Supercar rental deposits in Spain: how much, how held, how released
Deposits on supercar rentals in Spain run from €3,000 to €20,000. Here is how a deposit should work, what "excess" means, and the questions to ask before you hand over a card.
· 5 min read
Key facts
- Typical Spanish supercar deposits: €3,000 to €15,000; brokers go to €20,000.
- The deposit should be a pre-authorisation on a credit card, not a charge.
- The excess is the most you pay per damage event; it usually equals the deposit.
- Ask for the release time in writing. Complaints start when it is not stated.
- Supercars Barcelona: €7,500, pre-authorised, released within 5 working days of return.
What the deposit is for
A deposit covers three things: the insurance excess if the car is damaged, traffic fines that arrive after you have gone home, and fuel or extra kilometres on return. It is not the rental company's profit and it is not a measure of trust in you. It is the amount the insurer leaves uninsured.
Pre-authorisation versus charge
There are two ways a rental company can take a deposit, and they feel very different on your bank statement.
A pre-authorisation is a hold placed through the card network. The money is reserved but never leaves your account. When the company releases it, the pending line disappears. There is nothing to refund and nothing to chase.
A charge takes the money. To give it back the company must issue a refund, which takes its own five to ten days and depends on someone remembering to do it. Most refund complaints about supercar rentals trace back to charged deposits.
Ask which one you are getting. If the answer is a charge, ask why.
Why the amounts vary so much
| Operator type | Typical deposit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Owner-operator with its own insurance | €5,000 to €8,000 | The policy excess sets the number |
| Broker listing other people's cars | €10,000 to €20,000 | The broker carries the owner's risk and adds a margin |
| Riviera and Paris specialists | €13,000 to €20,000 | Higher car values and higher local excesses |
A deposit above €10,000 on a Porsche is a sign you are dealing with a middleman.
What "excess" means
The excess (franquicia in Spanish) is the maximum you pay per incident. If the excess is €7,500 and a repair costs €20,000, you pay €7,500. If the repair costs €2,000, you pay €2,000. Some operators sell an excess-reduction add-on for around €95 a day. It is common in Italy and rarer in Spain; whether it is worth it depends on how far you plan to drive.
Questions to ask before you pay
- Is the deposit a pre-authorisation or a charge?
- What is the excess, and is it the same as the deposit?
- How many working days after return is the deposit released?
- Are fines passed through at cost, with no handling fee?
- Does the deposit have to be on a card in the driver's own name? (It should.)
How we do it
The deposit is €7,500, pre-authorised on a credit card in the driver's name at handover. The excess is the same figure, set by the insurer. Fuel, kilometres and condition are checked against the delivery photo set at return, and the hold is released within five working days. The release window is printed in the terms you see before you pay.
