Pre-authorization and security deposit when renting a car in Morocco

A pre-authorization is a reservation of funds on your bank card. Concretely:

• The amount is blocked on your balance, you can no longer use it
• But it is not debited: it does not leave your account
• If nothing is charged at the end, the block is released and the balance becomes available again This is the standard mechanism used by all rental agencies worldwide, as well as hotels and self-service gas stations. It serves as a guarantee in case fees need to be applied (deductible after an accident, missing fuel, late return, fines, etc.).

The blocked deposit corresponds to the maximum amount of your deductible in case of an at-fault accident. It protects two things:

• For FB Rent: a guarantee of being covered if a non-insured damage occurs
• For you: it's your liability cap — you can never be charged beyond this amount in case of an at-fault covered claim This is written in our terms (article 5). Without pre-authorization, the rental contract cannot be concluded and the price paid is not refundable.

The deposit depends on the booked vehicle. Check the amount on its page and in your summary, then in the agreement before collection. The security deposit is separate from the excess rules that apply to a claim.

Card requirements:

• The card must be in the main renter's name (the contract is in this name)
• Accepted cards: Visa, Mastercard, in debit or credit mode
• The card must be presented physically at pickup. The pre-authorization can be completed in advance through a secure FB Rent link. Foreign cards: no problem, your bank will apply the day's exchange rate. The blocked amount is in MAD; on release, the re-conversion may generate a small exchange spread (usually < 1 %). Cash alternative: if you prefer, the deposit can be paid in cash directly at the agency, in MAD only. At return, the money is returned in full (if no dispute) or partially (if a justified retention applies).

After vehicle return: following the checks required by the rental agreement, the unused part of the deposit is released, subject to any outstanding incidents or charges. How long it takes for the funds to become available depends on your bank.

Authorization deadline: the hold is limited to the deadline granted by the card network. An extended authorization may last up to 30 days if the transaction is eligible; this period is not guaranteed and may be shorter. Check the deadline shown for your deposit. An ongoing insurance claim does not automatically extend the hold. Any deduction remains subject to the rental conditions.

Part of the deposit may be retained, in line with our terms, in the following cases:

• Missing fuel: 20 MAD per missing liter, compared to the level at pickup
• Return at a different location than agreed: recovery costs + 200 MAD admin fees
• Fine or violation received after the rental: fine amount + 200 MAD file fees
• At-fault accident: deductible up to 20 % of the vehicle's value
• Alcohol-related accident: deductible = 100 % of the vehicle's value (beyond the deposit — direct recovery)
• Undeclared damages at return In all cases, you receive a written breakdown of the retained amounts. The non-retained portion is released normally.

If more than 14 working days have passed since vehicle return without the pre-authorization being released on your account: 1. Check your full bank statement — the release may appear as a separate credit line rather than removing the original line 2. Contact your bank: they can confirm whether the pre-authorization is still active or if the release is in progress 3. If the bank confirms the pre-authorization is still active on our side, contact us at WhatsApp or by email. We can manually re-initiate the procedure with our banking partner In all cases, do not wait more than 30 days without notifying us.