Quick Summary:
- Yes, retries can create multiple pending holds, even if none approve.
- Pending holds reduce available funds, but are not usually charged.
- Duplicates typically disappear within 3–10 days, depending on your bank.
- Prevent repeats by fixing billing details, limits, and bank authorisation settings.
When you pick up a car hire in Florida, the rental company usually runs a deposit pre-authorisation on your payment card. This is a temporary hold, not a completed payment, used to check the card is valid and to ringfence funds for the security deposit. If that pre-authorisation fails and is attempted again, it can look in online banking as though you have been “charged” multiple times. In most cases, you have not been charged multiple times, but you may see multiple pending holds.
This guide explains why duplicate holds can happen after failed attempts, what you might see on your banking app, how long these pending items usually last, and how to reduce the risk of repeated retries when arranging car hire in Florida.
What a deposit pre-authorisation actually is
A pre-authorisation is a message between the rental company’s payment terminal and your card issuer. If approved, the issuer places a temporary hold for a set amount, reducing your available balance or credit. The merchant can then complete a final charge later, or release the hold when it is no longer needed.
Key point, a pre-authorisation is not the same as a captured transaction. Many banking apps label it as “pending”, “preauthorisation”, or “authorised” rather than “posted”. Depending on the bank, it may appear with minimal detail, such as the merchant name and amount, and it can look very similar to a purchase.
So, can repeated attempts create multiple card holds?
Yes. If the first attempt fails or returns an unclear response, a second attempt can create a separate pending item. Some issuers may place a hold even when the overall authorisation result is declined or reversed quickly, because different parts of the network process at different speeds.
There are a few common scenarios:
Scenario 1, soft decline and retry. The issuer declines due to a rule (insufficient funds, exceeded credit limit, blocked merchant category, security check). A new attempt is made after you change something, such as moving money into the account. Some banks show both attempts as pending for a while.
Scenario 2, partial approval path. The first attempt is approved then immediately voided by the terminal or system (for example, time-out, duplicate keying, or amount mismatch). Your bank may still show a pending hold until it receives a release message and processes it.
Scenario 3, multiple terminals or channels. A desk agent attempts the authorisation, then a second attempt is run through another device, or via a different system. Your bank can treat these as separate requests, producing two pending entries.
Scenario 4, online check-in plus counter check. If there is an online pre-check step and then another at pick-up, both can appear as holds if the first was not properly released.
These behaviours are largely driven by payment networks and issuer processing rules, rather than a rental location trying to take money twice.
What you may see in online banking
Different banks present pending items differently, but Florida travellers often report seeing one or more of the following:
Multiple pending lines with the same merchant name. For example, two or three identical entries for the same amount, all marked pending. Sometimes the merchant descriptor differs slightly, such as including a location code.
Pending amounts that reduce available funds. On debit cards, the available balance may drop by the hold amount each time. On credit cards, available credit may reduce even though the posted balance has not changed.
One pending entry that later changes amount. Some systems update the existing authorisation rather than creating a fresh one. Your bank might show the hold “jumping” as the amount is adjusted.
A reversal that does not immediately restore available funds. Even if the rental company voids an attempt, your bank might still show it pending until the issuer releases it internally.
Confusing status labels. “Pending”, “authorised”, “processing”, or “reservation” can all mean a hold. The most reliable indicator is whether the transaction has posted and whether a receipt or final charge has been issued.
If you are collecting near Miami, the merchant name you see can vary by brand and neighbourhood. If you are comparing nearby options, it may help to review location pages such as car rental downtown Miami or Alamo car hire Miami Beach, then check that the descriptor on your bank matches the location you used.
How long do duplicate pending holds usually last?
There is no single universal timeline, because release times depend on your card type, the issuer, and the payment network. That said, most duplicate pending holds disappear automatically once the authorisation expires or is released.
Typical timeframes:
Debit cards: often 3–10 days, sometimes longer if the issuer is slow to release. Debit holds can feel harsher because they reduce spendable funds immediately.
Credit cards: often 1–7 days, but some issuers keep certain holds up to 10–14 days if they do not receive a clean reversal message.
Weekend and holiday effects: pending items may remain visible for longer if issuer processing is delayed.
Multiple holds: each hold can have its own expiry, so they may drop off on different days.
If you are in Orlando for theme parks and using a hold-sensitive debit account, consider checking policies and payment options early. A practical reference point is Thrifty car rental Disney Orlando, which can help you plan pick-up timing and budgeting around deposit requirements.
Why a pre-authorisation might fail in the first place
A failed deposit pre-authorisation is usually caused by one of these issues:
Insufficient available funds or credit. Remember the hold amount can be higher than you expect, especially when adding extras.
International travel fraud controls. UK and EU issuers commonly block unusual overseas rental transactions until you confirm activity.
Incorrect card details or mismatch. Name mismatch, expired card, incorrect billing postcode, or a card that does not support the required verification method.
Unsupported card type. Some rental deposits may not accept certain prepaid cards, virtual cards, or some debit products.
Per-transaction limit. Your bank may allow the overall balance but cap individual authorisations.
Multiple open holds already. If you have several travel-related holds, your available credit may be squeezed even though your statement balance looks fine.
How to prevent repeat holds before and during pick-up
The goal is to reduce the need for repeated authorisation attempts. That protects your available funds and saves time at the counter.
1) Confirm you have enough headroom above the deposit. Do not plan for the deposit amount alone. Keep extra buffer for fuel, tolls, and incidental holds during Florida travel.
2) Use a card that reliably supports pre-authorisations. Credit cards typically handle deposits more smoothly than many debit products, especially for travellers who need to protect cash flow.
3) Check issuer travel settings. Some banking apps require you to enable magstripe or international usage, or to approve the merchant type. If you receive an in-app fraud alert, responding quickly can prevent a second attempt.
4) Avoid multiple rapid retries. If an authorisation fails, ask what the decline reason was before trying again. Repeated attempts within minutes are the most common cause of duplicate pending lines.
5) Keep your billing details consistent. Use the same name and address format your bank has on file. Small mismatches can trigger verification failures that lead to retries.
6) Consider one card dedicated to the deposit. Keeping the hold on a single card can make it easier to track pending items and avoid confusion with day-to-day spending.
7) Ask whether the first attempt was voided. If the staff member voids an attempt, the hold still may not vanish instantly, but a void can speed up release at some issuers.
Travelling across Florida can mean multiple pick-ups, such as Miami, Tampa, or Fort Lauderdale. If you are planning a one-way trip, review the practical details for your pick-up point, such as car rental Tampa or van hire Fort Lauderdale, and factor deposit headroom into your travel budget.
What to do if you already see multiple pending holds
1) Check whether any have posted. If they are all pending, they are usually temporary. If one has posted unexpectedly, keep records and query it promptly.
2) Look for differences in amounts and timestamps. This helps identify whether you are seeing separate attempts, an updated hold, or a hold plus a final charge.
3) Keep receipts and rental paperwork. The agreement often shows whether the deposit was authorised and whether any earlier attempts were voided.
4) Contact your card issuer if funds are tightly restricted. Banks can sometimes confirm the status of each authorisation and may release certain holds earlier, although many will only release once the merchant sends the correct reversal or once the hold expires.
5) Avoid changing cards mid-process unless necessary. Switching cards can leave holds on both, doubling the impact on your available funds.
How this affects budgeting for car hire in Florida
Even when no money has left your account, duplicate holds can make it feel as though your travel funds have been drained. The practical risk is cash flow. You might have enough overall, but not enough available at that moment to cover hotel incidentals, fuel, or a second deposit at another supplier.
To stay comfortable, treat the deposit as a temporary reduction in spendable money and keep contingency funds elsewhere. If you are travelling with family or have a larger vehicle category, the deposit can be more noticeable, so planning ahead reduces stress at the counter.
FAQ
Can a declined pre-authorisation still show as a hold? Yes. Some issuers briefly place a pending authorisation even when the final result is decline or reversal, then remove it later.
Will multiple pending holds turn into multiple charges? Usually no. Pending holds typically expire or are released, and only one final transaction should post if the rental proceeds normally.
How long should I wait before contacting my bank? If your available funds are restricted, contact your bank immediately for clarification. Otherwise, many holds resolve within 3–10 days.
Does using a debit card make duplicate holds worse? It can feel worse because debit holds reduce your spendable balance straight away. Credit cards usually affect available credit, not cash in your account.
How can I reduce the chance of a second attempt at the counter? Bring a deposit-ready card with sufficient headroom, ensure issuer travel settings are enabled, and ask staff to confirm the decline reason before retrying.
