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 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: You pay for the rental. Nothing is held on your card, debit cards included. A small number of cars still carry a deposit; it is shown on the listing, charged with the booking and refunded after the review period.
- A ceiling after the rental: The deductible you chose is also the ceiling for what we can charge you after the rental. 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 deposit or credit card.
Related Terms
Rent a car without a hold on your card
At DRAIV nothing is blocked on your card, debit cards included. The article explains how it works.
More Mobility Definitions
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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
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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.