If a restaurant pre-authorizes your credit card in the United States, the payment system temporarily reserves a certain amount on your card before the final charge is processed. This authorization is not a completed charge.
Pre-authorizations are commonly used to ensure that the card has sufficient available credit to cover the expected bill.
What happens
When a card is pre-authorized, the restaurant’s payment system sends a temporary authorization request to the card network and issuing bank.
This process may:
- Reserve an estimated amount on the card. This occurs when a restaurant pre-authorizes your credit card, allowing the payment system to place a temporary hold before the final bill is processed.
- Reduce the available credit temporarily.
- Allow the restaurant to adjust the final charge later.
The final charge is usually processed after the meal is completed and the bill is finalized.
The pre-authorization may remain visible in the card account until the final transaction replaces it or the authorization expires.
What determines the authorization amount
The pre-authorized amount may depend on several factors:
- The estimated value of the meal.
- Restaurant payment policies.
- Local tipping customs.
- Payment processor rules.
Some restaurants authorize a slightly higher amount than the expected bill to account for tips or additional items.
What it may lead to
Common outcome:
- The final charge replaces the temporary authorization.
Possible escalation:
- Temporary reduction in available credit until the authorization clears. Confusion may occur if a pending charge never disappears, especially when the authorization remains visible longer than expected..
- Multiple pending authorizations may occur if a merchant places a large authorization hold, temporarily reducing available credit until the transaction settles.
Worst realistic outcome:
- Authorization remains pending for several days before automatically expiring.
- Temporary spending limits on the card until the hold is released.
Pre-authorizations normally disappear once the final transaction settles or the authorization period expires.
Common escalation triggers
Situations that may cause confusion with pre-authorizations include:
- Paying with a debit card instead of a credit card.
- Multiple restaurant transactions on the same day.
- Large group dining with estimated authorizations.
- Payment processors delaying transaction settlement can also occur when a merchant processes a delayed charge, causing the final transaction to appear after the original authorization.
These situations may cause temporary holds to remain visible longer.
What this depends on
Pre-authorization outcomes depend on:
- Card network rules.
- The issuing bank’s processing policies.
- Restaurant payment systems.
- The type of card used.
Credit cards and debit cards may handle authorization holds differently.
Who controls the process
Pre-authorizations are processed through private payment networks and the cardholder’s issuing bank.
Restaurants initiate the authorization request, while banks and payment networks control how long the authorization remains pending.
Last reviewed: March 2026
This page describes typical operational outcomes. Individual cases vary.