Banky team Reviewed editorial answerPre-authorization is a temporary hold on a portion of your balance or card limit before the final amount is determined.
It commonly appears at hotels, car rental agencies, and gas stations.
The hold isn't a final deduction, but it temporarily reduces your available balance/limit.
After settlement, it should either be converted to the final amount or released.
Releasing the hold may take several days depending on the merchant and bank.
The figures, fees and limits in this answer vary by bank and change over time — confirm them with your bank or the official source before acting.