Use this guide to save significantly on Dubai car rentals if you plan on renting a car in Dubai during your visit.

This is Sunil and I wrote this section because I was inspired by several emails from website visitors asking for the best deals on Dubai flights, hotels and car rentals.

Well Dubai is not cheap, you already know that. But what you don’t know is that you can save significantly on every purchase or booking if you know how to, and that is what Kish and I are here for.

I have already written about renting a car in Dubai to be the best way to travel if you want to see the greater Dubai, especially the outskirts where the history is evident.

Taxicabs, though inexpensive, can add up very fast for trips here and there.

So the goal is to help you secure the best deal with your Dubai car rentals.

But first let’s discuss the companies involved.

As of 2009, the following multi-national car rental companies operated in Dubai.

Budget
Dollar
Thrifty
Europcar
Hertz


Key Benefits of using an Internationally recognized car rental company? Reliability and Customer Service. Negatives? Prices are a bit higher than you should be paying.

Local Car Rental Companies in Dubai

There are many mom and pop size car rental companies as well. But be wary, these cannot always be relied upon for the quality service you need while you are there. The last thing you need is to get stranded on Dubai desert roads and no one to come pick you up. Their vehicles are not in the best of shapes and the service is sub par. A good friend actually had made a booking once and when he went to pick up the car he was told that they did not have it!

Yes Dubai is world class in most things, but when it comes to doing business (small business at least) it is third world. I can go on for days with this topic alone but that is not what this discussion is about. Anyway, you won’t have to worry about such inconveniences with a reputable international car rental company.

Can You Rent a Car in Dubai?

Just a few things to keep in mind when renting a car in Dubai. The law will treat you different from another person based on your passport and visa. Yes, such is Dubai. If you are an American or European passport holder, you can welcome to use your local driving license to rent a car and drive in Dubai.

If you are not from a first-world country, then you must have an international driving license. In either case, be careful while driving, obey the laws and you will be just fine.

Dubai Driving Info

• Well developed freeway infrastructure



• High speeds and many crazy drivers. Do not compete with them, mind your business, and give way to nuts.



• Left hand drive system (just like the USA)



• 125 kilometers per hour (KPH) is a common speed on most roads



• As of 2007, road and street signs not well developed. MapQuest may not be the best. So ask for clear directions and reference points when trying to get somewhere.

So How Can You Save on Dubai Car Rentals?

One thing is for certain, you must rent a car in Dubai from a reputable name. Not only will you have the peace of mind of good customer service, but those companies will also have several offices and be accessible to you no matter where you are. You can access them from the airport, your hotel or local offices spread across Dubai.

Because of Kish and my frequent travels to Dubai, as well as several requests over time by website visitors and blog readers, we have negotiated a deal with an agent that provides access to all the big names I listed above.

You will save 30% or more on your Dubai car rentals if you book with them and tell them Kish and Sunil sent you. This is the same agent we go through every time we rent a car in Dubai.

If you don’t go that route, you can always try Priceline. Priceline also offers all major car rental companies in Dubai and you can use their website to bid for a car rental within your budget. Either way, you should save some money compared to when booking directly with the company or booking while already in Dubai. I definitely recommend booking ahead of time.

Hope you found this section on Dubai car rentals helpful!