When you arrive in the UAE, one of your first priorities will be getting the right rental car. You want to be sure that you make the right choice, of course, because having a car is essential in the area.
There are certain things that you should look for in a rental. If the agency you’re looking at doesn’t meet these criteria you should probably start looking elsewhere. The last thing you want is to find yourself stuck with a bar car or strapped with unexpected fees when you return your rental.
Where to get your rental?
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Depending on where in the UAE you arrive, you can get a car from any number of agencies. You can find a car rental in Ras Al Khaimah Airport, Dubai International Airport, or any of the airports throughout the region. You can also find agencies in town if you choose to do so.
Cars in good condition
You want to be sure that the cars you’re considering are in good condition and won’t break down on you. To ensure that you get a properly-functioning car, you should do several things:
- In advance of your trip, check out as many third-party online reviews as you can. Do a comparison of different agencies at the airport. If your first choice gets mixed reviews, perhaps you should consider another place.
- When you get shown a car do your own inspection to make sure it works alright. Make a list of features that you want to check beforehand and cross-check it when you arrive at the agency. In particular, look for any superficial damage that might have been done to the car and make sure that it has already been noted by the agency. If not, you might be accused of having caused it and will be unrightfully charged.
- Check the level of gas that is left in the car and make sure that the agency has noted it. If it is low, you should be expected to return it at the same place in which you found it.
Look for a helpful staff
It is also essential that you have a reasonable and helpful staff to work with. You’re already going to be in a new place where everything will be unfamiliar to you, and you don’t need the additional headache of having a rental agency that won’t be there to assist you when you need it.
Therefore, in the same way that you should inspect your rental in different ways, you should conduct a review of the agency itself. Customer service is also something that gets reviewed on external sites, so you should look for positive comments among past customers.
And, of course, personally assessing staff behavior once you arrive is also important. If the staff isn’t quick to help you or answer your questions, this could be a bad sign. Also, if you ask questions about potential defects and the agency is reluctant to admit or explain them, you could be asking for even more problems during the course of your ride.
Your insurance coverage
This is also an extremely important part of your rental experience. You could either find yourself overpaying for an insurance package that you don’t necessarily need, or being offered something that doesn’t adequately cover you in case of an emergency.
One of the specific things you should look for is a collision damage waiver, which will give you the option of paying a daily charge to reduce a maximum liability charge.
Be sure to familiarize yourself with the various plans in advance and know exactly what you will be getting when you rent your car.
The car you want!
Once you get past the basics, think about what it is that you really want. It’s fine to make sure everything is in good order, of course, but if you’ve got the pick of the litter, why not go all out and go for what you really want?
If you’re not sure what exactly you’re looking for, think about the purpose of your trip. Are you going offroading? If so, you’ll definitely need a specific kind of car with four-wheel drive. If you’re going to be driving around town, perhaps your rental needs will be different.
So do your planning in advance, check out the options online, and be prepared for when you arrive in the UAE. You’ll be sure to make the right choice.
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