Deposit and Insurance When Renting a Car: How Not to Overpay

The question about the deposit is the first one we hear after the daily rental price. Many people think that the deposit is a hidden extra fee, or on the contrary, they don’t understand what it can be withheld for. We explain how the deposit and insurance system works at Apex Rent Car so you know exactly what you are responsible for and how to get the full amount back.

What is a deposit and how much is it

A deposit is an amount we block on your bank card for the duration of the rental. This is not a charge: the money remains in your account but is unavailable for spending. After returning the car without damage, the hold is released within 1–3 banking days. The deposit amount depends on the car class: $200–300 for economy class, $400–600 for comfort class, $1000–1500 for business class, and $2000–3000 for exclusive cars.

What is a deductible

All vehicles in our fleet are insured under comprehensive insurance (CASCO). The deductible is the part of the damage that the insurance company does not cover and which the responsible party pays. In our contracts, the deductible equals the deposit amount. So, if you damage a Volkswagen T-Cross costing $2000 to repair, only the $300 deposit will be withheld from you, and the insurance covers the rest. If the repair costs $300, exactly $300 will be withheld, and the remainder of the deposit will be returned.

Important: insurance does not apply if the driver was intoxicated, handed over control to a person not listed in the contract, or left the scene of an accident. In these cases, the renter is fully responsible for the repair costs.

How to reduce risk

Choose the car class according to your route: economy class with a $200–300 deposit is enough for city driving, while for mountains and long trips, a crossover with all-wheel drive is better. Document the car’s condition with photos together with the manager at pickup, keep fuel receipts, and avoid leaving the car in unsecured parking lots overnight. In case of an accident, call us immediately: a properly documented case is fully covered by insurance.

When the deposit is higher

• Business and exclusive classes: deposits of $1000–3000 correspond to the cost of repairing expensive parts.
• Young drivers or less than 2 years of driving experience: individual conditions, usually a higher deposit.
• Traveling abroad: the deposit is standard, but repairs in the EU are more expensive, so be careful with bodywork and rims.
• For city rentals of economy class cars for 2–3 days, the deposit is $200–300 and risks are minimal.

What else the deposit can be withheld for

Besides damages, the deposit covers traffic fines received after the car is returned (plus a $10 service fee), fuel at $2 per liter if the tank is not refilled according to the agreement, heavy dirtiness ($30) or interior dry cleaning ($100), and exceeding the mileage limit of 300 km per day according to the class tariff. All these cases are specified in the contract and supported by photos or documents. We do not withhold money arbitrarily — every deduction is accompanied by a report.

Conclusion

The deposit is your liability limit, not an extra fee. Choose a car according to your route, document the condition at pickup, and call us in any situation on the road: then the deposit will be fully returned. If you’re unsure, our manager will select a car with a deposit comfortable for you.