Why Am I ‘Overcharged’ When Paying for Parking by Card? Pre-Authorisation Explained (2026)

You tap your credit or debit card at a car park, park for an hour, and later spot an RM20-RM50 charge on your statement – far more than the parking should cost. It’s one of the most common questions we get, and the good news is: you almost certainly weren’t overcharged. Here’s what’s really happening.

First, the 2026 context

Most Malaysian car parks now run on Touch ‘n Go, TnG RFID or DuitNow QR. But plenty still accept contactless cards (Visa payWave, Mastercard contactless) – and it’s card payments, specifically, where the “overcharge” appears. It’s a pre-authorisation hold, and it works the same way it always has.

What is a pre-authorisation?

When you tap your card at entry, the car park doesn’t yet know how long you’ll stay – so it can’t charge the final amount. Instead, it places a temporary hold of a fixed amount (commonly around RM20-RM50, depending on the operator) to confirm your card has enough funds. This hold shows up on your statement or banking app as a pending transaction.

Why it looks like an overcharge

The held amount is a worst-case estimate, not your actual fee. When you exit and the real charge is calculated (say RM4), the operator settles the correct amount – but the original hold can still appear for a few days before it clears, which is what alarms people.

When is the hold released?

Typically within a few working days (often 3-4), though it varies by bank. If a hold hasn’t cleared after about a week, contact your card issuer – they can release it.

How to avoid the hold entirely

Simple: pay with Touch ‘n Go eWallet, TnG card, or DuitNow QR instead of tapping a credit card. These deduct the exact amount with no pre-authorisation hold – so there’s nothing to “get back.”

Frequently asked

Was I actually overcharged for parking? Almost never. The larger amount is a temporary pre-authorisation hold that’s reversed once your real fee is settled.

How do I get the money back? It’s usually released automatically within a few days. If not, ask your bank to reverse the pending pre-authorisation.

How do I stop it happening? Use Touch ‘n Go or DuitNow QR rather than a contactless card at car parks.