Renting a car may seem like a hassle-free process, especially with the new online booking facility that car rentals offer. However, it may soon turn into a headache when you come to know different hidden charges and conditions. Thus, the final bill may come way higher than what you initially anticipated, and it may not be as smooth sailing as you thought. Therefore, it is important to know what you are getting yourself into and how to avoid any late shocks.
In this guide, we will discuss what questions you need to ask or what points you need to keep in consideration before renting a car in the UAE in general and Dubai specifically. So, let’s get started.
Before confirming your ride, it is best to always ask if there were any hidden charges or extra expenses that you need to know about. These can include insurance and fuel charges, among others. Insurance will be with the rental company if you hire a car with a driver in Dubai. That said, however, when you rent a car with a driver, you can be asked to pay additional driver fees, so be ready for that or try to get it waived off upfront.
Other than these, there are pick-up and delivery charges. This is when you ask for the car to be delivered at a certain place and then it needs to be picked up at the end of the rental period.
Moreover, you can be asked to pay an airport surcharge if you ask for your car to be delivered or picked up from airport premises. So, it is always best to ask about such charges and try to ask them to be waived off or reduced before you finalize your ride.
This is an important point to consider. For any driver in the UAE, it is mandatory to have some form of car insurance. The cheapest insurance to avail is third-party liability insurance which covers the damages of the other vehicle and its riders, but not yours. So, if you have this type of insurance coverage, the rental company can ask for more comprehensive coverage and may provide you with that at additional charges.
However, you can also check with your credit card provider if they offer any rental insurance coverage.
If you don’t have any car insurance, it is better to rent a car with a driver but that comes at an extra cost.
Most of the rental companies put some sort of mileage limit. So, if you are planning a long ride, it is important that you know this limit and any extra charges that the rental company may impart if you exceed this limit. Most companies have a 250-300 kilometer daily limit and a 4000-5000 monthly limit.
Most of the leading car rentals have loyalty or membership programs going on and they offer great benefits. These can include a lot of different rewards including free Salik cards, discounted rides, waivers on pick-up and delivery charges, insurance coverage, and sometimes free rides if you are a frequent renter. So, do ask if the company has any such program in place and get yourself enrolled. They are usually free of charge, but as mentioned can be of great value.
Other than that, do ask before renting whether any discounts or promotions are going on. Rental companies do have some of these things going on, but they only make them available if you ask for them. So, do ask this question and give yourself a great chance of cracking a great car rental deal in the UAE.
Also, Pilot & Car has a variety of such packages and discounts to offer.
Car rental charges vary a lot during the year. So, if your travel dates are flexible, try to look out for the times of the year when the rents are cheaper. For example, currently, June is the month when car rentals are the cheapest. On the other hand, they are the costliest in the month of December in UAE. So, also keep this factor in mind.
Things don’t always go according to plans, so it is better to inquire about the cancellation policy of the rental company. Most companies offer a free-of-charge cancellation at least 24 hours to 72 hours before the actual booking time on their standard cars. However, it can vary greatly when it comes to luxury cars for different companies. However, if you fail to abide by this time period, you can be charged 10% to 30% of the total rent agreed.
You need to know that you can get your car upgraded at no extra cost. Yes, for example, you rented an entry-level car from a company and you felt it was not that great or shaky or whatever reason, you can ask them nicely if you can get a better car and more often than not they will oblige at no extra cost. So, you can go from a low-level car to a medium level or even luxury level car at no extra cost or they will give you a discounted rate.
Cracking a great car rental deal in the UAE is no rocket science. You just need to know how car rentals work and how to get the best out of them at discounted prices.
The key is to always know what hidden or extra charges that may incur and try to reduce them or get them waived before you make the final call. Moreover, it is important to ask for insurance coverage and know your own coverage and avoid any duplication.
Always be on the lookout for any discounts or offers in place to benefit from and get into membership programs to avail best deals on offer. That is it from this piece, but do come back for any car rental advice and offers from those who know the best and offer the best.
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