Quick Summary:
- A security deposit covers rental risk, and is released after vehicle return.
- An incidental hold covers extras like tolls, fuel, and add-ons.
- Two separate pre-authorisations can appear, especially with optional cover changes.
- Use a credit card with headroom, and ask for hold amounts.
At car hire pick-up in the United Estates, it can be surprising to see more than one pre-authorisation on your payment card. One amount may look like a large deposit, while another appears as a smaller “incidental” hold. Both are normal in many rental scenarios, but they do different jobs, are calculated differently, and can be triggered by different events during the counter process.
This guide explains what each hold is for, why two separate pre-authorisations can show at the same time, and what influences the amounts. It also covers how long releases typically take, and how to avoid issues such as declined cards at the desk.
If you are comparing providers and vehicle types for car hire in the United Estates, it helps to understand these holds before you travel. Hola Car Rentals publishes useful destination and supplier information on pages such as car hire in the United States and car rental in the United States, which can help you align expectations around payment methods and counter procedures.
What is a car-hire security deposit?
A security deposit is a temporary authorisation placed on your card to protect the rental company against specific financial risks connected to the rental itself. It is not a charge at the moment it is taken, but it does reduce your available credit or available bank balance until it is released.
The deposit is most closely linked to the vehicle’s return condition and the agreed rental terms. Typical reasons the deposit exists include damage costs up to the excess, theft risk, breach of conditions, missing equipment, and in some cases cleaning or smoking violations. The exact policy depends on the supplier, the location, the vehicle group, and the protection package in place.
In practical terms, a deposit is usually requested at pick-up because that is the moment the supplier hands over an asset and needs assurance that payment will be possible if something goes wrong. If the rental completes normally, the deposit pre-authorisation is released after return.
What is an incidental hold at pick-up?
An incidental hold is also a pre-authorisation, but it is intended to cover “in-life” charges that can occur during the rental and may not be fully known at the moment of pick-up. These are the kinds of items that can be incurred without the car being damaged, and without the rental being extended.
Common examples include toll programmes, refuelling differences if the vehicle is returned with less fuel than agreed, optional extras added at the counter, additional driver fees, underage surcharges, one-way fees, and sometimes parking or traffic administration fees where allowed. Some of these can post after the rental ends, for example certain toll systems or delayed fee notifications, which is why suppliers manage them carefully.
Not every supplier uses an explicit separate incidental hold, and not every rental location labels it the same way. You may simply see a second pre-authorisation with a different amount and descriptor, or a single authorisation that includes both elements combined. When they are separated, it can make the accounting clearer internally, but it can look confusing on your card app.
Why you might see two separate pre-authorisations
Two pre-authorisations usually mean the supplier is managing two different risk buckets: return-condition risk (deposit) and expected-but-variable extras (incidental). The most common reasons you see two are:
Different systems for different charge types. Many rental locations run separate workflows for the rental agreement itself versus add-ons and post-rental fees. That can produce two authorisation requests even when you hand over the same card once.
Changes made at the counter. If anything changes between what was anticipated and what is finalised at the desk, the supplier may void one hold and place a new one. Because banking systems do not always remove the first hold instantly, you can temporarily see two.
Protection package and excess changes. If you add or remove protection products at pick-up, the required deposit can change. When the deposit is recalculated, the original authorisation can remain pending while the new one appears.
Vehicle group changes. Upgrades, substitutes, or reassignments to a different class can raise or lower the deposit. Moving from a small saloon to an SUV or premium model may increase the deposit, while a downgrade may reduce it, but the “old” hold can linger during processing.
Multiple cards or split payment. If you use one card for the rental and another for incidentals, or the agent switches which card is attached to which part of the agreement, you may see authorisations on more than one account.
If you are choosing a vehicle type where deposits can be higher, it is worth comparing the category pages first, for example SUV rental in the United States or minivan hire in the United States, then budgeting extra headroom on the card used at the counter.
How each hold is calculated
Although policies vary by supplier and state, the logic behind each hold is fairly consistent.
Security deposit calculation. The deposit is typically based on the vehicle group and the protection terms. If the rental has a higher excess, or if certain cover products are declined, the deposit can increase because the supplier’s potential exposure is higher. Conversely, if you take a package that reduces the excess, the deposit may be reduced, though it may not drop to zero. Some locations also add an estimated amount for potential extensions, especially on longer rentals.
Incidental hold calculation. Incidentals are often calculated as a fixed amount per rental, a fixed amount per day capped at a maximum, or an estimated amount tied to anticipated extra usage such as toll programmes. Where fuel is concerned, the supplier may hold an estimated refuelling amount, particularly when “return as empty” or similar options apply. If you add extras like child seats or additional drivers at pick-up, the incidental hold can increase immediately because the extras are known costs.
Tax treatment differences. In some cases the hold includes estimated taxes on potential extras, while the deposit may be a round figure set by policy. This can explain why two holds look oddly specific, for example one amount ending in .00 and another ending in .37.
Payment method effects. Credit cards generally handle pre-authorisations more cleanly than debit cards, and some suppliers apply higher holds to debit cards, or limit which cards are accepted. Even when accepted, a debit-card hold reduces available funds, which can affect day-to-day spending during the trip.
What triggers each one during pick-up?
Security deposit triggers. The deposit is triggered when the rental agreement is opened and the vehicle is released to you. It may be recalculated if the agent changes the vehicle class, adjusts protection products, adds permitted drivers with associated risk rules, or amends the rental duration at pick-up.
Incidental hold triggers. An incidental hold is triggered when the system expects variable charges could occur. It can also be triggered by enabling toll programmes, choosing fuel service options, adding equipment, arranging cross-state travel where allowed, or converting the rental to one-way. In some locations, simply declining a fuel pre-purchase option can make the system reserve an estimated refuelling difference instead.
If you are renting through specific suppliers, processes can differ. Supplier landing pages like Avis car hire in the United States can help you understand typical counter flows, but the final policy is always defined by the rental agreement you sign at pick-up.
When the holds are released, and why it can take time
Both the security deposit and incidental hold are usually released after the rental is closed out, but they do not always disappear from your banking app at the same speed.
Release timing depends on the bank. The rental company can mark an authorisation as released promptly, yet your bank may still show it as “pending” until it times out. Credit card holds often clear faster than debit card holds, but this varies widely.
Pending tolls and delayed extras. Some incidental charges, especially tolls, can be posted later. Suppliers may keep an incidental authorisation in place until they are comfortable that no late-posting items will arrive, or they may close the hold and charge later if the agreement allows. This is a key reason you may see an incidental hold remain after the deposit has disappeared.
Replaced holds can overlap. If a deposit is recalculated at the counter, you might see both the old and new authorisations at once. One is not necessarily “extra money taken”, it can be the bank showing the first as pending while the second is newly placed.
How to avoid declined cards and surprise reductions in available funds
Bring a credit card with sufficient headroom. Plan for the rental total plus the deposit plus an incidental buffer. Even if you expect one hold, you should allow for temporary overlap if the hold is adjusted at pick-up.
Ask for the exact amounts before the authorisation is taken. The counter agent can normally tell you the deposit amount and any incidental authorisation amount, and what would change those figures.
Keep names and cards consistent. The main driver’s name should match the cardholder name on the card used for the deposit. Mismatches can cause reprocessing that leads to additional pending holds.
Limit on-the-spot changes if you are budget constrained. Adding extras, changing protection options, or switching to a larger vehicle can alter both holds. If you need predictable holds, clarify your preferences before pick-up and stick to them where possible.
Understand how your bank displays pre-authorisations. Some banking apps show pending holds as if they were posted transactions. If in doubt, check the “available credit” figure rather than the “current balance”.
How to read your statement if you see two holds
If you notice two pre-authorisations on the same day, start by checking the descriptors and amounts. Often one will be a larger, round-number deposit and the other a smaller incidental buffer. If one hold is reversed and a new one appears for a slightly different amount, that can indicate a recalculation due to protection, vehicle group, or duration changes at the desk.
It is also common to see a pre-authorisation replaced by a final posted charge after return. In that case, the posted charge is the actual rental cost, while the hold disappears. If you see a posted charge plus a separate pending hold long after return, contact the supplier with your rental agreement number and ask which part is still open.
FAQ
Is a car-hire security deposit the same as an incidental hold? No. The security deposit protects the supplier against return-related risks like damage, while the incidental hold covers variable extras like tolls, fuel differences, and added options.
Why do I see two pre-authorisations for car hire at pick-up? You may be seeing separate holds for the deposit and incidentals, or an original hold plus a recalculated replacement after counter changes such as vehicle class or protection choices.
Will the holds come out of my account balance? They are usually pre-authorisations, not charges, but they reduce available credit or available funds. Debit cards can feel more restrictive because the hold ties up money you might need.
How long does it take for the deposit and incidental hold to be released? Many releases happen within a few days after return, but timing depends on your bank. Incidentals may remain longer if tolls or other delayed items can still post.
What can I do at the counter to minimise surprises? Ask the agent to confirm the deposit and incidental amounts before they run the card, and avoid last-minute changes that can trigger a new authorisation or increase the hold.
