Quick Summary:
- Adding a child seat can raise the hold by £50 to £200.
- Some counters include add-ons in the same pre-authorisation calculation.
- Ask for the total hold amount, not just the rental price.
- Confirm whether toll programmes, insurance, and fuel plans increase deposits.
In Orlando, the amount held on your card for car hire is usually a pre-authorisation, a temporary hold the supplier places to cover the vehicle excess, potential charges, and certain risk factors. Travellers often expect the hold to be fixed, but it can change when you add extras at the counter. One of the most common surprises is a higher hold after adding a child seat, especially when the counter bundles add-ons into a larger total amount being ring-fenced on your credit card.
The short answer is that a child seat can increase a deposit hold by roughly £50 to £200, sometimes more, depending on the supplier’s policy, how the pre-authorisation is calculated, and what else is added to the contract. The longer, more useful answer is understanding why the hold changes, how to spot which items trigger a larger pre-authorisation, and what to ask before you sign.
If you are collecting at Orlando International Airport, it helps to know which supplier rules apply to your reservation and whether the counter can add products that change the pre-authorisation. For general planning around airport collections, see car hire at Orlando MCO for airport and Disney area trips.
What the deposit hold really is, and why it can move
A deposit hold is not the same as the rental charge. The rental charge is what you pay for the days and selected inclusions. The deposit hold is a temporary amount your card issuer blocks, meaning it reduces your available credit, even though no money has permanently left your account.
In Orlando, suppliers typically set the pre-authorisation based on a combination of:
1) Vehicle security deposit or excess-related amount. Many suppliers hold a standard amount tied to the vehicle class and the protection you have selected.
2) Estimated charges. Some counters add an amount to cover expected extras, such as fuel, tolls, and optional equipment.
3) Payment and risk factors. Debit card acceptance rules, local address policies, young driver fees, and one-way rentals can affect the hold.
Because a child seat is an add-on, it can be treated in two different ways. Either it is charged separately without affecting the hold, or it is added to the contract total that the supplier chooses to pre-authorise. If the supplier policy is to hold “rental plus extras plus deposit”, the hold can rise immediately when the child seat is added.
When comparing options for your trip, it also helps to look at the general Orlando pick-up flow and typical counter requirements. You can review Orlando MCO car rental information to understand what you are likely to see at collection.
So, how much can it increase with a child seat?
There is no single universal number, but there are realistic ranges you can use for budgeting your available credit. In Orlando, adding a child seat often increases the hold by around £50 to £200 because:
Some suppliers hold the cost of the seat plus a buffer. The buffer is meant to cover changes, extensions, or additional taxes that are calculated at return.
Some suppliers increase the overall contract pre-authorisation tier. If your extras push the contract total above an internal threshold, the system may apply a higher fixed hold band.
Multiple seats multiply the effect. Two seats may not just double the daily cost, they can also lift the hold into the next band.
Edge cases do exist. If a supplier requires a higher standard deposit for certain vehicle groups and you switch to a larger vehicle to fit child seats comfortably, the hold can rise significantly because the vehicle class changed, not just because the seat was added. This is common for families who move from a compact car to a people carrier.
For travellers considering extra space, compare vehicle classes early. A larger vehicle can influence both the daily rate and the deposit policy. For family-sized options, you can read about minivan rental in the Disney and Orlando MCO area and then check how that supplier handles pre-authorisations.
Why a child seat can trigger a larger hold
Even when the child seat itself is a modest daily charge, the counter may still increase the pre-authorisation for practical reasons:
Damage and replacement risk. Child seats can be damaged or returned incomplete. Some suppliers prefer to pre-authorise enough to cover replacement and cleaning scenarios, especially if multiple seats are hired.
Contract total pre-authorisation. Many suppliers run a single pre-authorisation for “everything on the agreement” rather than separating it into a rental payment and a deposit. Add-ons like child seats make that total higher.
Tax and fee recalculation. Optional equipment can be taxed differently, and the final total can vary with rental extensions. The hold may be padded to reduce the chance of a declined charge later.
System constraints at the counter. Some rental systems use preset hold amounts by vehicle class, then add fixed uplifts when optional equipment is present, rather than calculating an exact penny-perfect hold.
Add-ons that often change the pre-authorisation even more
If you are trying to predict the deposit hold, focus on the add-ons that most often lift it. A child seat is one, but these can be bigger drivers:
Additional driver. This increases the contract total and can also change liability conditions in some systems.
Toll programmes. In Florida, toll packages and admin fees can add a daily charge, and some suppliers pre-authorise an additional amount to cover toll usage.
Fuel purchase options. A pre-paid fuel option might reduce uncertainty, while a “return empty” style option can introduce a larger estimated fuel charge on the contract, and that can raise the hold.
Roadside assistance products. These add to the contract and can push you into a higher hold tier.
Upgraded protection products. Depending on the supplier, taking extra cover can reduce the deposit, but it can also increase the total pre-authorised amount if the supplier holds “deposit plus estimated charges”. The important point is not to assume it always decreases the hold.
The best way to avoid surprises is to ask for the pre-authorisation amount before anything is added, then ask again after each add-on is discussed. It is normal to ask the counter staff to show you the updated figure on the terminal before you agree.
What to ask at the counter before signing
To keep your available credit intact while still getting the equipment you need, ask clear, specific questions and get the numbers in front of you. These are the most useful ones in Orlando:
“What is the total pre-authorisation amount you will place on my card today?” Ask for the full total, not just the deposit portion.
“If I add one child seat, how does the hold change in dollars?” Insist on the difference, not a general statement like “it may increase”.
“Is the hold calculated as deposit only, or deposit plus estimated rental and extras?” This tells you whether add-ons are likely to affect it.
“Is there a different deposit if I choose a different protection option?” Then ask them to show both figures so you can compare.
“If I decline toll and fuel options, does the hold decrease?” This quickly identifies whether those extras are inflating the pre-authorisation.
“When will the hold be released after return?” Suppliers release holds, but banks control when funds become available. This matters if you have limited credit while travelling.
Finally, confirm the seat type and suitability. In the US, suppliers typically offer infant seats, toddler seats, and boosters, but availability can vary. A mismatch can lead to a swap at the counter, and that can change the price and the hold again.
How to plan your credit limit for Orlando car hire
A practical approach is to separate “spend” from “hold”. Even if you plan to pay the rental cost with one card, you may want a different card with a higher limit for the deposit hold, subject to supplier rules. Many suppliers prefer a credit card for the pre-authorisation.
For planning, consider these steps:
Leave headroom. If you expect a £300 to £600 hold, do not arrive with only that amount of available credit. Add-ons, upgrades, or currency conversion movements can push it higher.
Expect currency effects. Holds are taken in USD, and your issuer converts it. Exchange-rate movements can make the GBP equivalent look larger day to day.
Allow for multiple holds. If the initial hold is replaced by a final hold at return, you can briefly see two holds overlapping, depending on how the issuer processes them.
Keep receipts and the agreement copy. If a hold is not released within the supplier’s stated timeframe, you will need the agreement number and amounts to query it.
If you are comparing supplier expectations for Orlando, it can help to view a specific supplier page and then cross-check deposit rules at the counter. For example, you can review Alamo car rental at Orlando MCO and note which inclusions you have chosen, then ask the counter how each inclusion affects the pre-authorisation.
Child seat specifics that can affect the final numbers
Beyond the daily price, several practical details can influence what you see on the rental agreement and, in turn, the pre-authorisation amount:
Quantity and duration. Two seats over two weeks adds up quickly, and some systems pre-authorise a large portion of the projected extras.
Seat category. Infant seats can be priced differently from boosters. If the wrong category is added, the amount can change.
Counter-added taxes and facility fees. Orlando airport-related fees can apply to optional equipment as well as the base rental, depending on local rules and the supplier’s invoicing.
Availability substitutions. If your reserved seat type is not available, a substitute may have a different price. Always ask for the revised total and hold before agreeing.
Return location changes. Dropping off at a different location can change fees and potentially the hold, especially if a one-way charge is added late.
To keep the process smoother, ensure the child seat request is on the reservation, and then verify at the counter that the equipment charge is exactly what you expect. If anything differs, resolve it before signing, because the signature usually authorises the full pre-authorisation amount.
How to reduce the chance of an inflated deposit hold
You cannot always reduce the supplier’s required deposit, but you can reduce surprises and prevent unnecessary uplifts:
Confirm add-ons in advance. If the child seat is added to the booking, you can often see the pricing earlier, which helps you anticipate the hold.
Decline optional products you do not need. If a toll programme or fuel option adds uncertainty, it may add to the hold. Ask what the hold would be with and without each item.
Avoid last-minute vehicle-class changes. A larger vehicle can be sensible for family comfort, but it can also carry a larger deposit requirement.
Use a card with sufficient available credit. A decline at the counter can force changes to the agreement, including different products or vehicle categories.
Ask for an itemised explanation. The counter can normally show how the hold is made up, even if it is presented as one total figure.
Some travellers also compare supplier approaches, because not all counters treat extras the same way. If you want a point of reference for another supplier, you can read about Dollar car rental at Orlando MCO and then focus your counter questions on pre-authorisation policy for optional equipment.
FAQ
How much can the deposit hold increase for a child seat in Orlando? Commonly by about £50 to £200, depending on supplier policy, seat type, and whether extras are included in the pre-authorisation total.
Is a car hire deposit hold the same as being charged? No. A hold temporarily blocks available credit. The charge is the amount actually processed as payment, usually at pick-up or return.
Can adding a child seat ever reduce the deposit hold? It is uncommon. A child seat typically increases the contract total, and some suppliers pre-authorise more when optional equipment is present.
What other add-ons in Orlando often increase the pre-authorisation? Toll programmes, fuel options, additional drivers, and roadside assistance can raise the total held, especially when the supplier authorises deposit plus estimated charges.
What should I do if the hold is higher than expected at the counter? Ask for the exact pre-authorisation figure and what is driving it, then remove any unwanted extras before signing the agreement so the hold can be recalculated.
