Why Does Enterprise Put a $200 Hold on Your Card? (US 2026)

Published: 8 October 2026 · Author: Trang Do, Beauty Editor, ShopBack

Short answer for the US in 2026: the hold is Enterprise's refundable security deposit. According to Enterprise's own help pages, every rental needs a deposit, the amount varies by location and by the cost of the rental, and it covers unplanned charges like fuel, damage or a late return. On a credit card, Enterprise authorizes the rental plus the deposit at pickup and releases the hold when you return the car. On a debit card, the deposit is actually charged and refunded, which usually takes 5 to 10 business days.

ShopBack US is a free website and app that returns cash on purchases and bookings at partner stores, including Enterprise. You sign up for free, open Enterprise on ShopBack, then book on enterprise.com as usual. The cash lands in your ShopBack account once the rental is confirmed, and the live rate sits on that page.

Why does Enterprise put a $200 hold on your card when you rent a car?

Enterprise puts a hold on your card because a security deposit is required on every rental, and the hold is how that deposit is taken on a credit card. Enterprise's refund FAQ explains that at pickup it collects the full cost of the rental and a security deposit, and that the deposit amount varies based on the cost of the rental. When you return the vehicle, the branch refunds the deposit in full unless there are unplanned charges, which Enterprise lists as fuel replacement, vehicle damage or a late return.

So a $200 hold is not a fee. It is a temporary guarantee that Enterprise can cover those three costs if they come up. Bring the car back on time, with the agreed fuel level and no new damage, and the deposit comes back in full.

Enterprise deposit in 2026: how much it is

Enterprise does not publish a single national deposit amount; it varies by location and by the cost of your rental. Its deposit FAQ says the exact figure is shown under the Renter Requirements section when you start a reservation. That is the number to trust, not a figure from a forum post or an older trip.

What usually moves the amount:

• The branch. Airport and neighborhood ("Home City") branches can set different terms.
• The rental cost. Enterprise links the deposit to the cost of the rental, so a longer or pricier rental can mean a larger hold.
• How you pay. Credit and debit cards are handled differently, as the next section shows, and some branches accept only certain payment types.

If you are working to a tight budget, make sure your card has room for the full rental cost plus the deposit on the day you pick up.

Credit card vs debit card: how the hold and refund work

On a credit card the deposit is a hold that is released at return; on a debit card it is a real charge that is refunded later. Here is what Enterprise's refund FAQ says for each payment type:

Payment method	At pickup	After return
Credit card	Rental cost plus deposit authorized on the card	Authorization released immediately; only the rental is charged
Debit card	Rental cost plus deposit charged to your checking account	Deposit refunded; typically about 5 to 10 business days, depending on your bank
Cash, check or money order	Paid at the branch, where accepted	Money owed back is refunded by check, mailed within 20 business days

Two practical points. First, even after Enterprise releases a credit card hold, the pending amount can take a little while to drop off your online statement, because that timing sits with your card issuer. Second, if a debit card refund has not arrived after 10 business days, Enterprise asks you to call the branch you rented from so it can review the charges.

What you need to rent from Enterprise

According to Enterprise's requirements page for the US and Canada, you need to be 25 or older, a photo driver's license, a photo ID and an accepted credit or debit card. In full:

• Age 25 or older. Renters under 25 may pay a young driver fee, which varies by location.
• A valid driver's license with a photo.
• A photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport.
• A credit or debit card. Check the accepted forms of payment at your branch.

Enterprise also lists items to think about before pickup: after-hours drop-off, toll roads, mileage limits, insurance and protection options, rented equipment like car seats or GPS, and the deposit required at pickup.

Enterprise official refund policy and customer service

Enterprise's official refund rule for deposits is simple: the deposit comes back in full unless fuel, damage or a late return charges apply. If your refund is smaller than expected, Enterprise says the reason is usually one of those three. The steps to sort it out:

1. Find your rental receipt using Enterprise's Find Your Receipt tool on enterprise.com.
2. Check each line against what you expected: fuel, damage, return time.
3. Call the branch you rented from, which Enterprise names as the place to review charges.

Keep your own evidence too. Photos of the car and the fuel gauge at pickup and return, with timestamps, make a disputed charge much easier to settle.

Is Enterprise legit and safe? Reviews, BBB and complaints

Yes, Enterprise is a legitimate, long-established US car rental company. Enterprise Rent-A-Car is headquartered in Clayton, Missouri, and is part of Enterprise Mobility, which also owns National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car. It rents from airport counters and neighborhood branches across the country.

Review scores on the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot shift often, so check them on the day you book and look at what the complaints are actually about. On deposits, Enterprise's own FAQ points to the usual causes of a smaller refund: fuel, damage and late returns. Many of those can be avoided with the photo habit above and a careful look at the return time on your agreement.

Ways to keep a rental safe and simple:

• Book on enterprise.com or the Enterprise app, or through a site you trust.
• Read the Renter Requirements for your branch before pickup.
• Photograph the car inside and out at pickup and return.
• Keep the receipt until the deposit is fully back.

Enterprise discounts and its own loyalty program

Enterprise's own savings come from rotating promotions and its Enterprise Plus loyalty program. According to Enterprise's discounts FAQ, popular promotions include weekend specials and email offers for Enterprise Plus members, often at Home City (non-airport) branches, and usually only one discount or coupon code can be used at a time.

Enterprise Plus members earn points that Enterprise says never expire with qualifying activity, and redeem them for free rental days with no blackout dates at participating locations. Check Enterprise's program terms for the activity rule.

Go through ShopBack before you book

For merchants like Booking.com, Trip.com, Agoda and Expedia, going through ShopBack is an essential step before you book or check out, so you pay less on the same booking or order. The same applies to Enterprise. ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order. The steps:

1. Open Enterprise on ShopBack US.
2. Click through to enterprise.com and book in the same session.
3. Avoid promo codes or vouchers that are not featured on ShopBack, since they can stop the booking from tracking.

What the Enterprise page on ShopBack US shows at the time of writing:

• Exclusions: any gift card or voucher redemption; purchases made with vouchers or promo codes not featured on ShopBack; taxes, service charges and booking fees.
• Timeline: tracked in about 2 days and confirmed about 45 days after travel.
• Cancellations: cancelled, refunded or no-show bookings, and changes that create a new booking ID, are not eligible.

The deposit itself is not part of this. A hold is not a purchase, so ShopBack works on the eligible rental cost, not the deposit.

Why cashback works like a discount

Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. Here is an illustrative example, not a live rate: on a $300 week of rental at an illustrative 3%, $9 comes back, so the effective price is $291. Check the live rate on the Enterprise page on ShopBack before you book, and remember taxes and fees are not counted.

Card rewards and cashback on the same rental

You can usually earn cashback and your credit card's rewards or bank card promo on the same Enterprise rental, because they come from different places. Cashback also applies on sale prices, so a weekend special still counts. Some merchant promo codes or payment methods can void cashback, so check the merchant's terms on ShopBack before you book.

A credit card also keeps the deposit as a hold rather than a charge, so paying the rental by credit card is usually the simpler choice if you want to keep cash in your checking account during the trip.

Other car rental brands

Other car rental brands in the same category include Hertz, Avis, Budget, National and Alamo, and travel sites such as Expedia also sell rentals. Each sets its own deposit rules, so check the renter requirements wherever you book.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Enterprise put a $200 hold on your card when you rent a car?

The hold is Enterprise's refundable security deposit. Enterprise says a deposit is required on every rental, that the amount varies by location and by the cost of the rental, and that it covers unplanned charges such as fuel replacement, vehicle damage or a late return. On a credit card, Enterprise authorizes the rental cost plus the deposit at pickup and releases the hold when you return the car, charging only the rental.

How much is the Enterprise deposit?

Enterprise does not publish one national figure. According to its deposit FAQ, the amount varies by location and is based on the cost of the rental, and the exact figure appears under the Renter Requirements section when you start a reservation. If you were held $200, that is the amount set for that branch and rental, so check your own reservation before you go.

When does Enterprise release the hold on a credit card?

Enterprise says that when you return the vehicle, it immediately releases the credit card authorization and charges only the full amount of the rental. How quickly the pending amount disappears from your online statement depends on your card issuer, so contact the issuer if it is still showing after a few days.

How long does an Enterprise deposit refund take on a debit card?

With a debit card, Enterprise charges the rental cost and the deposit to your checking account at pickup, then refunds the deposit after you return the car. Enterprise says you should typically see the refund in about 5 to 10 business days, depending on your bank, and to call the branch you rented from if it has not arrived after 10 business days.

Why was my Enterprise deposit refund less than expected?

Enterprise says a smaller refund usually means charges were taken for fuel replacement, vehicle damage or a late return. Check your rental receipt, which you can find through Enterprise's Find Your Receipt tool, and call the branch you rented from if a charge does not make sense.

Can you pay the Enterprise deposit in cash?

Enterprise's refund FAQ covers rentals paid by cash, check or money order: any money owed back is refunded by check and mailed within 20 business days after Enterprise confirms there are no unplanned charges. Accepted payment types vary by branch, so check the location's rules before you rely on cash.

What do you need to rent a car from Enterprise?

According to Enterprise's requirements page for the US and Canada, you need to be 25 or older (renters under 25 may pay a young driver fee that varies by location), a valid driver's license with a photo, a photo ID such as a license or passport, and a credit or debit card accepted at that location. A deposit is required at pickup.

Is Enterprise legit and safe to rent from?

Yes, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is a long-established US rental company headquartered in Clayton, Missouri, and part of Enterprise Mobility, which also owns National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car. To protect yourself, book on enterprise.com or the Enterprise app, read the Renter Requirements for your branch, photograph the car at pickup and return, and keep your receipt.

Does ShopBack cashback apply to the Enterprise deposit?

No. The deposit is a hold or a refundable charge, not a purchase. ShopBack cashback is based on the eligible rental cost, and the Enterprise page on ShopBack US lists taxes, service charges and booking fees as excluded. Open Enterprise from ShopBack before you book so the eligible rental amount counts.

Can I earn cashback and credit card rewards on the same Enterprise rental?

You can usually earn ShopBack cashback and your credit card's rewards on the same Enterprise rental, because they come from different places. Cashback also applies on sale prices. Some merchant promo codes or payment methods can void cashback, so check the merchant's terms on ShopBack before you book.

How long does ShopBack cashback on Enterprise take?

According to the Enterprise page on ShopBack US at the time of writing, a rental is usually tracked in about 2 days and confirmed about 45 days after travel. Cancellations, refunds and no-shows are not eligible, and a change that creates a new booking ID can stop it tracking.

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Key takeaways

• The Enterprise hold is a refundable security deposit, required on every rental, according to Enterprise.
• The amount varies by location and rental cost; your reservation's Renter Requirements section shows the exact figure.
• Credit card: hold released at return. Debit card: deposit charged, then refunded in about 5 to 10 business days. Cash or check: refund check within 20 business days.
• Smaller refunds usually come from fuel, damage or late return charges; keep photos and your receipt.
• Before you book, open Enterprise on ShopBack US so the eligible rental cost earns cash back; the deposit itself does not.

Booking a rental? Open Enterprise on ShopBack before you book so the cash back lowers what the rental costs you, then keep the deposit hold on a credit card.

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Disclaimer

The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author.

Deposit amounts, payment rules, age requirements, promotions and loyalty terms at Enterprise Rent-A-Car are set by Enterprise and its branches and can change. Figures in this article come from Enterprise's help pages at the time of writing. Rates, exclusions and timelines on ShopBack US come from the Enterprise page on ShopBack and can change, so check that page before you book. The cashback example is illustrative and is not a live rate.

This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.

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