Car rental deposit Warsaw for a premium car: how it works, when it is returned and whether you can rent without one
How kaucja and card pre-authorization work, how cards differ, when a rental company may keep money and how a protocol and photos protect you. "No deposit".
In short. The deposit on a premium car rental in Poland is called kaucja. Most often it is not a money transfer to the rental company but a hold on your card (preautoryzacja, card pre-authorization), which is released or turned into a charge after the inspection. What will be deducted and when you get the money back is set by the contract and the bank. The customer is protected by the handover protocol, photos and a clear calculation of any claim.
The most common confusion around a deposit goes: “the money is gone”. Usually it has not gone anywhere but sits in reserve, and those are two different states of the account. Whether you understand the difference decides how you read your statement, what you ask at pickup and what you demand at return.
Kaucja and preautoryzacja: what is the difference
Kaucja (deposit) is contractual security for the rental company’s possible claims. It is not insurance and not the final payment for the rental. Which claims it covers is written into the rental agreement within the general rules of the Civil Code (Kodeks cywilny), and the law sets neither a single amount nor a single formula.
Preautoryzacja, or blokada środków (a funds hold), is a preliminary authorization. At the merchant’s request the bank reserves an amount on the card. Two outcomes are possible from there: the reservation is cancelled or expires and the amount becomes available again, or the merchant completes the operation and the money is actually charged. On the statement they look different: a hold has the status of a pending operation, a charge the status of a posted one.
| What happens | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Hold (pending) | The money stays with you, but the available balance or limit is lower by that amount |
| Authorization cancelled | The reservation is lifted, there is nothing to return, there will be no transfer back |
| Operation completed | The amount has been charged, a refund is a separate operation |
| Charge followed by a refund | A different operation: the money leaves and then comes back. It is not the same as a cancelled hold |
That is why waiting for a “transfer back” when there was no charge can be a mistake. If you paid by transfer at pickup rather than by a hold, the refund scheme is different and you need to clarify it straight away.
Credit and debit cards
On a credit card the available part of the credit limit is blocked. Having the card does not guarantee that enough available limit will be on it on the day of pickup: if part of the limit is already used, the operation may fail. Check this before you arrive, not at the counter.
There is a caveat with a debit card. Banks describe holds for debit cards too, so technically they are possible. But whether a particular rental company accepts such a card is a separate condition of the company itself. The same applies to prepaid cards and neobank cards such as Revolut: find out in advance whether the rental company accepts them. Also find out separately whether the card of a family member who will not be driving will be accepted.
How long a hold lasts: what can be claimed
The general rules of the Civil Code that we rely on set no deadline for returning such security. Banks and payment processors name different figures, and they should not be confused with the return period that a rental company promises.
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| mBank, debit card questions | A hold on an authorized operation can last up to 30 full days |
| Erste, card questions | The maximum hold period is up to 30 days, depending on the type of card and operation |
| PolCard, processor explanation (November 2024) | Most often a hold lasts 7 or 14 days, depending on the bank and the agreement |
These are maximums and typical periods on the bank’s side, not a statutory return deadline and not a promise that the rental company keeps the money for exactly that long. The real picture is made of stages: inspection at return, the rental company’s decision to cancel or complete the authorization, processing by the bank, the amount becoming available again. Ask about the time of each stage separately. Ask for written confirmation that the authorization was cancelled: with it, a conversation with the bank goes more easily.
Why it is higher on sports cars
The law does not set the amount of the security, and there is no published formula that would tie it to the value of the car or to the deductible on the comprehensive cover. So the equation “deposit equals deductible” cannot be taken on faith. A deposit may also secure other payments agreed in the contract.
The amount for a particular model is set by the rental company itself. That is why the question “why exactly this much for this car” is answered by the rental company, and you have the right to ask it. Comparing deposits of different cars, from the Lamborghini Urus Performante or the Mercedes-AMG G 63 to the more modest BMW 320d, makes sense together with the deductible and the protection terms, not separately.
”No deposit”: four different claims
On the Polish market there are offers with no deposit: as part of the service, as a separate paid package that reduces liability, or as an option for a limited list of cars and drivers. Card requirements in such offers also differ. This describes how the market is organized, not a promise of availability at a particular rental company. What matters is that these phrases sound alike but mean different things.
| Wording | What to check in the contract |
|---|---|
| No deposit | There is no hold or it is replaced by a package fee. What you pay instead |
| No credit card | Which cards are accepted and whether any form of security is needed |
| No deductible | Whether there is no deductible or it has been bought out with an extra fee |
| No liability | Check the insurance exclusions and the liability under the contract |
Which of the four apply at the same time is set by the contract. The absence of a deposit does not mean the absence of liability for damage.
When a rental company may keep the money
The general rules of the Civil Code that we rely on contain no deadline for returning a deposit on a car rental, and the rules on housing deposits are not carried over to cars. So the general rules of the Civil Code apply (consolidated text Dz.U. 2026 poz. 795, Poland’s official Journal of Laws).
| Provision | What follows from it |
|---|---|
| art. 353¹ | Swoboda umów (freedom of contract): the parties may agree on security within the limits of the law |
| art. 385¹ | Niedozwolone postanowienia umowne (prohibited contract terms): a term not individually negotiated does not bind the consumer if it shapes their rights and obligations contrary to good practice and grossly violates their interests |
| art. 675 §1 | The renter is not liable for wear of the item resulting from proper use |
| art. 498 | Potrącenie (set-off): offsetting mutual claims when the statutory conditions are met. It is not an unconditional right to keep the whole deposit |
In practice two things follow. Ordinary wear from normal driving is not a reason for a deduction. And every deduction must be backed by a calculation and evidence: what is damaged, when, how it differs from the handover protocol, what the repair costs. Demand the basis, the calculation and supporting documents, and keep the contract, protocols, photos and payment records.
In April 2026 UOKiK published objections against one of the rental companies: the terms in question put excessive liability for damage on the consumer. These are allegations about terms, not a finding that every disputed charge is unlawful. But the example shows where a dispute usually arises: the damage is assessed by one side.
How to protect yourself: a pickup and return checklist
This is an editorial checklist based on the documentation principles that ECK recommends. It is not an official form of any authority.
| At pickup | At return |
|---|---|
| Check the car, its trim and the number of seats against the order | Photograph the car from the same angles and in similar light |
| Take photos of the whole car, each wheel, the tyres, windows, bumpers, lower edges and interior | Record new marks and those noted earlier, and do not agree to a vague “body damage” |
| Note all existing damage in the handover protocol, even barely visible | Get a copy of the protocol with the date, time and comments from both sides |
| Photograph the odometer, the fuel or charge level and any warnings on the dashboard | Photograph the mileage and the fuel or charge, and keep the fuel receipt |
| Count the keys, documents, cables and any accessories handed over | Confirm the return of all items |
| Clarify which card and which form of security, when the authorization is cancelled, whom to write to with a complaint | Ask for confirmation of the cancelled authorization or for a calculation of the deduction |
| Sign a complete, clear document and get a copy | For a contactless return, find out when your liability ends and when the inspection will take place |
A practical detail: the lower edges of bumpers and the wheels are easy to miss in a quick inspection. Photograph them close up, and with an evening handover use your phone’s flashlight.
If a dispute arises
| Who the dispute is with | Where to turn |
|---|---|
| The rental company, over a charge or a refund | A written complaint. Then the rzecznik konsumentów (local consumer ombudsman) or the Inspekcja Handlowa (Trade Inspection). A cross-border case is handled by ECK within its remit |
| The bank, over a card operation, or the insurer, over a payout | First a complaint to the financial institution, then help from the Rzecznik Finansowy (Financial Ombudsman) is possible. It is not a universal arbiter in disputes with an ordinary rental company |
| A charge you do not recognize | Ask the bank about a refund for the card operation (chargeback). The result is not guaranteed |
How it works at Aurex
The terms of our deposit are on the car’s page and in the rental conditions. They describe the documents at handover, the payment methods and the return procedure, and the amount depends on the model. The article deliberately has no figures, because they change. Before booking, open the rental conditions and the page of the chosen car, then compare them with the contract at handover. Ask the manager about the form of security for a specific car before booking. What the final rental price consists of is covered in the piece on rental cost in Warsaw.
Who this is for and who it is not
This material is useful if you are renting a premium car on a card for the first time and want to understand what you see on your statement. It also helps those who compare a “no deposit” offer with an ordinary one, and those who have already received a claim and are working out what to rely on.
It will not replace legal advice on your specific dispute. If the amount is large or the contract contains unusual terms, you need a specialist and the documents in hand. It is also not for those looking for a specific deposit amount: the rental company names it, and it depends on the model.
Current rates are on the price page, and the rental rules are in the rental conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent a car without a deposit? Such offers exist on the market: as a package that reduces liability, or as an option for some cars and drivers. Each option must be read against the contract. At Aurex a refundable deposit is taken on every rental. Its terms are given on the car’s page and in the rental conditions; the deposit can be reduced for an extra fee, and for a specific car check the details with the manager.
Is a credit card required? There is no single rule, the rental company sets it. Banks allow holds on debit cards too, but whether a particular rental company accepts them has to be found out in advance. For prepaid cards, neobank cards and third-party cards, ask separately. Check this before booking.
Can I leave the deposit in cash or on a debit card? The form of security is determined by the rental company: for some it is a hold on a card, for others a transfer or cash. A debit card technically handles a hold, but the rental company decides. Always find out how and when the money comes back with your method of payment.
When will I get the money back after returning the car? The general rules of the Civil Code that we rely on set no return deadline. First the rental company inspects the car and makes a decision, then it cancels or completes the authorization, then the bank restores the available amount. Banks name hold maximums of up to 30 days, and the PolCard processor names a typical 7 or 14. These are the bank’s limits, not a promise from the rental company.
Can the rental company keep money for wear? The renter is not liable for wear from normal use; this follows directly from art. 675 §1 of the Kodeks cywilny (Civil Code). The rental company may bring a claim for damage, but it must show the basis, the calculation and the difference from the handover protocol. A disputed assessment can be challenged with a written complaint.
What should I do if more was deducted than seems fair? Request the calculation and documents, compare them with your own photos and the protocol, then file a written complaint. If the reply does not satisfy you, turn to the rzecznik konsumentów or the Inspekcja Handlowa. If the error is in a card operation, talk to your bank about a chargeback.