larger vehicle, consider that fuel costs and deposit policies can be higher, for instance with minivan rental in the United States, so it is worth confirming the deposit amount and fuel rules at pick-up.
5) Your bank’s authorisation rules are the bottleneck
Even if the rental company releases the hold promptly, your issuer may keep it until the authorisation expires. Banks differ widely here. Some release as soon as a merchant sends a reversal, others wait 7 to 30 days depending on the merchant category and transaction type.
6) Weekends, holidays, and cross-border processing
If your card is issued outside the United Estates, clearing can involve extra processing steps. Add weekends and bank holidays and you can easily lose several days without anything being “wrong”.
Exactly what proof to keep (so you can challenge an extended hold)
If a deposit hold overstays the typical window, you will get better results if you can show a clean return and a closed agreement. Keep the following items until the hold has disappeared and the final charge matches what you expected.
1) The return receipt showing time and location
Ask for a return receipt at the desk whenever possible. If you drop off out of hours, keep any timestamped confirmation you receive. This receipt should show the rental agreement number, return date and time, and often the fuel level noted at return.
2) The final invoice or rental agreement closure
Keep the final invoice showing a zero balance for deposit items, or the final breakdown if charges were applied. This helps prove that there is no outstanding amount requiring a continuing authorisation.
3) Photos or video of the vehicle condition at return
Take clear, timestamped images of all sides, the roof, wheels, and the interior. Capture the fuel gauge and the mileage display. If a dispute arises later, this evidence is useful beyond deposit holds, it can support damage or cleanliness questions too.
4) A screenshot of the pending hold in your banking app
Take a screenshot showing the merchant name, amount, and date of the authorisation. If the authorisation later changes, take another screenshot. This provides a clean audit trail when you speak with your bank.
5) Any email confirmation or chat transcript about release
If the rental desk confirms they released the authorisation, keep that message. Banks sometimes ask for written proof that the merchant has completed a reversal.
If you hired through a well-known operator, you may also find their deposit policies and timelines described on provider pages such as Hertz car rental in the United States or Budget car rental in the United States. The key is to keep your specific contract documents, not just general policy text.
How to troubleshoot an extended hold, step by step
If your hold is still there after the typical window for your card type, work through this order. It avoids wasted time and ensures you ask the right party for the right action.
Step 1: Confirm whether you are looking at a hold or a posted charge
In your banking app, check if the transaction is labelled “pending”, “authorisation”, or “preauthorisation”. If it is “posted” or “completed”, that is not a hold, it is a charge. The remedy is different.
Step 2: Match the final posted rental charge to your invoice
If the final rental charge has posted, compare it to the invoice. If it matches, the deposit hold should normally fall away soon after. If it does not match, the hold might have been converted into a higher charge, or a separate add-on may have posted.
Step 3: Contact the rental location only if the agreement might be open
Ask whether the contract is closed and whether they have sent an authorisation reversal. Provide the agreement number and return time. If you returned out of hours, mention that specifically.
Step 4: Contact your card issuer and request a release investigation
Once the rental company confirms closure, your bank is usually the gatekeeper. Provide the return receipt, final invoice, and the screenshot of the authorisation. Ask if they can manually release the authorisation or confirm its expiry date. Many issuers can do this, but they will not always volunteer it unless asked clearly.
Step 5: Escalate with a formal dispute only if a charge is wrong
A dispute is for incorrect posted charges, not for a pending authorisation that is still within normal timeframes. If a charge is incorrect, use your issuer’s dispute process and attach your documentation. If it is only a lingering hold, focus on authorisation release rather than chargeback language, which can slow things down.
How to reduce deposit hold issues on your next trip
While you cannot control your bank’s back-office rules, you can reduce the risk of long holds and confusion.
Use a credit card for deposits where possible, as credit cards typically release authorisations faster than debit. Return during staffed hours if you can, so the agreement can be closed immediately and you can receive a printed return receipt. Keep the tank and mileage evidence, and keep your paperwork until the hold has vanished.
Also allow for the deposit in your available spending, especially if you are travelling during peak periods or renting larger vehicles. If you are browsing options with an operator that suits your itinerary, you can review United Estates supplier choices such as Enterprise car hire in the United States, then plan your payment method around the deposit policy.
FAQ
How long should I wait before worrying about a deposit hold after returning a car in the United Estates? Credit card holds often clear within 2–10 business days, debit card holds often take 7–20 business days. If you are beyond those ranges, gather your return receipt and contact your bank.
Why do I see both a deposit hold and a final charge at the same time? The deposit is an authorisation and the final amount is a posted transaction. Some banks keep the authorisation visible until they reconcile it with the posted amount.
Will the rental company automatically release the deposit hold when I return the car? Usually, yes, once the contract is closed. However, the hold disappearing from your account depends on your card issuer’s processing and expiry rules.
What documents are most convincing if I need to challenge an extended hold? Keep the return receipt with time and location, the final invoice, photos of the car and fuel gauge at return, and screenshots of the pending authorisation.
Is a long deposit hold the same as being charged for damage? Not necessarily. A long hold is often just bank processing. If you receive a posted damage charge, then you should request the damage report and use your documentation to dispute it if incorrect.
