Authorization holds, sometimes known as card authorizations or pre-authorizations (pre-auths), are a process where merchants ensure they get paid for a purchase made via credit or debit card by temporarily locking the funds for that transaction.
The time limit for an authorization hold depends on the merchant, but here are some standard timelines that can help:
- Gas stations (When paying at the pump): Up to 8 calendar days
- Tipping Merchants (Uber Eats, DoorDash, etc): Up to 8 calendar days
- Hotels: Up to 30 calendar days
- Car Rentals: Up to 60 calendar days
