Quick Summary:
- A hold is a temporary pre-authorisation, not money taken.
- A charge is a completed transaction that reduces available credit.
- Pending holds can remain until your bank finalises the release.
- Hola uses credit-card-only pre-authorisation, then releases after vehicle return.
When you arrange car hire in Florida, you will usually see one of two things on your card statement: a pending amount (often called a hold or pre-authorisation) or a posted amount (a charge). They can look similar at first glance, but they behave very differently, and that difference matters for your budget while you are travelling.
This guide explains what a credit card hold is, what a charge is, why the hold shows as pending, and when it is released. It also clarifies how Hola’s credit-card-only pre-authorisation works, so you know what to expect when collecting and returning your vehicle in Florida.
What is a credit card hold (pre-authorisation)?
A credit card hold, also called a pre-authorisation, is a temporary reservation of part of your credit limit. The key point is that it is not a completed payment. Your bank marks that amount as unavailable, but the funds have not been transferred as a sale.
With car hire, the hold is commonly used to help cover potential extra costs, for example, a fuel shortfall, toll administration, traffic fines, damage excess, or an extended rental. The amount and rules vary by supplier, vehicle group, and sometimes the location.
What is a charge (posted transaction)?
A charge is a completed card transaction that has been captured and posted to your account. Unlike a hold, a charge reduces your available credit and becomes part of your statement balance (or is deducted if you pay it immediately).
In car hire, you might see a charge for the rental cost itself, for optional extras you selected, or for additional items agreed at the counter. If there are extra costs identified at return, the supplier may charge those too, depending on the terms and what was assessed.
A useful mental check is this: pending usually means “reserved”, while posted usually means “paid”. Banks sometimes show pending items for a short period before they become posted charges, but in the case of a security deposit, the pending item should drop off rather than convert into a final sale.
Why the hold shows as pending, and why it can linger
Many people assume the moment they return the vehicle, the hold disappears. In practice, there are two separate steps:
1) The supplier releases the authorisation. This is the rental company indicating it no longer needs to reserve that amount.
2) Your bank updates your available credit and statement view. This timing is controlled by the bank and card network, not by the rental desk.
That is why you can return a car in perfect condition and still see a pending amount for several days. It is not necessarily a dispute situation, it is usually just payment processing. Weekends and bank holidays can add time.
How Hola’s credit-card-only pre-authorisation works in Florida
For car hire, Hola operates with a credit card pre-authorisation requirement. In other words, the security deposit is placed as a hold on a credit card rather than taken as a cash deposit. This is designed to keep the deposit process straightforward and traceable through the card network.
What you will typically notice:
You see a pending deposit amount at pick-up. This is the hold. It reduces your available credit while it is pending.
You may also see a separate charge for the rental cost. Depending on how your rental is set up, the rental cost may be charged, while the deposit remains a hold.
After return, the hold is released. The supplier requests release once the vehicle is checked in and the rental is closed, then the bank reflects the release according to its processing schedule.
If you are collecting in a busy airport environment, understanding the difference is especially useful. For instance, at car hire at Orlando Airport (MCO), travellers often have multiple travel holds at the same time, including hotel incidentals, making it important to manage available credit.
Common reasons you might see a charge instead of a hold
Sometimes customers expect a hold but see a charge. The most common reasons are:
Deposit converted into a charge for agreed extras. If you add products or services at the counter, those are often charged as sales, separate from the security deposit hold.
Additional costs after return. If the vehicle is returned with a fuel shortfall, late return, or other payable item, that amount may be charged. The deposit hold might then be released in full, or replaced by a smaller hold, depending on processing.
Bank display quirks. Some banks show pending authorisations in a way that resembles a completed payment. Always check whether the transaction is marked pending or posted.
How long does it take for a hold to be released?
Release times vary because the final step is your bank. It can be quick, but it can also take several business days to fully disappear from your app. The most important point is that the hold is not meant to be permanent. Once released by the supplier, it should fall away automatically when the bank updates the authorisation status.
If you are travelling across Florida, you may see holds from multiple services at once. For example, a city stay can involve both accommodation and car hire, whether you collect at car hire in Downtown Miami or stay near the financial district and use car rental in Brickell.
How to tell the difference on your statement
Use these quick checks:
Look for the status. “Pending”, “authorisation”, or “pre-auth” indicates a hold. “Posted”, “completed”, or an entry that has moved to your statement balance indicates a charge.
Check your available credit versus your balance. A hold typically reduces available credit but may not increase your current balance the same way a posted charge does, depending on how your bank displays it.
Compare timestamps. Holds are usually created at collection. A charge for extras can happen at collection or at return. If you see two entries on the same day, it can be a charge plus a separate hold.
Watch for automatic disappearance. Holds are designed to drop off. Charges remain until refunded or reversed.
Practical tips to avoid surprises during car hire
Use a credit card with enough headroom. A hold ties up part of your limit. If you are close to your limit, even a legitimate hold can cause other travel payments to fail.
Return on time and keep receipts. Timely return and keeping the return paperwork helps if you need to query a later posted charge.
Understand optional extras. Items like upgrades, additional cover, and add-ons can be charged rather than held, so your statement may show both.
Know your route. If you are choosing a larger vehicle for comfort or luggage, the deposit and rental price can differ by group. This can matter when arranging SUV hire in Doral or similar categories across Florida.
What to do if the hold has not disappeared
If the rental is closed and the hold still shows after several business days, start with your bank. Banks can confirm whether the authorisation is still active or if it has been released but not yet reflected in your app.
If your bank confirms the authorisation is still active, then it is reasonable to contact the rental provider with your rental agreement details and the authorisation reference shown by your bank (if available). Clear information speeds up resolution.
FAQ
Is a credit card hold the same as paying a deposit? Not exactly. A hold reserves part of your credit limit without taking money as a sale. People often call it a deposit, but on your statement it should show as a pending authorisation, not a posted charge.
Why do I see both a pending amount and a separate charge? This usually means the rental cost (or an add-on) has been charged, while the security deposit is still held as a pending pre-authorisation. They serve different purposes and can exist at the same time.
Can a debit card be used for the pre-authorisation? Hola’s deposit process is credit-card-only for pre-authorisation. A debit card can behave differently because funds can be ring-fenced from your bank balance, and acceptance can vary by supplier and conditions.
How soon after return will my available credit go back up? The supplier can release the hold after return, but your bank controls when it disappears from pending and restores available credit. This can be quick or take several business days.
What should I do if a hold becomes a charge? First, check whether there were any post-rental costs such as fuel, tolls, or late return. If it looks incorrect, contact your bank to confirm the status, then raise it with the rental provider using your agreement and return paperwork.
