How to Rent a Car for Someone Else

2024/04/15

There are multiple situations when you need to get a rental car Dubai for someone else or add another driver to an agreement.

Quick navigation

  1. Can you rent a car for someone else?
  2. How to add a second driver to a contract?
  3. Additional precautions
  4. In Summary

The most common cases are:

  • Long-distance travel;
  • Group trips;
  • Business-related trips;
  • Not being able to drop off the vehicle.

This guide will cover all the essential information about renting a car for someone else in the UAE.

Can you rent a car for someone else?

Is it possible to rent a car for someone else? No. You can pay for someone else’s contract, but they must still put their credit card information in for a security deposit.

Alternatively, you can rent a vehicle in someone’s name if you have all their information, including license and credit card details. A company’s secretary or travel agent might do it when their boss is on a business trip. However, they still need to sign the agreement themselves.

But if you must simultaneously use a car with another person, you can add the second driver to the rental contract. In this case, both of you will be able to use the vehicle legally and without any risks.

How to add a second driver to a contract?

If you need more than one person using a car, here is a step-by-step procedure to do so.

  1. Please consult with the rental company to see whether they offer such a service. It is a pretty standard feature, and most of them do. Yet, it is good to ask beforehand.
  2. If you are looking through an aggregator website, look for filtering options like” Extra drivers” to find only relevant offers.
  3. Alternatively, when booking a vehicle online, check the “Extras/Extra Features” tab - the option to add a second driver might be there.
  4. Choose the vehicle, rental period, pick-up place, etc. Fill in all the essentials of the contract.
  5. Add the second driver’s information. Usually, it is the same data as for you - identification and license. Sometimes, there is an extra fee for additional drivers.
  6. Sign the contract.

Contractually, you will be the primary user. It means you must sign the agreement and pick up the vehicle. Also, your credit card details will be used to make the security deposit. But besides that, both of you can use it safely.

Additional precautions

People wanting to rent a car in the UAE must be of specific age. In some cases, it means 21 years and older; in other situations 25 years and older. The particular limit depends on the provider or type of the vehicle. Both drivers have to meet this age limit.

Also, both of you have to be adequately ensured.

Some might wonder why go the extra mile and add another driver to the contract. Is it indispensable? Yes, it is a protective measure for you and the service provider. If a person driving a rented vehicle is not on the contract, it can lead to several risks, including insurance invalidation.

In Summary

Although renting a vehicle for someone else is not technically possible, you can always add a second driver to your contract. It is straightforward and convenient. Sometimes, it comes with an additional fee, but this is not always the case.