Dubai is a city of cars, and there are plenty of rental agencies where you can hire almost any Mercedes-Benz and other luxury car models to suit your tastes and budget. You can rent luxury vehicles in Dubai for a very modest price by international standards. And you can also cut your rental expenses by considering the following factors that affect the total costs.
1. Subrenting
Lots of agencies in Dubai do not lease their own cars. They rent the vehicles from other agencies and sublet them to their customers, not to invest in a fleet or spend money on car maintenance. Obviously, their cars will be considerably more expensive since they add their commission to the total rental price.
At the opposite end are the agencies, like Paddock, that own all the cars in their fleet. Therefore, when searching for an optimal deal, always ask the agency whether it owns the vehicle you would like to rent.
2. Car Model
Models differ in their rental prices, of course, and you should consider your purposes before deciding which one to rent. You can find lots of pretty cheap options in this city, which may do just fine if all you need is to get from point A to point B.
Besides, the technical specifications are important too. If you want to travel with your family or friends and a lot of luggage and camping equipment with you, you will save good money on renting a more expensive but powerful van instead of a small cheap car with a weak engine.
As a rule, rental prices build up in the following progression:
- Economy vehicles
- Vans and 4X4s
- Luxury models
- Sports cars
3. Personal Driver
You may also rent a car with a driver. It will cost you more, and you feel confident behind the wheel, you may easily do without one. On the other hand, if you are not used to driving sports cars on the hectic Middle Eastern freeways, a personal driver can help you save on traffic fines and car damages.
4. Duration of Contract
Your total rental expenses will also depend on how long you need a car for. As a general rule, the longer the lease, the more free mileage you may expect to receive.
5. Delivery
Most agencies will charge you for delivery services, although some will deliver the car for free. And some very rare dealers will even offer you a discount if you agree to fetch the car and drive it back yourself.
6. Penalties and Fines
When you rent a car in Dubai, you will have to leave a deposit for possible car damages, traffic fines, parking fees, transfer costs, and extra mileage, which will be deducted from it at the end of the lease. You will significantly reduce the deductions or even avoid them altogether if you follow the traffic rules, drive safely and have a Salik card with you at all times.