Car Accident in a Rental Car in Dubai: What to Do

If you have an accident in a rental car in Dubai, stop safely, leave the vehicle where it is, call the police on 999 and obtain a police report. Then tell ALKA straight away: without a police report, the insurance cover on your rental does not apply. This guide walks through each step, explains what your included cover does and does not do, and shows how to reach us.

The first minutes at the scene

An accident in an unfamiliar city is stressful, especially if you arrived in the UAE only a few days ago. The steps themselves are simple, and following them in order protects you, the other people involved and your insurance cover.

1. Stop safely and check whether anyone is injured.
2. Leave the vehicle where it is. Do not move it unless the police or safety require it.
3. Call the police on 999 and obtain a police report.
4. Notify ALKA without delay, and in any case within 24 hours.
5. Collect what you can: photographs, the other party's details and a copy of the police report.
6. Do not admit liability, agree a settlement or authorise a repair without ALKA's written consent.

Why the police report matters

In the United Arab Emirates a police report is required for any insurance claim. ALKA's confirmed policy is direct: without a police report, the insurance cover does not apply.

The published rental terms spell out the consequence. Failing to obtain a police report, or failing to notify us in time, makes the renter liable for the full cost of the damage, loss of use, recovery and any resulting claim, regardless of who was at fault.

What your included cover does

Every ALKA rental includes collision damage waiver, third-party liability and personal accident cover, together with 24/7 roadside assistance. Full cover is available as an optional upgrade. The exact cover, the insured value and the excess (the amount you pay towards each claim) depend on the vehicle class, whether that is a supercar, a luxury SUV or an executive sedan, and are stated in your booking confirmation. Where offered, an excess reduction option can be purchased before handover.

Alongside the insurance sits the security deposit, held on your card as a pre-authorisation rather than a charge. It covers damage that insurance does not cover, as well as fines, tolls and theft. Our guide to the security deposit explains how the hold works and when your bank releases it.

When cover is reduced or does not apply

Insurance does not respond in every situation. Under the published rental terms, you remain fully liable for loss or damage arising from, among other things:

• driving by an unnamed or unqualified driver (only drivers named on the rental agreement may drive)
• driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• taking the car outside the UAE, including into Oman, since cover ends at the UAE border
• off-road use or prohibited use such as racing, track days or drifting
• any incident not reported to the police where a police report is required

Newly licensed drivers should take particular note. If your driving licence was issued less than six months before the rental, the insurer applies reduced cover: in an at-fault accident you pay the excess plus 10 per cent of the assessed claim, and a Dubai Police report is required in every case. Tell us your licence issue date when you book so this is clear before you drive. Some vehicle classes are not released to newly licensed drivers at all.

Theft, damage and breakdowns

The same routine applies if the car is stolen or damaged: call the police on 999, obtain a police report and notify ALKA. For a mechanical breakdown, roadside assistance is available 24/7. Assistance needed because of misuse, misfuelling, a lost key, a flat battery caused by leaving equipment on, or a puncture is chargeable, so it helps to describe the problem clearly when you get in touch.

Contacting ALKA after an incident

Tell us as soon as it is safe to do so, and in any case within 24 hours. You can reach us through the contact page or by email at reservations@alkarentacar.com. Send the police report, photographs, the other party's details and a short written account as soon as you can. Do not move or repair the vehicle until we have given you instructions, unless the police or safety require it. The full procedure is set out in section 10 of our rental terms.

Nobody plans for an accident, but a clear routine makes it manageable: stay where you are, call 999, get the police report and let us know. If you would like the cover and excess for a particular vehicle class confirmed before you travel, contact our concierge and we will take you through it calmly and in detail.