Know the deposit before you book.

A damage deposit is an amount the rental company blocks (pre-authorises) on the main driver's payment card at pick-up. It is not usually charged; it is held as security against damage and released after the car is returned, which can take several days to appear back on your card. The amount depends on the rental company, the vehicle and the product you select.

The deposit is what is blocked on your card. The excess is the maximum amount you can be charged if the car is damaged or stolen. They are separate figures: a deposit can be blocked even when the excess is low, and a low or zero deposit does not reduce your contractual liability under the rental agreement.

No. A €0 damage deposit is available on a qualifying final offer only, and it refers to the damage hold alone. The rental company can still block or charge separate amounts for fuel, toll devices, extras, cross-border use, traffic fines or late return. Always read the final checkout page, the rental conditions and the voucher before paying.

Yes. Under full-to-empty style fuel policies a tank is normally charged or blocked up front, and an electronic toll device (for example Via Verde in Portugal) can carry its own hold that is settled against actual usage. These amounts are separate from the damage deposit and vary by supplier, product and location.

Very often, yes, but accepted card types and cardholder requirements vary by supplier and product. Many counters require a physical card in the main driver's name with enough available limit, and some refuse debit, prepaid or virtual cards for holds. Verify the payment-card section of the final offer and voucher before you travel.

Not automatically. Only the rental company's own full-coverage product can reduce or remove the amount that company blocks. Third-party or marketplace excess cover reimburses you after you have already paid the supplier, so the supplier's deposit still applies. Check what the specific coverage does before assuming the hold disappears.

On the final checkout page of the booking partner, in the rental company's terms for that specific product, and on the voucher you receive after booking. Those documents are authoritative. Conditions vary by rental company, vehicle and location and can change, so review them before you book and again before you pay at the counter.