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EV Charging Station Hold on Your Card: What It Means

You plug your electric vehicle into a public charger, tap or insert your card, and suddenly your banking app shows a pending charge that is much higher than the electricity you actually used. You may even see the hold before charging begins—or see several temporary holds during one long charging session.

In many cases, this is a pre-authorization hold, not the final EV charging charge. Charging networks use temporary authorizations to confirm that the card is valid and that sufficient funds or credit are available before or during the session. After charging ends, you should normally be charged only for the actual session, while the unused authorization is released by your card issuer.

Hold amounts and release times vary significantly by charging network, charger, card type and issuing bank. This guide explains how EV charging holds work, how ChargePoint, EVgo, Electrify America and Tesla handle them, and what to do when a temporary hold does not disappear.

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EV Charging Holds

Quick Answer

A pending EV charging amount that is larger than your actual session is often a temporary card authorization rather than a completed charge.

The charging network may reserve an amount before charging begins—or place additional authorizations during a longer session—to confirm that your payment method can cover the eventual cost.

After the session:

  • The actual charging cost should normally become the completed transaction.
  • The temporary hold should be released.
  • The hold may simply disappear rather than appear as a refund.
  • Your bank can take additional time to restore the reserved credit or funds.

Do not assume every EV charger uses the same hold amount. Current charging-network policies vary widely, and even one network can use different amounts depending on the payment method or charger.

What Is an EV Charging Authorization Hold?

An authorization hold is a temporary reservation placed against your payment method before a transaction has fully settled.

It may appear in your banking app as:

  • Pending
  • Authorization
  • Preauthorization
  • Temporary hold
  • Processing

The charger or charging network uses the authorization to confirm that:

  • The card is valid
  • The account has available funds or credit
  • The charging session can begin without an obvious payment failure

A pre-authorization is not normally the final charging price. The actual session cost depends on factors such as electricity delivered, charging time, pricing plan, taxes and applicable idle or congestion fees.

Why EV Chargers Use Temporary Holds

The final cost of an EV charging session is often unknown when the charger first activates.

At the beginning of a session, the network may not know:

  • How many kilowatt-hours you will use
  • How long the vehicle will remain connected
  • Whether idle fees will apply
  • Whether additional station fees will apply
  • Whether the session will continue for several minutes or more than an hour

The payment system therefore may obtain authorization before or during the session.

This is similar to temporary authorizations used by:

  • Gas stations
  • Hotels
  • Rental car companies

ChargePoint specifically describes EV charging pre-authorizations as part of standard payment processing used to prevent failed card transactions and charging interruptions.

The charger needs payment assurance before it knows the final bill. That is the basic reason authorization holds exist.

Authorization Hold vs Final Charging Charge

Authorization hold Final charging charge
Temporary Completed transaction
Usually appears as pending Usually appears as posted or completed
May be larger than your session cost Should reflect the actual charging session and applicable fees
Temporarily reduces available credit or funds Actually becomes part of your account activity
May disappear without a refund Would require a refund or dispute if incorrect

A disappearing authorization is normal. If the temporary hold never became a completed charge, there may be no separate refund transaction.

Pending vs Posted: Check This First

Open your bank or card app and look at the transaction status.

If the EV Charging Transaction Is Pending

It may still be:

  • An authorization hold
  • A session awaiting settlement
  • An amount that will later change
  • An authorization that will disappear

If the Transaction Is Posted

The payment has moved beyond the temporary authorization stage.

If an incorrect authorization amount actually posts as a final charge, contact the charging network because that is no longer merely a pending hold.

Pending and posted transactions require different troubleshooting. Do not file a normal billing dispute just because a legitimate temporary authorization has not yet disappeared.

How Much Can an EV Charging Hold Be?

There is no universal EV charging hold amount.

Current published examples demonstrate the variation:

Charging network Published temporary hold example
EVgo Up to $60 in current temporary-hold guidance; separate station guidance says up to $100 depending on the charger
Electrify America walk-up credit card $50 temporary authorization
Electrify America app $20 authorization increments, with additional holds possible during longer sessions
ChargePoint Temporary pre-authorization; amount can depend on the applicable payment setup
Tesla Supercharging for non-Tesla vehicles Temporary authorization when applicable; amount and process can depend on market and payment method

These amounts can change. Always check the charging network's current app, station screen or payment terms before relying on a published dollar amount.

ChargePoint Authorization Holds

ChargePoint explains that its payment processors may place a temporary pre-authorization hold before a charging session begins.

ChargePoint says the purpose is to:

  • Confirm the payment method
  • Confirm that necessary funds are available
  • Reduce failed payment problems
  • Avoid charging-session interruptions

The company says the authorization:

  • Appears as pending
  • Is not a permanent charge
  • Is released by the bank after settlement
  • Should leave only the actual session cost as the completed charge

ChargePoint also states that it does not have access to the funds reserved during the authorization.

Official guidance:

ChargePoint: What Is a Pre-Authorization Hold?

If a ChargePoint hold remains pending, your card issuer may be the party controlling when the reserved amount becomes available again.

EVgo Authorization Holds

EVgo publishes specific guidance about temporary authorizations at its credit-card readers.

Its current temporary-hold help page says the payment provider may place a pre-authorization hold of up to $60.

A separate current EVgo guide for starting a charge with a credit card says the hold can be up to $100 depending on the charger.

EVgo says temporary authorizations typically:

  • Appear as pending
  • Disappear within approximately 3–5 business days
  • Do not normally become posted charges
  • Leave the actual charging-session total as the completed transaction

EVgo specifically tells users that its billing support generally cannot resolve the issue while the authorization remains pending. If an authorization hold actually posts, EVgo directs customers to contact its Charging Crew.

Official information:

EVgo's published $60 and $100 figures come from different current help pages and circumstances. Use the amount shown by the specific charger and your actual transaction rather than assuming one fixed EVgo authorization amount.

Electrify America Authorization Holds

Electrify America currently describes different hold structures depending on how you pay.

Walk-Up Credit Card

Electrify America says a walk-up guest paying directly by credit card may see a:

$50 temporary authorization hold

After the session ends:

  • The temporary hold is removed.
  • The actual session cost becomes the completed charge.
  • Bank release times can vary.

Electrify America App

The company says app-based charging currently can involve:

$20 temporary authorization holds in increments

For longer sessions, additional $20 holds may be added as needed.

This means a driver can potentially see more than one pending Electrify America authorization during a single charging session.

Official guidance:

Electrify America Mobile App FAQ

Multiple $20 pending entries do not necessarily mean you were charged several times. Check whether they remain pending and compare them with the final settled session amount.

Tesla Supercharger Authorization Holds

Tesla currently says that when a non-Tesla vehicle uses eligible Superchargers through the Tesla app, a temporary payment authorization hold may be placed on the payment method when the charging session starts.

After:

  • The charging session is complete
  • And the session is successfully paid

the authorization is released.

Tesla notes that depending on the financial institution, it may take a few days before the authorization disappears from the account.

Official guidance:

Tesla: Supercharging Other EVs

Tesla payment procedures vary by charging method, market and Supercharger hardware. Do not assume every Tesla Supercharger transaction uses exactly the same authorization process.

Why You May See Multiple EV Charging Holds

Several temporary authorizations can appear when:

  • You retry a failed charging session.
  • You move to another charger.
  • You tap or insert the card more than once.
  • The session is long enough to trigger additional authorization increments.
  • A charger fails after obtaining payment authorization.
  • You begin one session and then restart it.

Electrify America specifically says its app can add additional $20 authorization holds during longer sessions.

EVgo also warns that attempting payment with the same card multiple times can result in additional authorizations.

Several pending authorizations are not automatically several completed charging purchases. Compare the final posted amount with your charging receipt or app history.

Hold After a Charging Session Failed to Start

A particularly frustrating situation is:

  • You present your card.
  • The charger obtains authorization.
  • The charger fails to begin delivering electricity.
  • You leave or try another charger.
  • The authorization remains pending.

This can happen because payment authorization and charger activation are separate steps.

Save:

  • The charger ID
  • The station location
  • The date and time
  • The failed-session message
  • Your app session history
  • A screenshot of the pending authorization

If you try another charger, note which pending authorization belongs to which attempt. This can help distinguish an abandoned hold from the successful final charging transaction.

Hold After You Cancelled the Charging Session

You may cancel because:

  • The charger is too slow
  • You selected the wrong charger
  • The connector will not lock
  • The station malfunctions
  • You decide to move elsewhere

The temporary authorization may already exist before cancellation.

If no charging session settles, the authorization may simply remain pending until:

  • The charging network or processor releases it
  • Your bank processes the release
  • Or the authorization expires

For the broader mechanics, see:

Merchant Says Charge Was Voided but It Is Still Pending

How Long Can an EV Charging Hold Last?

There is no universal answer.

Current published examples include:

  • EVgo: commonly 3–5 business days for temporary authorization holds
  • Tesla: the bank may take a few days to release the authorization
  • Electrify America: release timing varies by bank
  • ChargePoint: release timing depends on the applicable card issuer's processing

Therefore, the most useful questions are:

  • Has the charging session settled?
  • Has the authorization been released by the charging network?
  • When will your issuer release the particular pending authorization?

Do not assume all EV charger holds disappear after exactly 24 hours, three days or five days. Provider and bank policies differ.

Why Your Bank Controls the Final Release

The charging network can initiate the payment and authorization process, but your issuing bank controls the balance and available credit shown on your account.

That is why the charging company may say:

“The hold has been released on our side.”

while your bank still shows it as pending.

The issuer may still need to:

  • Receive the release or settlement information
  • Match it to the original authorization
  • Update your available funds or credit

A merchant release and a bank-account display update may not happen at the same moment.

EV Charging Hold on a Credit Card

A credit-card authorization normally reduces your available credit temporarily.

Example:

  • Credit limit: $3,000
  • EV charger hold: $50
  • Actual charging session: $18.40

You may temporarily see:

  • $50 pending
  • Then the $18.40 final transaction
  • While the unused authorization is being released

Your available credit may therefore appear lower for a short period.

A pending authorization does not normally become part of your completed credit-card balance unless it actually posts.

EV Charging Hold on a Debit Card

Debit-card holds can create a bigger cash-flow problem because the authorization can reduce your available checking-account balance.

For example:

  • Checking balance: $300
  • EV charger authorization: $100
  • Actual charging cost: $22

You may temporarily have considerably less money available for:

  • Groceries
  • Bills
  • Another charging stop
  • Automatic payments

EVgo specifically warns that debit cards may be declined when the available balance cannot cover the authorization amount.

Use your bank's available balance while the authorization remains pending. Do not assume the money is available simply because the charging session cost was much smaller.

See:

Pending Debit Card Charge: How Long Can It Last?

EV Charging Holds on Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards can also have difficulty with EV charging authorizations.

EVgo specifically notes that debit or prepaid cards may be declined when the temporary authorization exceeds the available balance.

The issue is simple:

  • The charger may need authorization for $60, $100 or another amount.
  • Your eventual charging session may cost only $15.
  • But the card still needs enough available balance to satisfy the initial authorization request.

If a prepaid card repeatedly fails at public chargers, check the charging network's current payment rules and authorization amount before assuming the charger itself is broken.

Why Is the Hold Higher Than the Actual Charging Cost?

The charging network does not know the final session cost at the beginning.

A temporary authorization is therefore designed around payment risk, not around your exact eventual bill.

The actual charge may depend on:

  • Energy delivered
  • Charging duration
  • Per-kWh or per-minute pricing
  • Membership pricing
  • Idle fees
  • Congestion fees
  • Taxes

A $50 or $100 pending authorization does not mean you necessarily consumed $50 or $100 worth of electricity.

Why Do I See the Hold and Final Charge Together?

For a short time, your account may show both:

  • The original authorization
  • The final charging amount

For example:

  • $50 pending authorization
  • $17.63 posted EV charging session

This does not automatically mean you were charged $67.63.

Check whether the $50 remains labeled pending.

If so, it may still be waiting to drop off.

If both amounts actually post as completed transactions, contact the charging network. A temporary authorization should not normally become an additional final charge.

What if the Hold Simply Disappears?

That is normal for a temporary authorization.

You may eventually see:

  • The final charging-session charge
  • No separate refund
  • No separate reversal credit
  • The larger pending authorization simply gone

That is because the hold was never necessarily a completed purchase.

Do not wait for a refund when the authorization simply disappeared and only the correct session charge remains.

What if the Authorization Hold Actually Posts?

If the temporary authorization becomes a completed charge in addition to the real session cost, take action.

Confirm the status

Make sure the hold actually says posted or completed rather than pending.

Save the charging receipt

Use your app or emailed receipt showing the actual session cost.

Contact the charging network

Explain that an authorization amount appears to have settled as a charge.

Request a billing correction

Ask the provider to investigate and refund any amount incorrectly processed.

Contact your issuer if unresolved

If an incorrect completed card charge remains, ask about the appropriate dispute process.

EVgo specifically instructs users to contact its Charging Crew if an authorization hold actually posts.

Once a temporary hold posts, it is no longer merely a release-timing issue. Treat it as a potentially incorrect completed transaction.

What to Ask the EV Charging Network

Have these details available:

  • Station location
  • Charger number or ID
  • Date
  • Approximate session time
  • Card ending digits
  • Pending authorization amount
  • Actual charging-session amount
  • Session or receipt number

Ask:

  • Was the charging session successfully completed?
  • What was the final session amount?
  • What authorization amount was requested?
  • Was the temporary authorization released?
  • When was it released?
  • Was more than one authorization created?
  • Can you provide a payment or authorization reference if available?

The charging provider may not be able to tell you exactly when your bank will update the available balance, but it may be able to confirm what happened on the merchant side.

EV Charging Network Call or Email Script

Hello,

I used or attempted to use your charging station at [location] on [date] at approximately [time].

My card ending in [digits] currently shows a pending authorization of [$ amount]. My actual charging session was [$ amount] / the charging session failed to start.

Please confirm:

  • The final session amount
  • The temporary authorization amount
  • Whether the authorization has been released
  • The release date
  • Whether multiple authorizations were created
  • Any transaction or authorization reference available

If the temporary authorization has already been released on your side, please provide written confirmation that I can give to my card issuer.

Thank you.

Do not email your full card number, PIN or CVV. The last four digits plus the charger, date and session details should normally be sufficient for locating the transaction.

What to Ask Your Bank or Card Issuer

Contact the issuer using the official app or number printed on your card.

Ask:

  • Is the EV charging amount still only an authorization?
  • Has a final session charge posted?
  • Has the issuer received a release or reversal?
  • What date will the authorization expire?
  • Can the issuer manually release it?
  • Would written confirmation from the charging network help?
  • What should you do if the authorization actually posts?

Ask about the exact authorization visible on your account. A generic customer-service estimate may be less useful than the expiration information attached to the specific transaction.

Bank Call Script

Hello. I have a temporary authorization from an EV charging station that remains pending.

The merchant is [charging network], the authorization is [$ amount], the transaction date is [date], and my card ends in [digits].

The actual charging-session amount was [$ amount] / the charging session did not successfully start.

Please tell me:

  • Whether this transaction is still only pending
  • Whether a release or reversal has been received
  • The authorization expiration date
  • Whether the hold can be manually released
  • Whether documentation from the charging company would help

Please provide a reference number for this call.

Watch for Fake EV Charger QR Codes

EV charging stations can also be targets for payment scams.

Electrify America currently warns customers that it will never ask them to complete payment by scanning a QR code and advises reporting suspicious QR-code stickers on its chargers.

A fraudster may place a sticker over a legitimate payment area and direct drivers to a fake website that steals:

  • Credit-card information
  • Personal information
  • Login credentials

Do not assume a QR code attached to a public charger is legitimate. Use the charging network's official app, built-in card reader or payment instructions shown in the official app.

If you entered payment information into a suspicious site, contact your card issuer immediately.

What if You Never Used the EV Charging Station?

If you do not recognize the charger or charging network, do not assume the transaction is an innocent authorization.

Contact your issuer promptly if:

  • You did not charge an EV there.
  • No authorized cardholder used the charger.
  • The location is unfamiliar.
  • You see additional suspicious transactions.

The issuer may need to:

  • Lock the card
  • Replace it
  • Investigate the transaction
  • Review other recent activity

See:

Unauthorized Credit Card Charge: What to Do

How to Reduce EV Charging Hold Problems

  • Check the charging network's current payment policy before a trip.
  • Keep sufficient available credit or debit funds for temporary authorizations.
  • Avoid repeatedly tapping the same card after a failed attempt.
  • Record the charger ID before moving to another charger.
  • Use the network's official app when appropriate.
  • Save charging receipts.
  • Do not use suspicious QR-code payment stickers.
  • Consider using a credit card when a large debit hold would interfere with essential spending.

On a road trip, multiple charging stops can create overlapping temporary authorizations. Keep enough payment capacity available so one unresolved hold does not prevent the next charging session.

Evidence to Save

Keep:

  • The charging-network name
  • Station address
  • Charger ID
  • Date and time
  • Session ID
  • Energy delivered
  • Actual charging cost
  • Charging receipt
  • Screenshot of the pending hold
  • Screenshot of the final posted charge
  • Support-chat or email correspondence
  • Bank case numbers

Take a screenshot while the authorization remains pending. Once it disappears, your banking app may no longer show the original temporary amount.

Step-by-Step Plan

Check whether the amount is pending or posted

A pending authorization is different from a completed charge.

Check your charging receipt

Identify the actual session cost.

Compare the two amounts

A larger pending amount may simply be the temporary authorization.

Check the charging network's hold policy

Providers use different authorization amounts and release procedures.

Wait through the provider's normal pending period

Temporary holds often need time to be released by the bank.

Contact the charging network if necessary

Ask whether the authorization was released and obtain available reference details.

Contact your card issuer

Ask whether the release was received and when the specific authorization expires.

If the hold disappears, you are usually finished

No separate refund is required when it never became a completed charge.

If the hold posts, report the billing problem

Contact the charging network and issuer about the incorrect completed transaction.

Mistakes to Avoid

Assuming the Hold Is the Final Charging Cost

The authorization may be much larger than the actual session.

Assuming Every Charger Uses the Same Hold

EVgo, Electrify America, ChargePoint, Tesla and other networks use different payment processes.

Waiting for a Refund From a Pending Authorization

The hold may simply disappear without producing a refund transaction.

Assuming Several Pending Holds Mean Several Charges

Retries, longer sessions and changing chargers can create multiple authorizations.

Ignoring the Effect on Your Debit Balance

A hold can make checking-account funds unavailable even though the actual session was inexpensive.

Assuming the Charging Network Controls Bank Release Timing

Your issuer ultimately controls when the reserved amount becomes available again after processing the relevant payment information.

Continuing to Wait After the Hold Posts

An authorization that becomes a completed charge requires billing-error troubleshooting rather than ordinary hold-release waiting.

Scanning Any QR Code on a Charger

Use the network's official payment instructions and app.

Waiting on an EV Charge You Never Made

Report an unfamiliar transaction promptly to your issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did an EV charging station put a hold on my credit card?

Public charging networks may obtain a temporary card authorization before the final session cost is known. The authorization confirms that your payment method is valid and has enough available funds or credit to support the session. ChargePoint, EVgo, Electrify America and Tesla all publish information describing temporary authorization holds in at least some charging situations. The pending amount is not necessarily your final charging bill. After charging ends and the actual transaction settles, the temporary authorization should normally be released, although the issuing bank may take additional time to update your available balance or credit.

Why is there a $50 EV charging hold on my card?

One current example comes from Electrify America, which says walk-up guests paying directly by credit card may receive a $50 temporary authorization hold. That amount is not necessarily your final charging cost. Once the charging session ends and the transaction settles, Electrify America says the temporary authorization is removed and the actual session amount is charged. Other EV charging networks use different authorization amounts, so a $50 hold is not a universal industry standard. Check the network shown on your transaction and its current payment policy before assuming the amount is incorrect.

Why did an EV charger put a $100 hold on my card?

EVgo's current station-payment guidance says pre-authorization holds can be up to $100 depending on the charger. Its separate temporary-hold page currently describes holds up to $60, illustrating that authorization amounts can vary even within one charging network. A $100 pending entry therefore may be a temporary payment authorization rather than $100 worth of electricity. Check your charging receipt and transaction status. If the $100 remains pending, ask the provider whether it has released the authorization and ask your issuer when the specific hold will expire.

Why are there several pending charges from one EV charging session?

Multiple authorizations can occur if you retry payment, move to another charger, restart a failed session or have a charging session that triggers additional authorization increments. Electrify America currently says app users can receive temporary $20 holds in increments and that additional holds may be added during longer sessions. EVgo also warns that repeated attempts with the same card can produce additional authorizations. Compare the entries with the final charging receipt. If the extra amounts remain pending, they may disappear rather than become completed charges. If several amounts actually post, contact the charging network.

How long does an EV charging authorization hold last?

There is no universal timeframe. EVgo currently says its temporary holds typically disappear within 3–5 business days. Tesla says financial institutions may take a few days to release applicable Supercharger authorizations. Electrify America says release timing varies by bank, while ChargePoint says authorization-release timing is subject to the card issuer's policies. If the hold remains longer than the provider's normal period, ask the charging network whether it has released the authorization and then ask your bank for the expiration date attached to that specific pending transaction.

Why do I see both the EV charging hold and the final charge?

The final session transaction can sometimes settle before your bank removes the original temporary authorization from the visible pending section. For example, you might temporarily see a $50 pending authorization and a separate $18 posted charging transaction. That does not necessarily mean you paid $68. Check whether the larger amount remains marked pending. If it disappears, only the actual session amount should remain. If both amounts become posted completed transactions, contact the charging network because a temporary authorization ordinarily should not become an additional final charge.

Why do I have a card hold if the EV charger never started?

The payment authorization can occur before the charger successfully begins delivering electricity. A station may therefore approve your card and create a temporary hold even if the connector fails, the charger produces an error or you move to another station. Save the charger ID, date, time and failed-session message. The authorization may disappear after the provider releases it or after the issuer's authorization period expires. If you retry several times, you may see several pending authorizations. Contact the charging provider if the holds remain beyond its stated timeframe.

Will I receive a refund when an EV charging hold is released?

Usually you will not see a separate refund if the temporary authorization never became a completed charge. Instead, the pending authorization may simply disappear and your available funds or credit increase again. ChargePoint describes its pre-authorization as a temporary pending amount that is released after the actual transaction settles. The same basic distinction applies across many payment systems: a refund returns money after a completed charge, while releasing an authorization removes a temporary reservation. If the authorization itself actually posts, contact the charging provider because that is a different billing problem.

Are EV charging holds worse when using a debit card?

They can be more disruptive because a debit-card authorization reduces money available in your checking account rather than merely reducing a credit line. A $60 or $100 temporary hold could make funds unavailable even when your actual charging session costs only $15 or $20. EVgo also notes that debit or prepaid cards can be declined if the available balance is insufficient to cover the required authorization. If temporary holds would interfere with essential spending during a trip, consider the impact before choosing a debit card for public charging.

Are QR codes on EV charging stations safe to use for payment?

Do not assume every QR code attached to a public charger is legitimate. Fraudsters can place fake stickers over charging equipment and direct drivers to phishing payment sites. Electrify America currently states that it will never ask customers to complete payment by scanning a QR code and tells users to report suspicious stickers. Follow the payment instructions in the charging network's official app or use the charger's built-in verified card reader. If you entered payment information into a suspicious website, contact your card issuer promptly and monitor the card for unauthorized transactions.

Official Resources

Bottom Line

A large pending transaction from a public EV charger is often a temporary authorization rather than your final charging bill. Charging networks may reserve funds or credit before the final electricity cost is known, and some networks can place additional authorizations during longer sessions or repeated charging attempts.

Check whether the amount remains pending, compare it with your charging receipt and review the charging network's current authorization policy. After the session settles, the temporary hold should normally be released, although your bank may need additional time to restore the available funds or credit.

If the authorization actually becomes a completed charge in addition to the legitimate session amount, contact the charging provider and your card issuer. If you never used the charging station at all, report the transaction as possible unauthorized activity rather than treating it as a normal EV hold.

The practical rule: treat a pending EV charging authorization as a temporary payment reservation until it either disappears, is replaced by the correct session amount or actually posts as a completed charge.

Charge Decoded provides general U.S. consumer information and does not provide individualized legal, banking or financial advice. EV charging authorization amounts, payment methods, hold periods and billing procedures vary by charging network, station, card issuer and payment method.