Information about pre-authorization

What is a pre-authorisation?

A pre-authorisation is a temporary hold of funds on your bank account or credit card.

Why is there a €100 deposit?

This is a deposit to cover incidentals (such as tolls, parking/speeding fines, fuel etc) and is a separate transaction to the pre-authorisation of your vehicle excess.

Can you take the pre-authorisation on my debit card?

No, a credit card is required for security reasons for pre-authorisation.

Why is a pre-authorisation needed?

Where there is an excess on the vehicle, this provides security for the total excess amount.

What is meant by an excess on the vehicle?

An excess is the pre-agreed amount of money that you are required to pay in the event of any damage to your rental vehicle.

Will the funds be accessible to me while the pre-authorisation is active?

No. The total amount pre-authorised will be held/frozen on your card until released by your bank.

How long will the funds be held?

The funds will be held/frozen for up to 10 working days (this may vary from bank to bank)

Can the pre-authorisation be released earlier?

If your pre-authorisation has not been automatically released by your bank five days after you have returned your rental vehicle, and you wish to request a manual reversal, please email customer.service@sixt.ie.

Why does it look like the pre-authorised amount has been charged to my card?

The pre-auth may appear as a pending charge on your bank. Please do not confuse this with being a transaction charged to you, as the funds have only pre-authorised and have not been debited from your account. The pending charge will disappear and the pre-auth amount will be accessible to you again once the funds have been released by your bank.