Car Rental Security Deposit (Kaution)
What a car rental security deposit is: why rental companies hold an amount on your card, what that means for your card limit and debit cards, and how renting without a card hold works.
A car rental security deposit (Kaution) is an amount a rental company temporarily holds or charges on the renter's card to secure payment for possible damage, traffic fines, missing fuel or other contract breaches during the rental.
How Traditional Deposits Work
Many traditional rental agencies place a hold on the driver's credit card at pickup. The amount depends on the provider and the vehicle class:
- Credit limit block: The hold is not an immediate charge, but it reduces the card's available limit, often in the middle of a trip.
- Delayed release: After the car is returned, it can take several days for the card issuer to release the hold.
- Debit cards: Some counter-based agencies only accept credit cards for the deposit.
The Alternative: No Hold on Your Card
Some digital providers do not, as a rule, block any money on the card. This is how it works at DRAIV:
- Driving licence in the app: You upload your driving licence in the app instead of showing it at a counter.
- Nothing blocked as a rule: As a rule, we don't hold a deposit. Our GTC apply, including checks before your first pickup. We may decline certain payment methods, in particular prepaid or debit cards.
- A ceiling after the rental: For damage to the car, the most that can be charged is the deductible you chose. Other costs such as fuel, fines and fees are not limited by it. The photos you take at pickup and return record the car's condition.
What that means in practice, including debit cards, is in our article Car rental without a deposit.
Related Terms
Sources
Read on 5 October 2026.
- DRAIV renter terms, § 6.3(a): "As a rule, DRAIV takes no Deposit."
Rent a car without a hold on your card
At DRAIV we normally reserve nothing on your card. The article explains how it works.
More Mobility Definitions
Car subscription: what it is and how it differs from renting
A car subscription is a car you use for a fixed monthly fee. Unlike a rental, you commit for months, not for hours or days.
Deductible in Damage Protection (Selbstbehalt)
What a car rental deductible (excess) is: the most you pay if the car is damaged. How deductible tiers work and which three DRAIV offers.
Digital Handover & Damage Inspection Protocol
What a digital handover protocol is: timestamped photos record a rental car's condition at pickup and return, together with mileage and fuel level. How the walk-around works in an app.
Keyless Handover
What a keyless handover is: you unlock, drive and lock a rental or shared car with an app, with no key and no desk. How digital access works technically.