When you visit Dubai and desires to go out the lively city on your own terms, hiring a car is an exciting way to do so. This takes away the need to wait for cabs or figure out how to get around on public transportation. There's you, your vehicle, and all the open streets—well, as open as Dubai's traffic facilitates.
But before you accelerate, there’s one small yet very important piece of info to understand the fuel policy.
Are you shocked? You might be wondering about fuel. How complicated can that be? Well, there are rental car companies, and they have random policies, Among them, they have a different way of handling fuel, and if you don’t pick the right one, you might end up paying a lot more than expected.
So, let’s just split this to make sure you don’t get a surprise bill when you return the car!
How about if you just landed in Dubai, picked up your rental and the agent handed over the car’s key with just a friendly reminder about the fuel policy? You just waved and pretended that you knew what that exactly meant.
You started to drive off to the sunset, and after returning, you got a surprise that you’d charged extra because you overlooked some of the specifics.
Well, you don’t teach a fish how to swim, but here, the case is totally opposite as you didn't follow the fine print. If you want to save your extra money, you must read, understand and follow the fuel policy. This way, you can avoid unnecessary stress, and it ensures you don’t end up paying double for a simple tank of diesel.
The best of the best would be to save this money and spend it on an extra adventure in the desert or a fancy dinner with a view of the Burj Khalifa.
Every car rental has its own fuel policy, and because not all follow the same one, some of the policies may be very tricky if you’re not all ears. Here's a friendly guide to the most common ones to help you make up your mind.
The golden rule of rental cars is the fairest deal for every renter. It means you receive the car with a full tank, and at the time of returning, you must refill the tank. It’s too simple to understand.
This is the ideal policy as you only pay for the fuel you use, with no surprise surcharges. But, don’t forget to refill before you return otherwise, you have to pay for hefty charges. It is best for travellers who don’t mind stopping at a petrol station before dropping off the car.
This one is very convenient but often ends up pricier. You just pay for a full tank car and leave, but upon returning, it's up to you what fuel is left. Doesn’t it sound hassle-free? Well, the catch here is that the rental companies charge higher than normal fuel prices, and even if you return the car half empty and half full, you won’t get a refund.
The pro side of this fuel policy is you don’t have to refill the tank and then return the car. It’s better for those who are always in a rush. But at the same time, you’re paying more than the usual price for the fuel, and there will be no refund for you for that unused fuel. It’s a kinda luxury feel because it is best for those who value convenience over cost.
Well, this policy seems a bit like a gamble. When you receive the car, you get it with a random fuel level, and you must return it with the same amount. That’s why it’s known as the same-to-same policy. This may sound easy, but trying to match the exact level can really be very frustrating. Plus, you will lose money too little, and you end up being charged extra.
The best part is you don’t need to worry about filling up a full tank; it’s way difficult to measure the exact fuel level. It’s a pretty decent option for short-term rentals, but paying extra charges if you miscalculate.
This one is the trickiest of all the above. You are forced to pay for a full tank at rental rates, which are mostly higher than the normal fuel prices. And you must return the car empty.
Are you confused about where the problem is? Unless you’re planning to drive all over the UAE, you probably won’t use the whole tank, and the rental company keeps whatever the leftover is.
Therefore, it has no headache or refuelling stress before returning the car. If you’re planning for a long trip and you have to drive a lot, surely you’ll use up most of the fuel because there is no refund upon unused fuel, and you’ll likely overpay for it.
When you are selecting a fuel policy, you must take a few moments for these important factors to make sure it meets your needs.
Firstly, you must ponder over the cost structure; it’s up to you whether you’ve chosen the fixed or the variable one because this will affect your wallet. Or else, in the end, you don’t want yourself crying for losing every single buck in your pocket.
Before you start your journey, you must study the fuel patterns to identify a policy that suits you best and seek flexibility in terms to clear of minimum purchase conditions. And most importantly, look out for people’s review about their service as well as ask for their reputation.
well, you must also think about the policy’s footprint if green issues are important to you. Last but not least, find one that features modern tech for monitoring fuel consumption and keeping track of spending, as these will help you manage your budget.
This short intro can help you choose a better fuel policy that suits your short-term as well as long-term needs.
What are you planning for renting a car? Are you going to hire for day or for a week? For short-breaks, a Same-to-Same or Full-to-Full policy may be your best option to choose.
But, if you are renting the car for longer terms, then prepaid petrol may be the way to go if you don’t wish to spend time refilling.
If you are keeping a keen eye on your budget and cost for these rents, a full-to-full policy will most likely be the cheapest, as you only pay for what you consume. The prepaid and Full tank charge policies are likely to be overpriced unless you exhaust the full fuel.
Well, Dubai’s petrol prices are lower than in most places, but they do change. If petrol prices are up, you can consider Full-to-Full so that you get to decide when and where to fill up.
When you are ready to rent your car, you must read the full print! Some firms slip in hidden costs, so pay attention to what they charge for fuel, plus any other penalty.
Do you plan a long drive to Abu Dhabi or the desert? A prepaid Fuel Policy may come in handy as you travel a long way and might get your tank after such drives. Or if you decide to stay in the city? Then Full-To-Full is the best option.
Dubai has an abundance of petrol stations, but if you’re heading to outlying areas, refuelling may not be conveniently possible. Well, if you’re concerned about locating a station before retuning the vehicle, going for a prepaid policy is easier to go with.
Most rental companies have outrageous fees if you don't adhere to the fuel policy correctly. If you ran out of fuel, you could be charged per litre at a premium rate, along with a refuelling service fee, this is a sort of punishment for their inconvenience.
It's up to you and your requirements, but the important thing is selecting the appropriate fuel policy for your Dubai adventure vehicle, and this will be the most significant factor in your overall experience and cost. If you want to avoid any surprises on your final invoice, take a few minutes to learn the choices.
In the end, reading the rental contract thoroughly and thinking ahead can prevent you from facing extra fees. Well, now that you’re equipped with fuel policy knowledge, go on and have fun in Dubai whether you’re cruising down the Jumeirah Beach Road, off to the desert dunes, or just zipping from mall to mall like a pro.
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