Every car we rent comes with comprehensive insurance, included in the daily rate. That sounds simple, but in the UAE how much you pay after an accident depends less on the policy and more on one document: the Dubai Police accident report.
The police report decides
No insurer in the UAE will pay for accident damage without a police report. The report also states who was at fault, and that is what determines your cost.
- Green report, not at fault: you pay nothing. The other driver's insurance covers the damage, and the report is free.
- Red report, at fault: our insurance repairs the car; your share is the excess set for that model, plus AED 520 for the Dubai Police report. The rental agreement also charges loss of use for the days the car is off the road for repair.
The excess depends on the car. We confirm the figure for your car in writing before you book, so you know the most an at-fault accident can cost you.
What to do after an accident
- Stop, and check whether anyone is hurt. If so, call 999.
- Get a police report. For a serious accident, call 999 and wait for the police. For minor damage with no injuries, you can report it through the Dubai Police app.
- Do not leave without a report, even if the other driver offers to settle in cash. Without it, the damage cannot be claimed.
- Call us. We will tell you what to do with the car and arrange a replacement if it cannot be driven.
What is not covered
Comprehensive insurance covers accident damage on public roads with a police report. Some things are never covered and are charged to the renter:
- kerbed or damaged wheels, and tyre damage;
- damage to the interior;
- any off-road or desert use, including sand, wadis and beach tracks;
- damage while someone not named on the agreement was driving.
Racing, timed driving or any kind of competition on a rental voids the insurance entirely.
What CDW and SCDW mean
Many rental companies sell insurance in layers. Basic cover comes with a high excess, and then Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Super CDW is sold at the counter to reduce it. The names vary, but the idea is the same: pay more per day to owe less after an accident.
We do not work that way. Comprehensive cover is in the price, there is no add-on to buy at the door, and the excess is confirmed before you book. When comparing companies, look at the excess and the exclusions; the word comprehensive on its own tells you little.
Insurance and deposits
Companies that take a large deposit often say it covers damage and fines. We take no deposit at all. If you cause an accident, the excess is invoiced like any other charge, and fines come to you at the Dubai Police figure; see fines on a rental. Nothing is held on your card in the meantime.
The handover video
Before you drive away, we film the car all the way round with you, with the time on the recording, and the clip goes to your phone. If there is a question later about a mark that was already there, the video settles it. It takes a couple of minutes and protects you as much as us.
Driving outside Dubai
The insurance covers all seven emirates. Oman is possible for some cars if we issue a no-objection letter and Omani cover is bought in advance; Saudi Arabia is off limits.
If you have a question about cover for a particular car, ask before you book. The answer, and the excess, will come back in writing.
