How long does it take for the security deposit to be refunded?
Updated on: 09/09/2026Where no damage is found, the security deposit on a boat charter is released within 10 to 15 days of the boat being handed back, even when the check-out inspection went perfectly. Our terms and conditions set a maximum of one month from the day you return the boat.
The security deposit is a sum the charter company blocks or debits on your card to cover any damage, fines or unpaid charges incurred while you were sailing. It is held by the charter company or its local base, never by Filovent.
Why the wait when check-out went smoothly?
Signing the check-out inventory does not close the file. The charter company keeps the deposit until the costs and the damage that only surface after you leave have reached it.
| What the charter company is waiting for | Detail |
| Damage you cannot see | Faults below the waterline, on the sail-drive, the engine or the rigging, picked up during a haul-out or a delivery trip |
| Unpaid mooring nights | Invoices from the marinas you called at arrive several days later |
| Fines issued while sailing | Protected areas, speed, prohibited anchoring. The amount withheld matches the fine, plus an administration fee where the company charges one |
| Third-party claims | A letter following contact with another boat |
Holding the deposit a few days longer is simply easier for the charter company than asking you for a payment a month down the line.
The wait depends on how you paid the deposit
How you lodged the deposit sets the timeline: card pre-authorisation and card payment, 10 to 15 days; bank transfer, 2 to 5 working days on top; cash, handed straight back when you return the boat.
| How the deposit was lodged | Typical wait | Worth knowing |
| Card pre-authorisation (no debit) | 10 to 15 days | Nothing was ever taken: the pre-authorisation is simply lifted. Your card issuer may need a few more days to free up the limit |
| Deposit debited on your card | 10 to 15 days at the charter company's end | Add however long your bank takes to post the credit |
| Bank transfer | 2 to 5 working days on top | Longer for transfers outside the SEPA zone |
| Cash (Greece, Croatia) | Immediate | Handed back at the charter base when you return the boat |
| Cheque (France only) | 10 to 15 days | The cheque is never banked: it is returned to you or destroyed |
The arrangement that applies to your charter is shown on your booking confirmation, in your customer account. For a breakdown of each method, see our FAQ “How can I lodge the security deposit, and is it cashed?”
The exceptions worth knowing about
- The deposit has been released, but your bank has not shown it yet. This is the most common scenario. The charter company has processed the release, yet some banks only display it on the following statement, sometimes at month end. Check the value date rather than your live balance.
- Some charter companies hold the deposit for more than 20 days. They remain within the contract as long as the one-month limit is not exceeded. It happens more often in peak season and across larger fleets.
- A fine can land after the deposit is back. If the charter company receives a penalty linked to your sailing once it has returned your deposit, it can ask you for the amount. See “In the event of damage, am I only liable up to the value of my deposit?”
My deposit has not come back: what now?
- Wait until the first month is up. Before that point, the charter company is within the contractual deadline.
- Check next month's bank statement, not just your online balance.
- Contact your Filovent adviser with your booking reference. We chase the charter company on your behalf.
- Ask for evidence of anything withheld. Any sum kept back has to be backed by documents sent to the charterer.
Frequently asked questions
When is the card pre-authorisation lifted?
The charter company lifts it within the same 10 to 15 days. As nothing was ever debited, you will not see a refund: only your card limit frees up, occasionally a few days later depending on your issuer.
Does damage deposit insurance speed up the refund?
In most cases, no. Damage deposit insurance has no effect on the timeline: it reimburses you after the event for a sum withheld following damage sustained while sailing. Some packages taken out directly with the charter company do reduce the amount blocked, or remove it altogether, so check the terms of your charter agreement.
What is the difference between the deposit and the excess?
The deposit is the sum blocked before you board. The excess is the share of any damage you remain liable for. What is withheld from your deposit cannot exceed the excess set out in the agreement, although fines and unpaid mooring invoices are added on top.
Can the charter company keep part of my deposit without explaining?
No. Anything withheld has to correspond to an identified cost — repair, fine, mooring invoice, cleaning — and be evidenced by documents sent to the charterer.
Is there a separate cleaning deposit?
Yes, with some partners. It sits apart from the main deposit and is set out in your charter agreement. It is returned on the same timeline provided the boat is handed back clean or an end-of-charter cleaning fee has been paid.
How can I reduce the risk of money being withheld?
Settle every mooring night before you head back, keep the receipts, and go through a thorough inventory when you board, with time-stamped photos. Anything recorded on the signed check-in inventory cannot be charged to you at the end of the charter.
Find all our answers on boat inventories after your cruise.
