Oct

I Rented the Same Car from 5 Different Companies in Dubai: What Shocked Me

When people think of renting a car in Dubai, they imagine smooth transactions, exotic cars, and fair deals. After all, Dubai is a city built for luxury drives and perfect service. But behind the glamour, the rental car industry can be a maze of hidden costs, confusing policies, and frustrating surprises.

To see just how different the experience could be, I decided to try an experiment: rent the same car, a Lamborghini Huracán, for one day each from five different rental companies in Dubai. I kept the dates, requirements, and conditions the same.

What I discovered shocked me.

Table of Contents

The Idea Behind the Experiment

I’ve heard countless stories: friends being charged extra for scratches they didn’t cause, people waiting months for deposit refunds, or renters who thought they got unlimited mileage only to face steep penalties.

So I asked myself: If I rent the same car from different companies, would I end up paying the same price, or would there be a catch?

Spoiler: the advertised price rarely matched the final bill.

This journey turned out to be more than just a test; it was an insider look at how car rentals in Dubai actually work.

The 5 Rental Bookings

Here’s how my one-car-five-companies test unfolded:

Company A: The “Too Good to Be True” Deal

Advertised rate: AED 2,500 per day.
The catch: Mileage was capped at just 150 km/day, and every extra kilometer cost AED 30. Insurance coverage was vague, and the deposit refund window was “up to 45 working days.”
Final cost: AED 3,600 after paying mileage overages and a mysterious “admin fee.”

Company B: Mid-Range But Murky

Advertised rate: AED 3,200 per day.
Mileage limit: 200 km/day. Extra km at AED 25.
The issue: Insurance wasn’t fully explained until I pressed for details. There was also a AED 500 “processing fee” that appeared during checkout.
Final cost: AED 3,950.

Company C: Premium Price, Premium Transparency

Advertised rate: AED 4,000 per day.
Mileage: 250 km/day, extra km at AED 20.
Insurance terms and deposit rules were explained upfront. Deposit was AED 5,000 and promised refund within 7 working days.
Final cost: AED 4,000. No surprises.

Company D: The Hidden Trap

Advertised rate: AED 2,800 per day.
Mileage: Claimed unlimited, but small print said “only within Dubai city limits.” Driving to Abu Dhabi would void coverage.
Security deposit: AED 7,000 with refund time of “30–40 working days.”
Final cost: AED 3,400 + ongoing frustration about unclear rules.

Company E: The Balanced Option

Advertised rate: AED 3,500 per day.
Mileage: 250 km/day. Extra km AED 20.
Insurance terms were explained after questioning. Deposit was AED 6,000, refund timeline of 15–20 days.
Final cost: AED 3,700.

What Shocked Me the Most

After these five bookings, the biggest shock wasn’t the price difference; it was the fine print traps that changed the entire experience.

Hidden Fees Everywhere: Admin charges, late payment fees, service charges for delivery and pickup. These were rarely visible until the invoice arrived.
Mileage Confusion: Some companies claimed “unlimited mileage” but restricted it to specific city limits. Others charged exorbitant per-km rates (up to AED 30/km).
Security Deposits: Refunds varied wildly—from 7 days to 45 days. With such high deposits (AED 5,000–7,000), waiting weeks for refunds was frustrating.
Insurance Loopholes: Many companies only offered partial coverage unless you bought add-ons. Some even excluded certain roads or emirates.

The lesson? The cheapest advertised rate is almost never the real cost.

Price Comparison Breakdown

Here’s a simplified table of what I experienced:

Company	Advertised Rate (AED/day)	Mileage Included	Extra km Cost	Deposit & Refund Policy	Final Cost Paid	Transparency Rating (★ out of 5)
A	2,500	150 km	30 AED/km	6,000 / 45 days	3,600	★★
B	3,200	200 km	25 AED/km	5,000 / 30 days	3,950	★★
C	4,000	250 km	20 AED/km	5,000 / 7 days	4,000	★★★★★
D	2,800	“Unlimited”*	Hidden clause	7,000 / 40 days	3,400+	★
E	3,500	250 km	20 AED/km	6,000 / 20 days	3,700	★★★

(*Unlimited only within Dubai city limits.)

Insider Revelations

One of the most eye-opening parts of this test was the conversations with customer service. Here are a few quotes I’ll never forget:

On mileage: “Yes, unlimited, but only inside Dubai. Abu Dhabi is extra.”
On deposits: “Refunds usually take 30–45 working days, depending on the bank.”
On insurance: “Full coverage doesn’t include damages if you’re outside city limits.”

These were things you would never know from just reading the website or advertisement.

How Drive UAE Handles It Differently

After this experiment, I realized why choosing the right rental company matters more than chasing the lowest price.

Here’s how Drive UAE approaches things differently:

Clear Mileage Policy: 250 km/day included. If you go over, it’s a fair AED 20 per extra km. No vague “city limit” conditions.
Transparent Insurance: All insurance terms explained upfront, so you know exactly what’s covered.
Fair Deposits: Refunds are processed quickly, without the months-long wait.
No Surprise Fees: The price you’re quoted is the price you pay, no hidden admin costs.

That level of honesty and structure is why Drive UAE has built trust in a competitive market.

The Big Takeaway

My five-company rental test taught me one thing: advertised prices don’t tell the whole story. A cheap-looking daily rate can end up costing more than a premium service once hidden fees and mileage charges pile up.

If you’re considering a car rental in Dubai, always:

Ask for mileage details upfront.
Confirm deposit refund timelines.
Understand what the insurance actually covers.
Read customer reviews about transparency.

Or better yet, skip the guesswork and go with a company that lays it all out clearly.

With Drive UAE, renting a supercar or luxury vehicle isn’t just about driving; it’s about peace of mind.

Conclusion

Dubai is one of the best cities in the world to experience driving luxury cars. But if you don’t choose carefully, your dream drive can quickly become a financial headache.

My experiment showed how wildly different five rental companies could be, even with the same car. Only one offered a truly transparent, stress-free experience.

The lesson is clear: don’t fall for the cheapest headline price. Look for transparency, fairness, and trust.

At DriveUAE, you get exactly what you’re promised, no hidden fees, no fine print traps, just the thrill of driving the car you’ve always wanted.

Ready to rent a luxury car in Dubai without surprises? Explore Drive UAE’s fleet today and drive with confidence.