Whether you need a car with a driver for an hour, a full day, for the month, or just one day to get to and from the airport, Dubai offers you plenty of choices. The range is good for flexibility, but it also provides more opportunities to book it wrong. Before confirming any travel or residence issues, the vast majority of the problems will be avoidable if you know what to look out for. These are the top five mistakes and tips on how to avoid them!
In short, the five mistakes are:
- Not understanding the difference between chauffeur service and self drive rental
- Not agreeing on what is in the quoted price.
- Avoiding the operator’s license check
- There’s no such thing as a bad package or vehicle to book, is there?
- Last-minute bookings in the peak event season in Dubai
Mistake 1: Not Being Clear About Chauffeur vs. Self-Drive
The meaning of the term “car rental” varies from person to person. When you search for ‘car rental Dubai’, you will be presented with a combination of self drive and chauffeur services, the latter being a car with a professional licensed driver. They are really separate products with separate paperwork, pricing, and applications, and it wastes time having to book them as something that is different.
If you are looking for a different driver to drive the car, you need to use the terms car rental in Dubai with driver or chauffeur service in your search instead of car rental. This alone weeds out most of the “noise” and helps you to reach the providers who provide what you need.
It’s not just one way. When visitors arrive at a chauffeur company’s website, they often think that they’ll be charged a self drive price, only to find that the price is higher than that of a rental car agency and they had no idea that they’re paying for a professional driver, fuel, tolls and parking in the same price. If you know what product you’re comparing before you read the number on the page, you’ll save yourself a lot of time of back and forth.
Mistake 2: Not Confirming What Is Included in the Price
Without qualification a given number is of little value unless you understand what it represents. Others may charge a no-fuel, no-Salik tolls, no parking rate and charge for fuel, Salik tolls, and parking separately. Others quote a built-in price at the outset. The difference between these two methods can make a big difference if you drive all day from Dubai Marina to Downtown and Business Bay, crossing toll gates several times.
When getting quotes, ask specifically what is covered. With a reputable car hire service that car rent in Dubai with driver, the rental you see in the cost upfront is usually inclusive of fuel, standard Salik charges and parking. Also, consider waiting time—if the provider doesn’t factor a delay, then ask about it as a meeting may extend past the flight time they advertised.
Mistake 3: Skipping the Licensing Check
Commercial drivers of chauffeurs and limousines operating in Dubai are regulated by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and all valid drivers should have an RTA badge visible on their vehicle to indicate registration and insurance and have been trained. This may save you a few minutes when you are booking the trip, but it’s one of the few layers of protection in case something goes wrong during the trip.
An unlicensed arrangement usually does not have commercial passenger insurance and no actual company to be held liable over pricing, damage or failure to pick up. A quick check of the company’s RTA license and proven operating history, reviews and fixed office address will eliminate most risk and confirm any booking.
This is more than one might think for a simple ride! In case of an accident on Sheikh Zayed Road during rush hour, the commercial insurance of the licensee will provide insurance cover for the passengers in the vehicle, and an informal arrangement may leave both parties unprotected. It’s one of the checks that is free to perform and only worthwhile if something goes wrong, which makes it easy to ignore, yet worthwhile not to ignore.
Mistake 4: Booking the Wrong Package or Vehicle Type
Dubai chauffeur providers normally supply a couple of types of bookings: hourly, full day, monthly, or point-to-point. Each is for a different type of trip and if you book the wrong one you’re wasting either money or time. If you have one appointment or a short errand to run, an hourly booking is a good option, but if you have a day of sightseeing with several stops planned, a full day booking works best.
The type of vehicle is important as well as the package. If you are travelling with a group, car seats or if you have some extra bags, an SUV or a bigger vehicle is essential from the beginning. One of the more frequent last-minute issues is the car being too small for the group you’re travelling with, which can be easily avoided by stating the amount of passengers and luggage when booking, rather than assuming a regular sized car will fit the bill.
If the need is recurring, say a daily school run or a long stay business trip, a monthly package using a chauffeur is likely to be much cheaper than using the services on a casual basis many times over, so even if the need seems to be short term, it is well worth considering this option.
Mistake 5: Booking Too Late for Peak Dates
Most of the year is booked up at Dubai’s event calendar and there is a definite surge in demand for chauffeur services on major dates. The typical peak season is from October to April, as this is when Dubai World Trade Centre hosts trade shows and exhibitions, Dubai is home to Formula 1 weekend in March, Dubai World Cup in December, and various festivities around Burj Khalifa during the New Year’s Eve celebrations. These are the times when high-end cars will book out far in advance.
Weddings deserve even more lead time. Planners commonly recommend booking luxury vehicles six to twelve months ahead for a wedding date, especially if a specific car model or color matters. For standard business trips or airport transfers outside of peak periods, booking a few days ahead is usually enough, but during any of the dates above, waiting until the last minute significantly narrows which vehicles are still available.
Getting the Booking Right: A Quick Checklist
Getting the Booking Right: A Quick Checklist
Use specific search keywords, such as car rent in Dubai with driver, instead of a broad search.
- Before comparing prices, ask what is included in the quote.
- Ensure the operator is RTA licensed and has a verifiable record.
- Match the package to the size of the group, amount of luggage and schedule
- Make early bookings for dates that fall during Dubai’s major events or wedding season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is less expensive hourly or for a whole day? If you’re paying by the hour, it will be more affordable for a single appointment or for a quick errand. A full day package typically is cheaper, per hour, than hourly packages on an extended trip with a number of stops throughout the day.
Should the driver be tipped? There is no need for tipping in Dubai but it is welcomed for good service. The amount of tips is not included in the fixed price and is always at the passenger’s choice.
Are there any flexibility of extension on the day if the plans extend out for an extended period? Extensions are usually possible on the day, depending on driver availability, but it’s wise to make sure that this is the case when you book your service, as it may not always be possible.
Final Thoughts
After you know to look for these five mistakes, none of them are difficult to avoid. If the rental service is done with a little care at the booking stage, with clear search terms, a clear price, a licensed operator, the correct package and an early booking in peak periods, then it is likely that the car rental in Dubai will be turned into a hassle-free and predictable experience of the trip rather than something that can cause unexpected stress.
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