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 rental 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 rental company blocks or charges on your card to cover any damage, fines or unpaid charges incurred while you were on the water. It is held by the rental 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 rental company keeps the deposit until the costs and the damage that only surface after you leave have reached it.
| What the rental 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 dockage | Invoices from the marinas you stopped at arrive several days later |
| Fines issued while boating | Protected areas, speed, prohibited anchoring. The amount withheld matches the fine, plus a processing 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 rental company than asking you for a payment a month down the line.
The wait depends on how you paid the deposit
How you posted the deposit sets the timeline: card pre-authorization and card payment, 10 to 15 days; wire transfer, 2 to 5 business days on top; cash, handed straight back when you return the boat.
| How the deposit was posted | Typical wait | Worth knowing |
| Card pre-authorization (no charge) | 10 to 15 days | Nothing was ever taken: the pre-authorization is simply released. Your card issuer may need a few more days to free up the limit |
| Deposit charged to your card | 10 to 15 days at the rental company's end | Add however long your bank takes to post the credit |
| Wire transfer | 2 to 5 business 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 |
| Check (France only) | 10 to 15 days | The check is never cashed: it is returned to you or destroyed |
The arrangement that applies to your rental is shown on your booking confirmation, in your customer account. For a breakdown of each method, see our FAQ “How can I post the security deposit, and is it charged?”
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 rental 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 rental 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 rental company receives a penalty linked to your trip 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 rental company is within the contractual deadline.
- Check next month's bank statement, not just your online balance.
- Contact your Filovent advisor with your booking reference. We follow up with the rental company on your behalf.
- Ask for evidence of anything withheld. Any sum kept back has to be backed by documents sent to the renter.
Frequently asked questions
When is the card pre-authorization released?
The rental company releases it within the same 10 to 15 days. As nothing was ever charged, you will not see a refund: only your card limit frees up, occasionally a few days later depending on your issuer.
Does a security deposit waiver speed up the refund?
In most cases, no. A security deposit waiver has no effect on the timeline: it reimburses you after the fact for a sum withheld following damage sustained on the water. Some packages taken out directly with the rental company do reduce the amount blocked, or remove it altogether, so check the terms of your rental agreement.
What is the difference between the deposit and the deductible?
The deposit is the sum blocked before you board. The deductible is the share of any damage you remain liable for. What is withheld from your deposit cannot exceed the deductible set out in the agreement, although fines and unpaid marina invoices are added on top.
Can the rental company keep part of my deposit without explaining?
No. Anything withheld has to correspond to an identified cost — repair, fine, marina invoice, cleaning — and be evidenced by documents sent to the renter.
Is there a separate cleaning deposit?
Yes, with some partners. It sits apart from the main deposit and is set out in your rental agreement. It is returned on the same timeline provided the boat is handed back clean or an end-of-rental cleaning fee has been paid.
How can I reduce the risk of money being withheld?
Settle all dockage 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 rental.
Find all our answers on boat inventories after your cruise.
