A hold is not necessarily a final charge
At pickup, the rental company may authorize the estimated rental cost plus an additional security amount on your card.
Rental car deposits and authorization holds
Rental car companies often place a deposit or authorization hold on your card at pickup in addition to the rental cost. The amount can vary by rental company, airport, payment method and vehicle, and the funds may remain unavailable for several days after the rental ends.
How much is a rental car deposit?
Rental car deposits vary by rental company, airport, payment method and vehicle type. Published holds often start in the low hundreds of dollars, but some companies use higher fixed amounts or calculate the hold from the rental price.
Do all rental cars require a deposit?
Many rental companies place a security deposit or authorization hold at pickup, but the amount and rules vary by branch. That is why the exact airport and rental company matter more than a generic company policy.
Is a rental car deposit charged or just held?
Usually, the deposit is an authorization hold rather than a final charge. It temporarily reduces the available balance on your credit or debit card until the rental company releases it.
What our deposit research shows
180
Records with a published amount or range
129
Records where the deposit varies
0
Records with no published deposit
Deposits are published in different currencies and depend on vehicle, payment method or rental length, so we do not calculate an average.
Published deposits for Enterprise at different airports:
- MCO $400 standard / $850 listed luxury-specialty classes
- JFK $600 standard / $850 listed luxury-specialty classes
- PHX $300 standard / $850 listed luxury-specialty classes
- DTW $500 standard / $850 listed luxury-specialty classes
Based on RentalCarReady’s current dataset (2026-09-15) of 309 airport/provider records across 51 airports.
How rental car deposits and holds work
You need enough available funds or credit
The authorization can temporarily reduce the amount available on your debit card or credit line.
The amount can vary
Deposit requirements may differ by rental company, airport, payment method, vehicle class and other booking conditions.
The funds may not return immediately
After the rental company releases the hold, your bank or card issuer may take additional time to make the funds available again.
Rental car deposit examples by airport
Open a rental company for the full pickup requirements and official source.
Deposit or hold
$400 standard / $850 listed luxury-specialty classes
Deposit or hold
$400 standard / $850 listed luxury-specialty classes
Deposit or hold
Debit hold: $500
Credit hold varies by vehicle class ($200–$900)
Deposit or hold
Debit hold: up to $500
Deposit or hold
$200–$300 depending on rental length
Prepaid debit hold: $250
Deposit or hold
$200–$300 depending on rental length
Prepaid debit hold: $250
Popular airport deposit guides
Rental car deposit FAQs
How much is a rental car deposit?
There is no single deposit amount. The hold varies by rental company, pickup location, payment method and vehicle category. Check the exact airport and rental company before pickup.
Is the rental car deposit separate from the rental price?
Usually, yes. A rental company may authorize the estimated rental cost plus an additional deposit or security hold. You need enough available funds or credit to cover the total authorization.
Are rental car deposits higher with a debit card?
They can be. Some locations require a larger hold or additional checks when a renter uses a debit card. The exact requirement depends on the rental company and pickup location.
How long does it take to get a rental car deposit back?
The rental company can release the hold after the vehicle is returned, but your bank or card issuer may take several business days to make the funds available again.