Last Updated on January 11, 2024 by Kristin

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Be aware that most rental car companies will put a temporary hold on your credit card. This serves as a security deposit to guard against unexpected charges like a late return or an additional fuel charge. The amount Fox holds on your card depends on several factors. Here’s what you need to know.

How Much Does Fox Hold as a Security Deposit?

The amount Fox holds on your card as a security deposit depends on the pickup location, type of car and method of payment. This hold can be anywhere from $150 to a whopping $1,000. Therefore, planning ahead is crucial to ensure you do not go over your credit card limit or deplete your bank account.

When Does Fox Return Your Deposit?

After you return the vehicle, Fox will refund your security deposit in full. This is provided that there are no additional charges for fuel replacement, late return or other incidentals. When you get your security deposit back depends on how you paid.

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As long as you don’t incur extra charges, Fox will return the security deposit at the end of the reservation. The process length depends on the payment method, ranging from a few days to a few weeks.

If you pay with a credit card, expect this security deposit amount returned within 2-5 business days. When renting with a debit card, it can take up to 14 days to receive the amount.

If you rent with a credit card

Generally, Fox requires you to have enough availability on your credit card for the estimated rental charges, plus an extra $150.

However, local renters living within 150 miles of certain locations will pay a significantly larger security deposit ranging from $500 to $1,000. These locations include: Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Southwest Florida International Airport, Orlando, Miami, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, Las Vegas, Chicago and Salt Lake City.

The above-mentioned range applies to economy, compact, midsize, standard and full-size car classes. For other types of vehicles, local renters must have an extra $1,000 available in addition to the expected rental charges.

 If you rent with a debit card

Fox does allow customers to use Visa, MasterCard and Discover debit cards to pay for the vehicle at the time of rental, with the exception of local renters. If renting with a debit card, you should expect a deposit of $400 in addition to the estimated reservation charges.

If you rent with cash

It’s always more difficult to rent a car with cash only. Fox only allows cash payments from international customers. Its Oakland and Phoenix locations do not allow cash as a qualifying payment when picking up the rental. Customers paying with cash must leave a $250 deposit, in addition to the expected rental price.

If you rent in Mexico

When renting with Fox in Mexico, credit card deposits will vary depending on the level of supplemental liability insurance (SLI)  and loss damage waiver (LDW) you choose. These extra deposits can range anywhere from $100 to 2,500.

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As long as you did not incur any extra charges, Fox will return the amount of the security deposit at the end of the reservation. Again, the length of time it will take for you to see this amount again depends on the payment method, ranging from a few days to a few weeks.

3 Tips for Monitoring Your Rental Car Transaction

To avoid any financial issues during your reservation, follow these tips before your trip:

  • Remember that Fox will charge between $150 and $1,000 depending on the location, type of car and payment method. Based on your situation, add this amount on top of what you expect to pay for the rental reservation itself. Remember that you will not have access to these funds during the time of the rental and a period thereafter. When in doubt, call Fox to confirm the security deposit amount.
  • If you are about to hit your credit card limit, call the number on the back of your card to make a quick payment before picking up the vehicle. Make sure you have a buffer on top of that to account for any other charges you may incur before arriving at the rental car office.
  • Check your Fox receipt carefully after dropping off the vehicle to make sure there are no unexpected charges. Continue to check your bank and credit card balances in the days ahead to ensure you receive the full amount back.

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