You book a cheap car for your holiday, you're happy about the price, and then at pickup the clerk at the counter asks for a credit card and blocks 1,200 € on it. That money disappears from your available limit for the entire rental period. The deposit is the most common surprise for Polish tourists renting a car in Spain.
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In this article we explain how much the deposit usually is, how a hold differs from an actual charge, how this relates to the excess, and, most importantly, how to rent a car without a deposit and without freezing your own money. You can book a no-deposit car rental in Malaga online right away.
At most car rental companies in Spain, yes, a deposit is standard. The company takes it upfront as security in case of damage, a fine, returning the car with an empty tank, or other costs that might fall on you.
From the rental company's point of view, that's logical. From a tourist's point of view, it can be a hassle, because for the duration of the rental you lose access to a significant amount of money. The good news is that this isn't a rule without exceptions. There's a no-deposit rental model where you pay only for the service itself. We'll come back to that at the end.
⚠ Remember! A deposit is not a fee. It's your own money, just temporarily frozen. If you return the car in good condition, it comes back to you in full.
The deposit amount mainly depends on the car class. The more expensive and bigger the car, the higher the deposit. In practice, amounts start at a few hundred euros for a small city car and reach over a thousand euros for SUVs and higher-class vehicles. A hold of 1,000 to 1,500 € is nothing unusual at large chains.
Why can it be so high? Because it has to cover the worst-case scenario for the rental company, meaning your excess liability in a more serious case of damage. The company secures itself for the amount it would need to recover from you if something happened.
✔ Key difference: the deposit depends on the car, not on the length of the rental. Whether you rent the car for three days or two weeks, the hold tends to be the same.
This distinction determines how quickly you get your money back. Two different mechanisms.
✨ Hold (authorization) means reserving funds on your card. The money isn't taken, just temporarily unavailable. Once the car is returned, the hold is released and your limit comes back. Depending on the bank, this takes anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
✨ Charge means the amount is actually taken from your account. Here the money really leaves, and getting it back, if everything is in order, can also take a while.
This comes with a common problem: large chains usually require a credit card, not a debit card. A credit card lets you hold funds within your limit without touching your real money. If you only have a debit card, at many companies you simply won't be able to pick up the car, or they'll offer you a more expensive option.
These two words are often confused, but they mean different things.
✨ Excess, meaning your own liability, is the maximum amount you're financially responsible for in case of damage. If the excess is 1,000 € and you scratch the car, you cover the cost out of pocket up to that amount, and insurance takes care of the rest.
✨ Deposit is the security taken upfront, before you even set off. Very often the deposit equals the amount of the excess. The rental company holds exactly as much as it could maximum recover from you.
Insurance comes into play here. By buying a higher package, you lower or completely remove the excess, and along with it the reason for a high deposit. At Car4Rent it works like this:
What exactly the packages cover and what to look for, we break down in detail in our article about rental car insurance in Spain.
It depends on the bank and the rental company. With a simple hold, funds usually come back within a few days to two or three weeks. With an actual charge, it can take longer, since there's also processing time for the refund transfer.
The refund can be delayed if something disputed comes up. The most common reasons are:
✔ Our advice: at pickup and at return, take photos of the car from every angle, with the date. If a dispute ever comes up about a scratch, you have proof of the car's condition when you took it and when you returned it. It's the simplest way to get your full deposit back.
The simplest way to avoid the deposit problem is to choose a company that doesn't charge one.
At Car4Rent Malaga you rent a car with no deposit and no hold on your card. You pay only for the rental, not for the privilege of temporarily handing the company a thousand euros. You can pay by debit card, cash, or via Revolut, and settle everything at pickup. A credit card isn't needed.
That removes two of the biggest headaches at once. You don't need a "credit card" with a high limit, and you don't wait weeks for a frozen amount to be refunded.
There's one "but" worth knowing. No deposit doesn't mean you're not liable for anything. The excess tied to your chosen package still applies, and the terms provide for charges in specific situations, for example returning the car with an empty tank or smoking inside.
It depends on the car class. Usually from a few hundred euros for a small car to over a thousand euros for an SUV or higher-class vehicle. At large chains, a hold of 1,000 to 1,500 € is typical. At Car4Rent there is no deposit.
No. Most companies charge a deposit, but there are rental companies operating a no-deposit model. In that case you pay only for the rental, with no hold on your card.
Yes, if the cost of damage or additional charges exceeds the amount of the excess and isn't covered by insurance. The deposit secures the company up to a certain amount, it doesn't release you from liability beyond it. That's why the scope of the package matters.
From about 29 € a day, a week's rental of a small car starts at roughly 200 €, depending on season and vehicle class (as of 2026). On top of that come any extra charges, for example for a child seat.
Check the deposit amount, whether a credit card is required, what the excess is, and what's included in the price. Take photos of the car at pickup. Choosing a company with no deposit and service in your language saves the most stress.
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Don't want to hand over a thousand euros as a hold for your holiday? At Car4Rent Malaga you can rent a car with no deposit and no credit card, with full service in Polish and pickup at AGP airport. You pay only for the rental, without freezing your money and without surprises at return.
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