Three Car Rental Rip-Offs and How to Avoid Them

While there are many good and legit car hire companies in Dubai, there are a few shady ones who are experts in finding ways to charge customers more than expected. In addition to the usual rental rate, they may add surcharges, VAT, or any other hidden charges to ensure you pay extra. We recognize this problem and bring to you a few tips to help you understand whether you are being ripped off so you can immediately start looking for a more reliable and reputable car rental company such as ours. We not only follow a strict zero hidden policy but also make sure our terms and transactions are as clear and concise.

Fuel Policy

More often than not pre-paying for gas is not a requirement, but most companies charge you for it without having mentioned it beforehand. Typically, there are two options in terms of paying for fuel which we discuss below:

- The first option is where you pre-pay for your tank, and the car rental company has it filled for you on your behalf. While this may sound like a fair deal, the drawback to it is you need to make sure you use it wisely. You need to prepare your trip for the day in a way that allows you to consume most of it, else you end up overpaying. The added VAT on the other hand doesn’t make it any better either.
- The second option is where you get a pre-filled tank but have to make sure you refill it before returning the car. We recommend keeping a receipt for the same, in case you are charged extra. The only problem with this alternative is, if you forget to refill the tank before returning, you will be charged three times more the price than you would if you have to refill it yourself.

When renting the car, it is advisable to clear out the fuel policy terms so you don’t end up either overpaying for unused fuel or being overcharged for not refilling the tank before returning it. Most companies are not very clear on this, which causes you to fall into either of the two options mentioned above; it is either because you forget about it or the terms stated are not clear.

Damage Charges

While rental car companies are well aware of most of the damages on their fleet, more often than not some are not reported immediately. We suggest inspecting the vehicle thoroughly and taking pictures as a record. This is a mandatory step whether or not you have to sign saying there are no notable damages to the car. Else, like most drivers, you may end up having too high amounts for no fault of yours. Inf act, some companies would already be aware of the damage but will put it on you so they can charge you a higher amount. The best approach to avoiding such situations is by taking photos of every angle of the car, including areas that are not at eye level, just to be on the safe side.

Insurance Policy

Before opting for the insurance policy at the car rental, we suggest checking with your existing insurance provider or reading through the terms of your credit card. Most insurance companies cover the charges of your car rental in case of a collision, so it’s best to check with them. That way you avoid having to pay extra at your car rental. Similarly, certain credit cards also cover a portion, so you eliminate the worries of having to pay high amounts. These are however only applicable to those who have existing insurance or own a credit card. For those who don’t, you can always opt-in for the insurance policy at the car rental. Better safe than sorry.