Credit card pre-authorization is a temporary hold placed on a credit or debit card, securing a specific amount without debiting the funds from the cardholder. The lessee provides a security deposit based on the selected insurance option and vehicle category, equivalent to the applicable franchise amount. This deposit remains blocked until the rental period ends and the vehicle is returned in the same condition as when it was collected. Once released, the availability of the unblocked funds depends on the issuing bank and may take anywhere from 24 hours to 30 days.