A security deposit and a rental deposit usually refer to the same thing: money securing obligations under the rental agreement. Preauthorisation describes how funds are held on a card, while the excess describes the renter’s financial contribution towards damage under the agreed cover. These are not four separate fees to add together. No deposit does not automatically mean no liability, and releasing a card hold is different from refunding a payment already taken.
Before collecting a car, establish three figures: what you will pay for the rental, what will be temporarily unavailable and what you could owe if damage occurs. This guide explains the terminology, gives a budgeting example and summarises relevant public BLS conditions checked on 15 September 2026.
Deposit, preauthorisation and excess: what is the difference?
Understanding the amounts in a car rental offer| Term | What does it mean? | What should you ask? |
|---|---|---|
| Security deposit | Security for amounts due under the agreement, separate from the rental price. | How much is required, and which obligations does it secure? |
| Rental deposit | Often another name for the security deposit. The wording alone does not identify the payment method. | Is this the same security amount or a separately defined payment? |
| Preauthorisation | A reservation of funds on a card before a possible payment is captured. | How much will be held, and how will release be confirmed? |
| Excess / deductible | The renter’s contractual contribution towards damage covered by the relevant protection. | Does the limit apply per incident, what is excluded, and are theft terms different? |
In a Polish rental agreement, look for kaucja for the security deposit and udział własny for the excess. Their functions differ: one secures settlement, the other describes liability. Matching amounts do not make them interchangeable. If an English booking screen uses “deposit” for an advance rental payment, ask which meaning applies.
Is the security deposit part of the rental cost?
Do not count a refundable security deposit as the price of the service. Split your budget into rental spending and money needed as security. Otherwise, an offer with a larger hold can look more expensive simply because you have mistaken temporarily unavailable funds for a non-refundable charge.
Illustrative calculation only, not a BLS quotation: the rental costs PLN 600 and a separate preauthorisation is PLN 2,000. If both operations will use the same card and nothing has been paid beforehand, you need PLN 2,600 available before they occur. The rental price is still PLN 600. The remaining PLN 2,000 is security to be settled under the agreement.
Do not add an advance rental payment twice. Budget for fuel and parking separately, too. For a broader explanation of pricing components, read our guide to daily, weekly and monthly car rental costs.
How is a card hold different from a charge?
Preauthorisation is not yet a captured payment. Stripe’s documentation on placing a payment hold explains the technical distinction between authorisation and subsequent capture. This describes the payment mechanism; it does not establish that BLS uses Stripe.
At collection, ask for each operation to be identified clearly: “rental payment”, “charged security deposit” or “preauthorisation”. Keep confirmation of the amount and currency. Two entries in your banking app do not, by themselves, prove that you have been charged twice: ask your bank to confirm each entry’s status.
Separately confirm the accepted card type, cardholder requirements and whether the card can secure your selected vehicle. Successfully paying for an online booking does not establish that the same card will be accepted for security at collection.
When is a deposit refunded, and when is a hold released?
A charged deposit requires a refund. An unused preauthorisation requires release, which may not appear as a separate incoming payment. The bank also affects when your available funds are restored, as explained in Stripe’s guide to authorisation holds.
If money remains unavailable, identify the operation first. Ask the rental company for the refund or release date and transaction reference, then ask your bank to check its status. Do not send your full card number, CVV or login credentials.
Have your agreement number, vehicle return date, return report and transaction confirmation ready. These give both parties something specific to investigate instead of an unexplained statement that “the deposit has not come back”.
What do BLS conditions say about deposits?
The BLS regulations on deposits and renter liability (clauses 6.8–6.9 in the English version) require security before vehicle release and match its amount to the excess unless the agreement specifies otherwise. Refund is stated as within up to 14 business days, subject to timely return without new damage or cost-generating circumstances, settlement of rental amounts and return of documents and equipment. Clause 6.12 provides different refund timing where damage or other specified circumstances are identified.
The shorter BLS rental conditions page instead describes deposit return when the vehicle is handed back after the conditions are met. Because the descriptions differ, confirm the timing and method for your agreement. Do not budget on the money being available immediately after returning the keys.
If you choose the Prime plan with BLS, be sure to confirm the security deposit amount, deductible, and coverage exclusions for the specific vehicle and dates before making a reservation. The plan name alone does not determine these terms—they must be specified in your quote and contract.
Can your liability exceed the deposit?
Do not treat the deposit as an unconditional cap on every possible claim. Check damage, theft, fuel, excess mileage and other contractual charges separately. A zero excess for specified damage does not automatically cancel all other amounts that might become due.
BLS regulations (clause 6.16 in English) remove the liability limitation in circumstances including invalid driving entitlement, leaving the incident scene, intentional acts or gross negligence. Driver obligations therefore matter alongside the stated amounts.
Distinguish protection that reduces the excess in the rental agreement from a policy offering reimbursement afterwards. Do not assume an external policy automatically removes the deposit requirement. The European Consumer Centre explains cover differences and recommends documenting vehicle condition; its guide is in Polish.
What should you record at collection and return?
- Before collection: the rental balance still payable, the separate security amount, its currency and how it will be taken or held.
- In the agreement: the excess, damage assessment rules, exclusions and security refund terms.
- In the collection report: existing damage, fuel, mileage and equipment. Raise discrepancies before driving away.
- At return: keep the report and photographs; if a deduction is made, request its contractual basis, calculation and supporting documents.
Frequently asked questions about deposits and excess
Do I pay a security deposit and a rental deposit separately?
The names alone do not establish two payments. If both appear, ask whether they describe one security amount. Two separate amounts should each have a clearly explained purpose.
Do I pay the excess when collecting the car?
The excess describes damage settlement, not an automatic collection fee. Security matching that amount may be required at collection: check how the agreement distinguishes the two.
Does a returned deposit close every possible charge?
Do not treat the refund alone as confirmation that no further amounts can arise. Request the final rental settlement and check the agreement’s process for later-notified charges, such as traffic fines.
Planning a rental? Ask BLS to confirm your deposit, excess and payment method for the specific vehicle. Provide your dates and collection location, and request three separate details: the service price, the security requirement and your liability if damage occurs.