Deposit & Fines, Explained
We do not take a cash deposit. A refundable pre-authorization is held on your card at handover and released in full within 21 days of return, subject to no outstanding fines, Salik or damage. Salik tolls and traffic fines are billed at cost — never marked up. This page walks through the whole journey, step by step, so there are no surprises at the end. All rentals are from Pindi Boys Car Rental LLC — a licensed Dubai company rated 5.0★ across 328 Google reviews.
Cash deposit
none
Card hold released
within 21 days
Salik & fines
at cost, no mark-up
Insurance
comprehensive, included
The deposit & fines journey, start to finish
1 · You book
The rate you are quoted is the rate. Prices exclude 5% UAE VAT and are confirmed in writing on WhatsApp before delivery. No cash changes hands as a deposit — not at booking, not at handover.
2 · At handover
A refundable pre-authorization is placed on your payment card as security against traffic fines, Salik charges and damage. The amount varies by vehicle category, and it is a hold, not a charge — the money never leaves your account. A no-deposit option is available on selected economy cars.
3 · While you drive
Comprehensive insurance is included with every rental. Salik gates you pass and any fines you pick up are logged against the plate — both are billed to you at cost, with no mark-up. Optional CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) removes the insurance excess; without it, the standard excess applies to damage.
4 · You return the car
Return the car with the same fuel level it came with (otherwise refuelling charges apply). We check the vehicle with you — anything to discuss is discussed there, not discovered on your card weeks later.
5 · Within 21 days
The hold is released in full within 21 days of the vehicle being returned, subject to no outstanding fines, Salik charges or damage. If a fine surfaces, you pay what the RTA charged — at cost — and see the record of it.
Security hold by vehicle class
| Vehicle class | Cash deposit | Card pre-authorisation hold | Insurance excess without CDW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy & compact published rates from AED 90 – 250/day | None | Quoted in writing before delivery | AED 1,500 |
| SUV, 7-seater & van published rates from AED 100 – 700/day | None | Quoted in writing before delivery | AED 1,500 |
| Luxury sedan & SUV published rates from AED 200 – 5,500/day | None | Quoted in writing before delivery | Quoted in writing before delivery |
| Supercar & exotic published rates from AED 979 – 3,999/day | None | AED 5,000 – 15,000 | AED 10,000 |
The hold is a pre-authorisation, not a charge — the money never leaves your account, and it is released in full within 21 days of return. Where a band shows “quoted in writing” we have not published a fixed figure: ask on WhatsApp and you get it in writing before you commit.
Every charge that can be added, and when
| Charge | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Smoking / deep-clean penalty | AED 500 | Charged only if the car comes back smoked in or excessively dirty. |
| Traffic fine admin | AED 50 per fine | On top of what the RTA charged. The fine itself is passed through at cost. |
| Salik toll admin | AED 1 per crossing | The toll itself is billed at cost. |
| Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) | 25% of the rental | Optional. Removes the insurance excess shown above. |
| Licence held under 6 months | 25% surcharge | Full insurance/CDW is compulsory for these drivers. |
| Baby seat | AED 15 per day | On request at booking. |
| Doorstep delivery | Free, anywhere in mainland Dubai (up to 80 km) | Anywhere in mainland Dubai (up to 80 km from the office). |
| Collection at end of rental | Free | Same basis as delivery. |
| Minimum rental | 2 days | Longer minimums may apply on some exotic cars. |
All amounts exclude 5% UAE VAT. Salik tolls and traffic fines are passed through at cost — the admin figures above are the only thing added, and they are stated up front.
Why we publish this
Most car-rental complaints in Dubai are not about cars — they are about money appearing on a card weeks after the rental: an inflated fine, a mystery cleaning fee, a deposit that takes months to come back. Our policy is deliberately boring: no cash deposit, one card hold released within 21 days, and tolls and fines passed through at cost with the record shown. It is written in our terms and it is the same for every customer.
If you are comparing companies, ask each one three questions: is the deposit cash or a card hold, how many days until it is released, and are fines passed through at cost or with a mark-up. Our answers are: card hold, 21 days, at cost.
Questions people ask us
Do I need a deposit to rent a car in Dubai?+
When do I get my car rental deposit back in Dubai?+
How much is the security hold?+
What happens if I get a traffic fine in a rental car in Dubai?+
Is Salik included, or charged extra?+
What does the insurance cover, and what is CDW?+
Are there any hidden fees when renting a car in Dubai?+
Can I rent a car in Dubai with no deposit at all?+
Ask about any car's exact hold amount
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