How large the excess (franchise) is for rental cars in United Arab Emirates, how it differs by class, and how it relates to the deposit. Compiled from live rental offers.
VERIFIED: 2026-07-29 · 246 OFFERSThe excess (franchise) for rental cars in United Arab Emirates ranges from $200 to $5,000 depending on the car class, with a median of $800. The excess is the renter's maximum liability for damage under the standard coverage and applies independently of the deposit model: zero-deposit cars carry an excess too. The figure for a specific car is stated in its voucher.
The excess scales with car value much faster than the deposit does. Ranges below cover all checked offers in United Arab Emirates:
| Car class | Zero-deposit offers | Deposit range (where applies) | Excess range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy (Chevrolet Captiva, Kia Pegas, Kia Picanto) | 8 of 13 (62%) | $274 - $400 | $200 - $1,500 |
| Comfort sedan (Citroen C4, Citroen C4, Geely Emgrand) | 26 of 36 (72%) | $300 - $700 | $249 - $2,000 |
| SUV and crossover (Audi Q3, BMW X1, BMW X2) | 71 of 108 (66%) | $220 - $1,200 | $200 - $3,500 |
| Premium and sports (Abarth 695, Alfa Romeo, Audi A3) | 64 of 89 (72%) | $350 - $900 | $400 - $5,000 |
Source: 246 live offers aggregated on 2026-07-29. Amounts in USD.
The deposit answers "how much is held at pickup"; the excess answers "what is the worst case if the car is damaged". In United Arab Emirates, 69% of offers carry no deposit, but nearly all carry an excess - the two settings are independent, and confusing them is the most common mistake renters make when comparing offers. Both figures for a specific car appear in the voucher before payment.
No. The deposit is money held or paid at pickup and returned after the rental; the excess is the cap on your liability if the car is damaged. A car can have zero deposit and still carry an excess.
No. Zero-deposit offers in United Arab Emirates still carry an excess, typically in the same $200-$5,000 range as deposit offers of the same class.
The rental company assesses the damage on return and charges the repair cost up to the excess amount, following the procedure in the rental contract. Damage caused outside the contract terms can be treated differently; the voucher and contract are the binding documents.
schema.org on this page: Dataset + FAQPage + BreadcrumbList · llm-help: /llm-help/ · updated 2026-07-29