Accident in a Rental Car in Dubai: What to Do?
Nobody, including even the most professional drivers, are immune to accidents. If any driver is involved in an accident in a car he owns, they know who will cover the damages according to the insurance policy they have. But what happens if a driver suffers an accident in a rental car?
This guide answers this salient question in detail about what happens if you crash a rental car in Dubai and what one should do if they are involved in a rental car accident in Dubai.
Reporting Accident To The Police
First things first, you should make sure that everyone around the scene of the accident is safe. Followed by this, you should instantly report the accident on the official Dubai Police app. The driver should cooperate with the police in providing them with all the necessary details regarding the accident with a rental car in Dubai.
Here’s how you can report a car accident in Dubai:
- Download Dubai Police app (Android | Apple)
- When the installation is complete, go to ‘Report Traffic Accident’ option which can be found on the app’s homepage
- Provide all the required information like vehicle plate number and details of the accident and submit the report.
Other Tips for Handling a Rental Car Accident in Dubai
Taking the right steps can save you from dire circumstances if you are involved in a rental car accident in Dubai. Therefore, you should be aware of what to do and what not to do after a car accident. In this section, we take a look at how to manage a rental car accident in Dubai.
Avoid Panicking and Do Not Escape
Panicking is often the knee-jerk reaction when we are involved in an accident. To think that ducking out and escaping the scene of the accident is a reprieve and can help you avert comeuppance is to be terribly mistaken. Instead, it has serious potential ramifications and can make things even worse, like the renter going for punitive legal action which can prove costly and blemish your car rental record.
Notify The Car Rental Company
The next logical move after the police has inspected the accident is to inform the company which rented the car. In the majority of the cases, comprehensive car insurance in Dubai provides compensation for the damages caused in rental car accidents in Dubai and car rental companies are liable for accidents in Dubai.
However, the expenses which are not covered by the insurance company are borne by the driver. Basic insurance packages cover bodily injury or collision damage whereas premium insurance packages cover the costs of major damages like vehicle theft etc. The amount of expenses that will be borne by the driver depends on how much the vehicle is damaged.
Purchase a collision damage waiver
Unless you are extremely lucky, there is some amount the driver involved in the accident has to pay to the rental company. However, the good news is that you can reduce whatever that amount is by purchasing a collision damage waiver (CDW). CDW is a supplementary insurance coverage provided to those who rent a vehicle. This waiver protects them against losses caused by the theft or damage of a rental car.
Renting a car has its own pros and cons. Instead of renting a car, you can also ease a car in Dubai. If you are interested in purchasing a used car at a reasonable price, you can take a look at these used cars for sale in the UAE. To keep up with all what’s happening in the automotive industry, stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog.