When a Rentcars reservation is canceled, the refund is processed within up to 5 calendar days after the request. The refund is issued using the same payment method used for the purchase (credit card), and the refunded amount depends on how far in advance the cancellation is made and whether the rental company’s rules have been followed. Fees may be retained in cases of late cancellation or no-show.
See below for more details about how the refund process works and other questions that may arise at this time.
How can I request a reservation cancellation and refund?
To start the process, you must first cancel your reservation. Detailed step-by-step instructions can be found in the article “How to cancel my reservation on Rentcars”.
After requesting the cancellation, you will receive an email with the details of your cancellation request. As soon as our team confirms the cancellation, the refund process will be triggered automatically.
Important: if you do not show up to pick up the vehicle (“no-show”) or fail to meet the rental requirements (such as minimum age or not having a physical credit card for the security deposit), amounts may be retained as described in your voucher. We always recommend checking that the reservation holder has a physical credit card with enough available limit for the security deposit hold at the rental company counter.
What are the timelines and refund methods for canceled reservations?
The refund process consists of two steps: Rentcars' internal processing and the release of the funds by your bank. To avoid surprises, here's how the process works in practice:
1. Request processing.
How it may seem to work: "I canceled my reservation, so the money will be refunded immediately."
How it actually works: The refund process begins after the cancellation is confirmed. For requests made after the scheduled pickup time (no-show or documentation issues), the processing period only starts after the rental company confirms that the vehicle was not used.
2. Rentcars processing time
How it may seem to work: "Rentcars takes weeks to send my money back."
How it actually works: Rentcars processes the refund and sends the refund order to your financial institution within 5 calendar days after the cancellation is confirmed.
3. Receiving the refund via PIX (for payments made in Brazil)
How it may seem to work: "If I paid by PIX, the money will always be returned immediately."
How it actually works: After Rentcars processes the refund (within 5 calendar days), the amount is credited to the same bank account used for the payment. In some cases, the financial institution may take up to an additional 24 hours to update the balance.
4. Receiving the refund on a credit card.
How it may seem to work: "The refund should already appear on my current credit card statement."
How it actually works: Rentcars sends the refund as a single transaction, but when the credit becomes visible, it depends on your card issuer. The amount may appear on the current statement or on 1 to 2 subsequent statements, depending on the statement closing date. If the purchase was paid in installments, the remaining installments will continue to appear, offset by the full refund amount received.
What amount will be refunded after canceling the reservation?
The refund amount depends on how far in advance the cancellation is made in relation to the vehicle pick-up date. The earlier the cancellation is requested, the greater the chances of receiving a full refund of the reservation amount.
In general, cancellations are free of charge if made before the vehicle pick-up date and time. However, some rental companies may charge fees for cancellations made less than 48 hours before pick-up.
This timeframe may vary depending on:
the rental company’s policy;
the type of reservation;
and the conditions stated in the confirmation voucher.
Cancellations made after the scheduled pick-up time may result in partial or full retention of the amounts paid. Always check the conditions described in your reservation voucher.
Reservations with RentalCover have specific cancellation and retention rules. Please also refer to the article about RentalCover.
Is it possible to request a refund for unused rental days?
International rental companies normally do not provide refunds for unused rental days.
Refunds for unused rental days are available only for reservations made in Brazil and depend on prior authorization from the rental company, granted at the time the vehicle is returned, as provided for in the rental agreement.
Exceptionally, some companies may review refund requests in specific situations, such as illness or death, upon presentation of valid supporting documents, such as a medical certificate or death certificate.
Before submitting your request, we recommend reviewing the terms of the rental agreement and the conditions applicable to your reservation.
What happens when a reservation change results in a refund?
If the reservation change results in a reduction of the total amount, the difference will be refunded using the same payment method used for the original reservation within up to 5 calendar days after the change is confirmed.
Attention: since cashback usage is limited to 30% of the reservation value, when you make a change, the system will automatically recalculate the amount to ensure that your new final amount still complies with this limit.
For more details about reservation changes, please also refer to the article: “Why did the rate change when I tried to modify my reservation?”
What if I do not show up to pick up the vehicle? Will I receive a refund?
If you do not show up to pick up the vehicle on the reserved date and time (“no-show”), a fee of 20% of the total reservation amount may be charged or, in some cases, the full amount paid may be retained. This policy varies according to each rental company’s rules and the conditions established at the time of booking.
The fees and conditions for no-shows are detailed in the reservation confirmation voucher. We recommend reviewing this document carefully to understand the terms applicable to your rental.
In case of problems with the refund
How can I track the refund status?
To track your refund, first confirm that the reservation appears as canceled under “My Reservations”. You can also look for the cancellation confirmation email sent shortly after the cancellation request. If you have these confirmations, you can be sure that the refund is being processed.
After the cancellation is confirmed, the credit card refund or PIX transfer will be processed within up to 5 calendar days.
Attention! Depending on the credit card provider, the refund may only appear on your next billing statement.
The refunded amount does not match the total amount paid. Why?
Make sure your reservation was canceled in advance. In some cases, fees may apply according to the cancellation policies described in the reservation’s Terms and Conditions.
If the cancellation was made after the vehicle pick-up date and time, due to failure to meet the rental requirements (such as missing documents) or failure to appear for vehicle pick-up (“no-show”), among other reasons, cancellation fees may be charged.
I could not identify the refunded amount in my account. What should I do?
If you have already received the cancellation confirmation by email and the timeframe for your payment method (indicated in the Refund timeframes and methods section) has already expired, follow these steps:
Check with your bank or card issuer to see whether the credit appears on a future statement or as a pending transaction.
If you cannot locate the amount, request the refund confirmation directly through our chat or Help Center so you can provide it to your financial institution.
How can I request proof of refund?
If you need a refund confirmation for your booking, you can request it directly through our chat by following the instructions provided during the conversation. If you prefer, you can also submit your request through our Help Center.
The refund confirmation may take 7 business days or longer to be issued, depending on your credit card provider or banking institution. As soon as it is available, it will be sent to the email address associated with your booking.