Quick Summary
- Refunds after cancelling a US booking usually arrive within several working days, but banks can take longer to show them on your statement.
- Deposits and prepaid hire charges follow different timelines, and some holds simply drop away instead of appearing as a separate refund line.
- Hola Car Rentals sets out cancellation rules clearly and can help you trace a refund if it seems slow to appear.
How card refunds work after a cancellation
When you cancel a prepaid booking, the money you paid does not bounce straight back to your card in real time. First the travel agent or supplier authorises the refund, then your card network and bank process it. With a Hola Car Rentals booking this means the supplier needs to confirm the cancellation and send the money back through the card system before your bank can post it to your account.
Many travellers worry when their statement still shows the original charge a day or two after cancelling a planned car rental. In reality, refunds typically move through the system in batches, so it is normal to see a short gap between the cancellation email and any change to your online banking.
Deposits, holds and reversals
It helps to separate three pieces of money on a booking. The first is any prepaid amount you paid when you confirmed your vehicle, for example before Orlando theme park escapes or city weekends. The second is the security deposit the rental desk may hold when you collect the car. The third is any additional charge or refund after you return the vehicle, such as fuel or damage adjustments.
Prepaid amounts are usually refunded as a credit line on your statement. Security deposits are often just a temporary authorisation that your bank ring fences but never actually takes. When the rental closes cleanly that hold is released, which can look different from a normal refund. Instead of a new entry, you may simply see your available credit jump up again a few days after dropping the keys in the box.
How long refunds normally take to show
Card processors and banks move at different speeds, but a common pattern is three to ten working days between cancellation and the money appearing back on your balance. Some banks post refunds quickly but only add them to printed or PDF statements at the end of the month, so it is worth checking both your running balance and your formal statement when you track a return.
For bookings linked to busy airports such as New York airport bookings, suppliers may be handling thousands of changes in one weekend. Public holidays in the US or in your home country can slow things down too, because banks do not process payments on those dates.
Where Hola Car Rentals fits in
Hola Car Rentals acts as the bridge between your bank and international rental brands. When you cancel in line with the terms of your booking, the team passes the request to the supplier and tracks the refund until it is released into the card system. Many Hola Car Rentals deals include free cancellation up to 48 hours before pick up, so as long as you act in time you should receive your money back apart from any clearly stated non refundable fees.
Because Hola Car Rentals works with a wide network of partners in key US gateways, it is easier to compare flexible deals for trips ranging from beach breaks to San Francisco Bay drives or downtown Miami stays. Choosing a rate with generous terms from the start gives you more control if plans or flights change later.
What to do if your refund looks delayed
If ten working days have passed since your cancellation and you still cannot see a refund or deposit release, start by checking the email confirmation and your bank statement side by side. Look for any separate lines showing a credit or reversal connected with your original charge for Orlando theme park escapes or similar bookings, and remember that reference descriptions can differ slightly from the original debit.
If nothing appears, contact Hola Car Rentals with your booking number so the team can confirm when the supplier processed the refund and which payment reference they used. Your bank can then trace that reference internally. For bookings that were never charged at all, for instance when you reserved a vehicle at a flexible rate for trips to Nevada and cancelled before the card was billed, you may simply see a pending authorisation drop off instead of a refund coming back.
FAQs
How long should I wait before chasing a refund?
As a rule of thumb, allow up to ten working days from your cancellation before raising a query. This gives the supplier and banks time to move funds through their systems and avoids you chasing a payment that is already on its way.
Why can I not see my deposit refund on my statement?
Security deposits are often handled as temporary holds rather than full charges. When the rental closes without extra costs, the hold is released instead of being refunded, so your available balance increases without a new line appearing on the statement.
What if I still do not see anything after two weeks?
If nothing appears after two weeks, contact Hola Car Rentals with your booking reference so the team can confirm when the refund was issued and provide details you can share with your bank. Your card provider can then investigate or start a dispute if needed.
Why pick flexible deals with Hola Car Rentals?
Flexible rates from Hola Car Rentals, especially those with free cancellation up to 48 hours before pick up, mean you can adjust plans without being locked into rigid terms, helping refunds to run smoothly if your trip changes at the last minute.
