What is already in the price
Hidden fees in Dubai car rental usually come not from cheating but from not knowing what the rate actually includes. On most of our cars the price includes insurance, servicing of the car and 250 km per day. There is no young-driver surcharge: the driver must be 21 or older with at least a year of experience. Most cars need no deposit, and if a car needs one, it is shown on its page.
Delivery and return anywhere in Dubai are free on rentals from 7 days. Prices on the site are per day, per week (7 days) and per month (30 days) in dirhams.
What you pay for separately
| Item | How it works |
|---|---|
| Salik tolls | Actual gate crossings, paid by the renter |
| Fines | Actual amount, paid by the renter |
| Fuel | You fill the car yourself |
| Parking | Charged by the parking place |
| Delivery on rentals under 7 days | 210 AED for delivery and return together |
| Kilometres beyond 250 per day | Ask us for the rate before the rental starts |
None of this is really hidden, but you need to keep it in mind when comparing offers. A low daily price at one company can end up as a higher total than at another.
Salik: what it adds up to
Salik charges for each pass through a gate. As of September 2026 the rate on weekdays and Saturdays is 6.30 AED at peak hours (6:00 to 10:00 and 16:00 to 20:00) and 4.20 AED at other times. On Sundays it is 4.20 AED all day, and from 1:00 to 6:00 passing is free. Rates can change, so check before you travel.
A week of active city driving usually means 4 to 10 crossings, roughly 20 to 60 AED. Salik data arrives with a delay of a few days, so you will not know the final amount at the moment you return the car. We calculate it from actual crossings with no markup, and on request we can show a breakdown by date.
Fines and fuel
Speeding fines and other violations are paid by the renter at their actual cost. We do not set the amounts, the police do. A fine can arrive after you have returned the car, which is normal practice.
Fuel is paid separately. A full tank for an economy car is around 150 AED, and for a large six or eight cylinder SUV it will be noticeably more. Agree on the fuel level at pickup and return, and photograph the dashboard when you take the car.
Short rentals: count the delivery
Delivery in Dubai is free only from 7 days. On shorter rentals it costs 210 AED for delivery and return together. Take a Kia K5 2024: a day costs 170 AED, a week 1,100 AED. Three days cost 510 + 210 = 720 AED. Five days: 850 + 210 = 1,060 AED. Seven days at the weekly rate cost 1,100 AED, only 40 AED more than five days with delivery, and delivery is free. So if you are renting for 5 or 6 days, compare with the weekly rate. If you collect the car at our office in Princess Tower, Dubai Marina, ask us whether a delivery charge applies.
The 250 km a day limit
For the city, 250 km is a lot, but trips out of town add up fast. From Dubai to Abu Dhabi is about 140 km, to Hatta about 130 and to Al Ain about 130. A round trip is 260 to 280 km, so one day's allowance is already exceeded once you add city driving. Ask beforehand how the limit is counted (for each day or across the whole rental) and what the rate per extra kilometre is. On monthly rentals, confirm the limit separately.
Partner cars and card payments
Some cars are provided by a partner company with its own terms: a 1,000 AED deposit, a minimum rental of 3 or 7 days, delivery at 80 AED each way (free from 30 days) and no driving to Oman. The terms of each car are shown on its page. By comparison, most other cars need no deposit.
When you pay by card, the rental amount may be held as a pre-authorisation and charged at the end. This is not an extra payment, but the hold reduces the available limit on your card, so keep that in mind if you need the card for other spending.
How to avoid surprises
- Ask for the total for your dates, including delivery, not just the daily price.
- Check the car page: the deposit and minimum period are shown there.
- Confirm the kilometre limit and the rate beyond it if you plan trips around the Emirates.
- Ask what the insurance covers and whether there is an excess.
- Agree on the fuel level and return time, and photograph the car at pickup.
- Agree on driving to Oman when you book.
