Accident in a Rental Car in Dubai
Get a police report — it is mandatory for any accident or damage, and no claim is settled without one. After that your liability is capped at the excess (AED 1,500 standard), or removed entirely if you took CDW.
If you have an accident in a rental car in Dubai, the one thing that decides how much it costs you is whether you get a police report. It is mandatory for any accident or damage, and no insurance claim is settled without it — that is true with every rental company in the UAE, not just ours.
After that, your exposure is capped. If you are at fault and did not take CDW you owe the excess — AED 1,500 on a standard car, AED 10,000 on an exotic — not the repair invoice. If you took CDW at 25% of the rental, you owe nothing.
What to do, in order
1. Stop and make the scene safe
Do not move the car off the road before the police have seen it unless an officer or the emergency services tell you to.
2. Call the police — 999, or 901 for a minor accident
A police report is mandatory for any accident or damage. It is the single document the insurance claim depends on.
3. Call us on WhatsApp while you are still at the scene
We deal with the recovery and the replacement car. Do not arrange your own tow — recovery charges arranged privately are your cost.
4. Photograph everything before anything moves
Both cars, the plates, the damage, the road position and the police report itself.
5. Hand us the police report
Green report or pink, we need the original reference. Without it the insurer does not pay and the damage falls to you.
Who pays for what after an accident
| What | Where you stand | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Police report | Mandatory | For any accident or damage. No report, no insurance settlement. |
| Your liability if you are at fault, without CDW | AED 1,500 standard · AED 10,000 exotic | This is the insurance excess — the most you pay, not the repair bill. |
| Your liability if you took CDW | None | CDW at 25% of the rental removes the excess entirely. |
| Tyres, windscreen and mirrors | Customer's responsibility | Unless covered under the applicable insurance — these sit outside standard cover. |
| Impound and recovery charges | Customer's responsibility | Passed through at cost. |
| Traffic fine arising from the accident | At cost + AED 50 admin per fine | Fines must be settled immediately. |
| Replacement vehicle | Quoted in writing before delivery | Depends on the car and the length of the repair — confirmed in writing, not guessed. |
The rental terms behind these answers
| Term | What applies |
|---|---|
| Weekly rate | Quoted in writing before delivery |
| Mileage cap | 250 km/day · unlimited on monthly contracts |
| Cash deposit | None |
| Card pre-authorisation hold | Quoted in writing before delivery |
| Insurance excess without CDW | Quoted in writing before delivery |
| Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) | 25% of the rental — removes the excess |
| Hold released | Within 21 days of return |
| Doorstep delivery | AED 50 flat, anywhere in mainland Dubai (up to 80 km) |
| Collection | AED 50 flat, same basis as delivery |
| Minimum rental | 2 days |
| VAT | 5% UAE VAT on top of all figures |
Questions people ask us
What should I do if I have an accident in a rental car in Dubai?+
Do I need a police report for a small scratch?+
How much do I pay if the accident is my fault?+
What if the accident is not my fault?+
Are tyres and the windscreen covered?+
Who pays for towing and impound?+
Will I get a replacement car?+
Ask us before you book
Tell us where, when and how many people. You get one fixed fare in writing.
Fares agreed before pickup · Salik and fuel included · 24/7 · +5% VAT