Hiring a car in Dubai may be a thrilling experience but at the same time it can be quite a daunting task to manage especially for the natives and first time tourists. There are a multitude of things to do in this city due to numerous towering skyscrapers, lavish tourist destinations, and vast road system. Thus, sometimes, even a good car rental experience may turn into an unpleasant one if there is a lack of research or if there are some typical mistakes. To steer clear of these typical gaffes with your car hire in dubai, anticipate and deliberate with these five missteps.
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Failure to read the rental Terms and Conditions.
The idea of renting a car also seems simple today, especially with the functionality of mobile applications and websites. However, before entering your details and pressing the ‘Rent’ button, read the legal disclaimer page thoroughly. Included kilometers, fuel policies, taxes/fees, allowed rental duration as well as cancellation policy and other such small but important details are often overlooked which leads to a lot of inconveniences or additional charges later on.
Rules and fines regarding roads in Dubai are also important to know for renters when choosing a location. The rules are the same as conventional rules such as the ban on using phones while driving and wearing a seat belt, but there are special rules as well. For example, it is against the law to use high beams to indicate you are yielding to vehicles proceeding from the left.
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No document notice readily available
The authorities of the said city also carry out strict document checks in certain areas at their discretion. For instance, if traffic police decide to pull you over and conduct a search, they could ask for the license and papers of the rental car. Well, if you’re going to be involved in such activities, you had better ensure you have all the right structures in place to avoid such transgressions. Many car rental firms offer vital papers such as the registration cards as well as the accident reports in the cars they hire out. However, any other items such as the driving license, passport, visa, and roadside assistance contact details would also be handy in the checks.
Failure to adhere to documentation standards or producing half-baked documents during assessment can lead to major problems within Dubai. This involves paying instant fines, reporting to police stations, handing keys of cars involved to the police, or paying release fees of rented cars. Even more shocking, it is possible to be imprisoned for one’s words for a limited time if one tries to debate with an official regarding documents. Do not pick a fight with the powers that be here and also keep anything related to documentation in order.
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Underestimating Insurance Coverage
It makes a good sense to rely on the basic insurance if renting cars abroad since everything seems to be covered. However, on this assumption, Dubai’s rental scene and laws negate this. Liability rental insurance, which is the basic kind, only pays for third-party incidents – any personal claims against you if you are to be blamed. However, they do not cover losses to rented cars that insurance companies consider ‘negligent’ – such as running hands over the car undercarriage over speed humps. This means that you have to pay all those repair costs even if you are enjoying the minimum level of coverage.
Such surprises are avoided by agreeing to ‘CDW’ insurance options. While it may cost more than renting the car without insurance, CDW shields against damages of rental vehicles, regardless of who is at fault. Without it even minor scratches or scrapping on the bumper can result in having to spend thousands of dirhams to visit the workshop. Other useful additional components include personal accident coverage, roadside assistance etc . There is nothing wrong with a little extra cost, in fact, it is always advisable to opt for comprehensive insurance for the peace of mind it offers.
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Overlooking Parking Rules and Regulations
Parking in Dubai is easy since there are many parking lots around neighborhoods, places of interest, malls among others; but like in many other places around the world it comes with its set of rules. For instance, if vehicles are assigned inappropriately in specific zones for parking, then one may be charged a fine. The same way, parking along the yellow and black curbsides and no entry zone also apply. Hence, when you are renting a house or an apartment in Dubai, one should consider where to park his or her car.
For instance, if you had a parking ticket in Dubai last year, rent an uncovered car and get another ticket again, be prepared for your penalties to be doubled. Parking attendants employ hi-tech measures and number plate recognition technologies for detecting violations. As for ticketing, it only amasses fines and blacklists rental cars over time for failing to make payments on tickets.
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Lack of Preparation Re Desert Climates
Common misconceptions Dubai car rental travelers have – overestimating the conditions of the desert. When transporting clients in cases where they hire only sedans or small capacity cars, they go to sand dune terrains without adequate preparations. Climbing to new ground where rocks have never been compacted to form a tar like surface and getting stuck in it is not an unusual occurrence. The example with desolated areas is also true in that they tend to heat up vehicle engines too. Worse- trying to perform stunts on the sand often results in fatal rollovers especially when the sand is slippery.
Prevent the disastrous off-road by hiring 4 x 4 wagons with better off-road clearance that are designed for rough terrains. Select agencies which have good track records, the equipment such as tow ropes, emergency tool kits, additional tires and so on. When you go far out, check if your cell phone is compatible with areas with poor networks. As suggested by their choice of route, they should look for any signs of danger that could be useful in planning.
Conclusion
Some of the things one should not do when renting a car include neglecting some planning though it saves many hitches later. When looking for the best car hire in Dubai, read the terms and conditions given for that homework, consider insurance facilities, memorize parking rules and regulations and make your vehicle ready to face all the hurdles before starting the journey.
