The deposit is a fixed amount of money collected upon car pickup, serving as a safety measure throughout the rental period. The rental car company goes above and beyond by providing you a rental car that holds a value significantly beyond the booking price. Hence, a security deposit is required to account for potential additional charges during the rental, including extensions, fuel charges, cleaning fees, administrative fees, or damages.
Opting for credit card payment while renting leads to the deposit being temporarily held on your credit line. This hold is automatically released after the rental is settled, with actual charges only being applied in cases of real damage or extra fee.
For vehicle categories up to and including the middle class, the deposit stands at 1000CHF. All vehicle categories above the middle class require a deposit of 1500CHF.
You have the option to reduce the deposit amount by adding extra options, for example SCDW.
The timing for the complete release of the deposit hinges on various factors, including the issuing bank, the country, and the credit card protocol. In certain instances, this process might extend for a few days or even up to 28 days for foreign banks. It's crucial to acknowledge that the ultimate release of the deposit is beyond our control and is determined by the bank's procedures.
As we have no control over the final release by the bank, we recommend that you contact your bank directly for further details.