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 are billed at AED 4 off-peak or AED 6 peak per gate, plus 5% VAT (AED 4.20 / AED 6.30) plus AED 1 admin per crossing (+5% VAT), and traffic fines at the amount charged plus AED 50 admin per fine (+5% VAT). 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 327 Google reviews.
Cash deposit
none
Card hold released
within 21 days
Salik & fines
toll + VAT + AED 1 · fine + AED 50
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.
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 — Salik is billed at AED 4–6 per gate + 5% VAT + AED 1 admin per crossing (+5% VAT), and fines at the amount charged plus AED 50 admin per fine (+5% VAT). 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 authority charged plus AED 50 admin, 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 100 – 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 (+5% VAT) | On top of what the RTA charged. The fine itself is passed through at cost. |
| Salik toll admin | AED 1 per crossing (+5% VAT) | On top of the toll itself: AED 4 off-peak or AED 6 peak per gate, plus 5% VAT (AED 4.20 / AED 6.30). |
| 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 are billed at the toll plus the 5% VAT Salik charges, and traffic fines at the amount charged — 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 billed at AED 4–6 per gate + 5% VAT + AED 1 admin per crossing (+5% VAT) and fines at the amount charged plus AED 50 admin per fine (+5% VAT), 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 what is added to a fine. Our answers are: card hold, 21 days, AED 50 admin per fine (+5% VAT).
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 cash deposit?+
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