Blocked versus charged
A block reserves an amount on the card without taking it. The money stays yours but is unavailable until the supplier releases it.
A charge actually moves the money and requires a refund to reverse. Blocks are the norm; ask which applies, because the two behave very differently on your statement.
What the deposit covers
- Damage to the vehicle up to the insurance excess.
- Traffic and parking fines received during the rental.
- Missing fuel where the tank is returned below the agreed level.
- Late return beyond the contracted time.
- Toll charges not settled during the rental.
What decides the amount
The car class
Deposits scale with the cost of repair. Economy classes sit at the low end; premium, sports and large SUV classes are far higher.
The insurance chosen
A full-cover package that reduces the excess normally reduces the deposit with it. That is often the cheapest way to bring the blocked amount down.
The payment method
Credit cards usually attract the standard deposit. Debit cards and no-credit-card tariffs frequently carry a higher one.
When it comes back
Release is a two-step process: the supplier lifts the block after the return inspection, then the bank restores the limit. The second step is the slow one, typically a few days but sometimes weeks.
A deposit that has not reappeared after a week is usually a bank timing issue rather than a supplier problem, but keep the return paperwork until it clears.
No-deposit tariffs
Some suppliers offer zero-deposit or reduced-deposit rates. They remove or shrink the block, but the risk has to sit somewhere — usually in a higher daily rate or a mandatory insurance package.
That trade can still be worth it if your card limit is tight, but compare the total cost rather than the deposit alone.