12 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Renting a Car in Dubai

The most common mistakes to avoid when renting a car in Dubai are costly but easy to prevent. They include a missing licence document, a deposit nobody explained, toll and fine charges that arrive weeks later, and insurance that does not cover what you assumed. Renter complaints on forums and review sites come down to three things: surprise charges, slow deposit refunds and unclear paperwork. Each section below gives the rule, the real number and the fix.

1. Does your home licence work, or do you need an International Driving Permit?

Which visitors can drive on a home licence?

The UAE recognises home licences from more than 30 countries. The UK, US, Germany and France are on the list published on the UAE government portal. Visitors from other countries need an International Driving Permit (IDP), and it must be issued in your home country because the UAE does not issue one to tourists.

What do you need at the rental desk?

Some rental desks ask for an IDP even when the law does not, so confirm before you fly. Bring the original licence, your passport with the entry stamp and a credit card in your own name.

2. Is the security deposit a charge or a hold?

It should be a hold. Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism guidance says the deposit must be blocked on your card, not charged, and released within 30 days of return if there are no fines or damage (Gulf News). Most companies hold it on a credit card, and many refuse debit cards. A blocked amount also reduces your available credit for the whole trip. Ask for the amount and the release date in writing. If the money does not return, write to the company first, then file a complaint on the Dubai consumer rights portal or call 600 545555.

3. What does Salik really cost on a rental car?

What does a Salik crossing cost?

Salik is Dubai’s electronic toll. Since January 2025 a crossing costs AED 6 at weekday peak hours (6 AM to 10 AM and 4 PM to 8 PM), AED 4 off-peak and on Sundays, and nothing from 1 AM to 6 AM. VAT is added on top (Gulf News).

What do rental companies add?

Rental companies pass the toll on and often add an admin fee per crossing. Published fees vary a lot, so ask for the exact figure. Gates on Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Garhoud Bridge, Al Maktoum Bridge and Business Bay Crossing add up over a day. Renters often complain that the bill arrives days after the rental ends, so ask when it will be sent.

4. Does basic insurance cover damage to the rental car?

No. Every UAE rental includes third-party liability, which pays for damage you cause to others, not to the car you drive. Collision damage waiver (CDW) covers the car but leaves an excess. One international brand lists AED 1,200 for economy cars at Dubai Airport and up to AED 4,000 for SUVs and luxury cars. CDW usually excludes windscreens, tyres, the underside and the interior. It becomes void if an unlisted person drives, if you drive off-road or if you drive under the influence. Claims need a police report. Ask about zero-excess cover before you pay.

5. Did you record the car’s condition before driving off?

Walk around the car with the agent. Photograph or film every panel, each wheel, the windscreen, the odometer and the fuel gauge. Make sure each mark is written on the handover form and signed. Without that record, a scratch from a car park at Dubai Mall can end up on your bill. Repeat the process at return, in daylight, and keep the files until the deposit is released. Renters who skip this step have the weakest case in a dispute, because the company holds the only record.

6. Is the cheap daily rate the real price?

Rarely. Check five add-ons: 5% VAT, a mileage cap, a delivery or drop-off fee, an extra driver fee and a young driver surcharge. Late returns can also trigger a full extra day, and some renters report being charged for a delay of about 20 minutes, so ask about the grace period. Compare a daily car rental quote with weekly and monthly prices, because longer plans cost less per day.

Which rental charges change the final price?

7. Which fuel policy is fair?

Full-to-full is the fairest: you collect a full tank and return it full. If you return the car short, the company refuels at its own rate, which is higher than the pump price. Photograph the gauge at pickup and drop-off. Fuel prices in the UAE change every month, so filling up at an ENOC or ADNOC station near the drop-off point costs less than the company’s refuelling fee. Ask whether the tank is full at pickup, because some cars leave the lot with less.

8. How much are traffic fines, and who pays them?

You do. The company deducts fines from your deposit or card and may add an admin fee. Dubai Police figures reported by WAM: speeding more than 60 km/h over the limit is AED 2,000, 20 days of impoundment and 12 black points. More than 80 km/h over is AED 3,000 and 23 points. A red light is AED 1,000 and 12 points. Phone use is AED 800 and 4 points, and no seatbelt is AED 400 and 4 points (WAM). Radars monitor major roads such as Sheikh Zayed Road, and fines can post days later. Read the traffic fines policy before you sign.

9. Where do you pay for parking?

Most public parking in Dubai is paid from 8 AM to 10 PM, Monday to Saturday. Sundays and public holidays are free in most zones, though some areas charge every day. Since April 2025, peak pricing applies from 8 AM to 10 AM and 4 PM to 8 PM. Pay through the RTA or Parkin app, by SMS or at a meter. Event zones near the Dubai World Trade Centre can reach AED 25 per hour. Parking in a prohibited spot risks a fine and impoundment.

10. Is the car right for your route?

A compact sedan suits Bur Dubai, Deira and Al Karama, where parking is tight. For Hatta, the lakes at Al Qudra or the road to Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah, the UAE’s highest peak at 1,934 metres, an SUV rental gives more space and grip. Families with luggage should count seats and boot space, not only the daily price. Standard cover does not apply off-road, so driving on sand breaches the contract even in an SUV.

11. Can you drive the rental to other emirates or Oman?

Within the UAE, yes. Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah are normally allowed. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is roughly 1.5 hours from Dubai by road, and Palm Jumeirah and Burj Khalifa are inside the city. Leaving the country, including through the Omani border near Hatta, needs written permission and extra insurance. Without them, your cover is void and you carry the full cost of any accident.

12. When should you book, and where?

Book early between October and March, Dubai’s peak tourist season, when fleets sell out. Airport counters at Dubai International can cost more than an online booking or hotel delivery, so compare the airport car rental price with delivery to your hotel. For a stay of a month or more, ask for a monthly plan. Confirm the booking by email with the total price, the deposit and the return time.

Rent with Falcon Rides

Falcon Rides offers daily, weekly and monthly rentals across Dubai, with delivery on qualifying bookings and 24/7 support. Call +971 56 361 9373 or book a car. Knowing these rental car mistakes in Dubai before pickup saves money on every trip.