Security deposits

How the amount is set

Your deposit is your insurance deductible plus $500. Hosts do not set it and cannot change it, so it is the same formula on every car. Before your insurance is verified we do not know your deductible, so listings show the $500 base as an estimate. Once your insurance is on file, the exact figure appears on the trip.

A hold, not a charge

The hold goes on your card in the day before pickup. The money is set aside, not taken. Check-in is blocked until the hold succeeds, so if it fails, update your card and use Retry deposit on the trip page. On a long trip the hold is refreshed on your card about once a week so it does not lapse.

Getting it back

The hold is released about two days after your trip ends. If the host files a damage claim before then, it stays in place until the claim is resolved. Only a resolved claim can capture part or all of it, and your receipt shows exactly how much was taken and why.

If a trip is canceled

Canceling releases the hold. The same is true when a host cancels on you or fails to show at pickup.