Quick Summary
- For most US hires, the deposit is a temporary authorisation hold rather than a normal purchase, even though it may look like a transaction on your statement.
- The hold usually appears in your banking app as a pending or pre authorised amount that reduces your available funds until the rental is closed.
- Hola Car Rentals shows typical hold levels and card rules in advance so you can keep enough room on your account and understand what your bank is likely to do.
What a rental deposit really is
When you collect a hire car, the supplier normally asks your bank to block a certain amount on your card as a security deposit. This authorisation covers extras such as fuel shortages, late return or minor damage and sits on your account until the rental is finished. If you reserve a US car rental through Hola Car Rentals, the expected hold is usually shown on the payment screen so you can make sure your card has enough headroom.
From the bank's point of view, this is usually an authorisation hold rather than a normal purchase. The money is not sent to the rental company straight away; instead, your issuer temporarily reduces the amount of credit or cash you can access while it waits for the final bill. Once the supplier confirms the end of the hire, the hold either drops away and a separate charge for the final amount appears, or part of the held sum is turned into a purchase and any excess is released.
How it appears on your statement
On many online banking apps you will see the deposit listed under pending or pre authorised transactions rather than in the settled list. It might show with the rental company's name and an amount that is higher than the eventual cost of the hire. Until it clears, that sum still counts against your limit or available balance, even though it has not yet turned into a full purchase.
The exact wording depends on your bank. Some label the hold in a way that looks very close to a purchase, while others use a clear pending status. Either way, what matters is that the amount is provisional and tied to the hire agreement. At larger airports such as Los Angeles, where deposits can vary with vehicle class and supplier, Hola Car Rentals pages like Los Angeles Airport bookings make it easier to see what kind of authorisation to expect.
When a deposit really is a purchase
Occasionally a company will take a refundable deposit as an actual charge instead of a hold, particularly on some debit cards or at smaller local branches. In that case the amount will appear in the settled section of your statement, and later you will see a separate refund. The effect on your available money can be similar in the short term, but the way it is recorded is different, which matters if you are trying to track interest, dispute a transaction or claim on insurance.
If the numbers on your statement look confusing, start by comparing them with the paperwork from the counter. Large hubs such as Las Vegas Airport can have higher holds for premium vehicles, local renters or debit cards, so it is normal for the authorisation to exceed the headline price. For a deeper explanation of how much may be set aside and for how long, the Hola Car Rentals blog includes a clear article on how much the deposit is to rent a car in the US, which pairs well with your own bank's guidance.
How long holds last and how Hola Car Rentals helps
Most banks release an unused authorisation within a few days once the supplier has sent the final charge, but the exact timing varies. Some clear it overnight, while others can take up to a week or more, especially after weekends or holidays. If the hold seems to be lingering, it is worth checking whether the final rental charge has posted; if it has, your bank should be able to confirm when the remaining lock on funds will fall away.
Booking through Hola Car Rentals makes it much easier to plan for all of this. Many offers bundle an All Inclusive+ Rate with maximum coverage, no hidden fees and Free Cancellation up to 48 hours before pick up, so you know the likely total before you commit. Selected itineraries also include free travel insurance up to US$150000 and cashback on tolls, helping you keep a financial buffer on the card that carries the deposit. Instead of guessing how your bank will react, you go into the trip with a clear understanding of what will be held, when and why.
In short, your bank will usually treat the deposit for a hire car as a temporary hold rather than a purchase, but both the rental company and the card issuer have a role in how it is displayed. Read your Hola Car Rentals confirmation carefully, keep an eye on your statement and do not hesitate to ask your bank for clarification if something looks wrong. With that groundwork in place, the money side of your journey can stay as smooth as the drive itself.
FAQs
Will I pay interest on a deposit hold?
If the deposit stays as an authorisation only, there is no purchase for your card provider to charge interest on. You simply have less available credit until the hold falls away. However, if the company actually charges the amount and then refunds it later, that transaction can affect your balance, so it is wise to pay attention to statement dates and due payments.
What should I do if the hold has not cleared after several weeks?
Start by contacting the rental company to confirm that the agreement is fully closed and that no further charges are pending. Once they confirm this, your bank can investigate why the authorisation has not expired. Having your Hola Car Rentals confirmation and final invoice to hand makes those conversations much quicker.
Does using a debit card instead of a credit card change anything?
The basic idea is the same, but with a debit card the hold can tie up money from your current account rather than part of a credit line. That can feel more restrictive if you rely on that balance for everyday spending. Many travellers therefore prefer to use a credit card for the deposit and keep a debit card for payments during the trip.
Will the final bill use the same authorisation, or be a separate charge?
In many systems the final bill captures part or all of the original authorisation, while any surplus is released. In others the hold is cancelled and a new charge appears for the agreed total. Either way, your bank should only leave you paying for the actual rental cost plus any authorised extras, not the full deposit amount.
