Renting a car is an excellent option to feel more comfortable on a vacation or a business trip as it gives you freedom and flexibility while you are travelling and in a place like Dubai it is the most feasible way to get around considering the sky touching fares of taxis or the crowded metros.
Just visualize, how comforting is it to step directly into your car (or a rented car) after a long tiring flight? Really an awesome feeling, but there are often hurdles in the way of finding the best deal. Hurdles can be in many forms like car rental insurance issues, over pricing issues or other difficulties faced in getting a perfect deal.
To help you on your way, we have toiled hard in compiling this blog to provide you tips for saving money, understanding your requirements and avoiding problems when you rent a car in Dubai.
Choosing a vehicle
Many of us ignore this important point of choosing a vehicle according to our needs. Think carefully about what type of car you will require.
If you are travelling with your family, you may require a large sedan or SUV but if you are travelling alone and at the same time are looking to save money on your car rental, then renting a compact car in Dubai is the best option. Likewise, if you are travelling for a business meet or attending a high profile event, luxury car rental in Dubai will be a right pick.
Booking Your Car Rental
While in UAE you will find almost all major international car hire companies like Hertz, Thrifty, Sixt and Avis but locally owned car rental companies can offer lower rates on same benefits.
All you need is to Google down “car rental companies in Dubai” and a search result of best companies will appear. The results will give you an idea about the available rates and accordingly you should visit the websites of the car rental companies as usually they offer exclusive discounts and coupons on weekends, festivals or sometimes just to be more competitive in the market.
There are many car rentals companies which offer easy bargain option on their websites like TripJohn. But before booking, make sure to read reviews and know about the standards they offer.
Understanding Your Car Rental
If you are hiring a car online, read terms and conditions carefully before you make a deal. The terms and condition section is available on almost every car rental website to make the customer understand the process, as it specifies the responsibilities of both company and the customer. This will be taken as the undertaking the customer after he confirms the reservation, so make sure to read it properly.
Know about Insurance options available
When you rent a car in Dubai make sure to ask the company about their insurance policies as it differs from one company to another. It is therefore recommended to clarify the excess rates, coverage, age limit, driving license limitations and other related requirements in advance.
You can skip the pricey insurance option provided by the car rental company if you have a personal auto insurance or charge the car rental through a major credit card. In this case, you won’t be required to purchase the company’s CDW (Collision damage waiver). You can contact your insurance agent or credit card issuer to verify if using the car provides coverage.
Security Deposits in Advance
Most of the car lease companies in Dubai, UAE ask for the security deposit and other charges to pay in advance in order to ensure mutual responsibilities between the car rental company and the client. The reason mostly is to secure a certain amount of money in case of fine acquired by the client. You can pay the security through all major mediums like cash, credit cards, cheques etc. However, most of the car hire companies in Dubai don’t accept cheques. So it is always better to pay the advance through Credit Card.
Registration of the rented car.
We know you are in quite a hassle because you want to reach your hotel or your place as soon as possible to take some rest after the long exhausting journey but it is very important to drive a car that has a valid registration. So when you hire a car in Dubai make sure to check the original registration of the car. The registration is usually placed inside and look carefully if it is of the same vehicle that you are driving. Also, check the validity of registration and insurance and any one of them are expired never rent a car.
Know about Salik and Traffic Fines
Salik is an electronic toll road system in Dubai which is based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology through which a toll fee is charged when a vehicle passes under a toll gate.
So you don’t have to stop to pay that fee.
While some of the companies pay this fee themselves, but most of them charge an extra amount in order to the customer to compensate this fee. So before you finalise your booking, make sure to ask your agent about the charges and fine incurred.
Determine Rental Period In advance
It is advised to determine the car rental period before you hire a car in Dubai as many a times rates vary according to the period. For example, renting a car on weekly or monthly basis can offer you with better savings than daily car rental in Dubai. Because just like airways, the rental rates in Dubai are also seasonal and it all depends upon the inflow of the tourists at that time.
So next time you visit Dubai make sure to apply the above-mentioned tips.
If you are still facing any further difficulties in renting a car in Dubai, or have any queries about car rental process, please contact us at +971 (04) 255 7977