Best Car Rental Apps in Dubai: 13 Rent a Car Options Compared
The cheapest car rental apps in Dubai are Udrive for short trips, from about AED 0.70 a minute with fuel and parking included, Yango Drive for a day, from AED 45 through partner firms, and Selfdrive for a month, from about AED 1,206 with VAT. Udrive, eZhire, invygo and Careem take no deposit. Salik, fines and fuel can add to every price.
Thirteen apps let you rent a self-drive car in Dubai from your phone, for a few minutes or a few months.
Most of these apps deliver the car or leave it parked near you, and several take no deposit. The price on the screen is rarely the whole bill, though, so this guide also shows the extras each app adds.
Car Rental Apps in Dubai
In this guide you will find 13 car rental apps in Dubai, grouped by how long you need the car, with the price for each rental length, what is included, what costs extra and the deposit for each one. Then we show which app is cheapest for a day and for a month, which take no deposit, and compare the pairs people search for most, such as Udrive vs eZhire.
Want the quick answer? Jump to the cheapest car rental app in Dubai.
1. Udrive
Udrive is Dubai's best-known car sharing app. Its cars are parked on streets around the city: you find one in the app, unlock it with your phone, drive, and leave it in a Udrive zone. You can pay by the minute, the hour or the day, and fuel and parking in its zones are included.
Only on Udrive: fuel and parking included
On street rentals, Udrive pays for the fuel and for parking in its zones, so a short trip costs only the time you use. No other app here does both by the minute.
Choose Udrive if you need a car for a few hours. Take photos of the car before you start, in case of a damage claim.
2. Yaldi
Yaldi is a smaller car sharing app with hybrid and electric cars that you rent by the minute, day, week or month. It also gives discounts to Esaad and Emirates Platinum card holders.
Only on Yaldi: Esaad and Emirates Platinum discounts
Yaldi gives discounts to Esaad and Emirates Platinum members, which helps if you already hold one of these cards.
Choose Yaldi if you hold an Esaad or Emirates Platinum card, and check the current price in the app first.
3. Careem Car Rental
Careem Car Rental sits inside the Careem app you may already use for taxis and food. You choose a car for a day, a few weeks or months, and Careem delivers it within two hours with zero deposit. The cars come from Swapp, Careem's rental partner.
Only on Careem: a rental car in the app you already have
There is nothing new to download or sign up for: the rental is a tab in the Careem app, paid with the card you already saved.
Choose Careem Car Rental if you already use Careem and want a car delivered quickly. Ask what is included before you pay.
4. Yango Drive
Yango Drive is the rental service inside the Yango app. It does not own cars: it shows offers from more than 150 rental firms side by side, from AED 45 a day, and you book with the firm you choose.
Only on Yango Drive: 150 rental firms in one search
Yango Drive puts more rental firms side by side than any other app, so you can compare day rates and deposits in one place.
Choose Yango Drive if you want the lowest day rate, and read the partner firm's terms on deposit, mileage and insurance before you pay.
5. eZhire
eZhire delivers a car to your door with no deposit, for a day, a week or a month. Comprehensive insurance and roadside help are in the price, and you can split the cost with Tabby or Tamara.
Only on eZhire: pay for your rental in instalments
eZhire takes Tabby and Tamara, so you can split a weekly or monthly rental into smaller payments.
Choose eZhire if you want a car brought to you for a few days with no deposit. Ask for the fine number whenever you are charged for one.
6. Selfdrive
Selfdrive rents cars by the day, week or month and also offers rent to own. It is the only app here that publishes a full table of its extra fees, from Salik to fuel to refunds.
Only on Selfdrive: every fee published
Selfdrive's fee page lists every extra charge before you book, so you can work out the full cost of a rental, not just the headline price.
Choose Selfdrive if you want the lowest monthly price and like to see every fee in advance. Ask about the deposit before you book.
7. OneClickDrive
OneClickDrive is a marketplace for rental firms: you browse thousands of cars, contact the firm and pay it directly. It also lists luxury cars, chauffeurs and yachts, and you can buy or sell a car in the same app.
Only on OneClickDrive: rent, buy or sell in one app
Besides rentals, OneClickDrive lists cars for sale, chauffeurs and yachts, all from different firms.
Choose OneClickDrive if you want to compare many small firms, and check each firm's deposit and mileage limit.
8. Renty
Renty is a Dubai app for luxury and sports cars, with economy cars, SUVs and yachts too. It books cars from local suppliers and says delivery is free.
Only on Renty: supercars first
Renty puts luxury and sports cars at the front, which helps if you want something special for a day.
Choose Renty if you want a luxury car for a special day, and confirm the car before you pay.
9. SIXT
SIXT is the German rental firm with branches at Dubai airport and in the city. You book through its global app, with the same account and points you use abroad.
Only on SIXT: one account for Dubai and abroad
If you rent with SIXT in other countries, you can use the same app, account and loyalty status in Dubai.
Choose SIXT if you are visiting and want to pick up a car at the airport from a brand you know.
10. Hertz UAE
Hertz UAE is the new app of the Hertz franchise in the UAE, run by Al-Futtaim. It rents cars by the day, month or longer lease, from branches and the airport, with monthly plans from AED 1,299.
Only on Hertz UAE: a clear licence list
Hertz publishes which countries' licences visitors can use, and says residents need a UAE licence held for at least 12 months.
Choose Hertz UAE if you are visiting and want clear licence rules, or a monthly car from a big firm.
11. invygo
invygo is a car subscription app: you pay by the week or month, and insurance, maintenance and roadside help are included. There is no deposit on monthly plans, you can swap your car each month, and you can choose a plan that ends with the car being yours.
Only on invygo: swap your car every month
You can swap to a different car each month, or choose a subscribe-to-own plan, without a deposit on monthly plans.
Choose invygo if you live in Dubai and want a car for months without buying one.
12. Carasti
Carasti rents brand-new 2026 cars on plans of a month or more. Insurance, maintenance and RTA registration are included in the monthly price.
Only on Carasti: a brand-new car
Carasti's cars are 2026 models, so you get a new car without buying one.
Choose Carasti if you want a new car for a year or more.
13. Subscribe Me
Subscribe Me is the car subscription app of the AW Rostamani Group, the Dubai car dealer. You rent sedans, SUVs and crossovers for 30 days or more, and can swap cars.
Only on Subscribe Me: cars from a big Dubai dealer
The cars come from AW Rostamani, one of Dubai's largest car dealers, which helps if you prefer a well-known name.
Choose Subscribe Me if you want a monthly car from a big dealer, and get the deposit terms in writing.
Which Car Rental App Is Cheapest in Dubai?
The cheapest app depends on how long you need the car: Udrive for an hour or two, Yango Drive for a day, and Selfdrive for a month. These are the lowest prices each app published when we checked.
| How long you need it | Cheapest app | Lowest price |
|---|---|---|
| Under an hour | Udrive | AED 0.70 a minute, fuel and parking included |
| One or two hours | Udrive | AED 39 an hour |
| One day | Yango Drive (partner firms) | AED 45 a day |
| One day, delivered, no deposit | eZhire | AED 99 a day |
| One week | invygo | AED 350 a week |
| One month | Selfdrive | About AED 1,206 with VAT |
With Udrive, paying by the minute is cheapest for a short hop. After about an hour the hourly rate wins, and after about two and a half hours the day rate of AED 99 costs less than paying by the hour.
The headline price is not the whole bill. Daily rentals usually add Salik tolls, fuel, fines with an admin fee, and a charge for every kilometre over the limit. These are the charges the apps publish:
| Extra cost | What you pay |
|---|---|
| Salik toll | AED 6 a gate at peak times, AED 4 off-peak, free from 1am to 6am; Selfdrive adds AED 1.50 a crossing |
| Traffic fines | The fine plus an admin fee: 12% at Hertz UAE, up to 15% at eZhire, AED 50 or 15% at Selfdrive |
| Fuel | Free on Udrive street rentals; Selfdrive charges cost plus 20% if you return it low |
| Mileage | Limits vary by car; check the limit and the cost of each extra kilometre |
| Accident excess | AED 1,500 to AED 5,000 at Selfdrive, unless you buy extra cover |
Can You Rent a Car in Dubai Without a Deposit?
Yes. Udrive, eZhire, invygo (on monthly plans) and Careem Car Rental say they take no deposit, and Selfdrive and Yango Drive offer no-deposit cars on some models. Hertz UAE blocks an amount on your credit card, and international firms such as SIXT usually do too.
| App | Deposit |
|---|---|
| Udrive | None, its FAQ says |
| Careem Car Rental | Zero deposit |
| eZhire | None |
| invygo | None on monthly plans |
| Yango Drive | None on up to 25% of offers |
| Selfdrive | None on selected models; reviewers report up to AED 2,000 on others |
| Yaldi | None, the app says, but one reviewer reported an AED 200 hold |
| Hertz UAE | A block on your credit card |
| SIXT | Usually a card block, as at most international firms |
| Subscribe Me | Unclear: its website says both |
No deposit does not mean no later charges. Fines and Salik reach the rental company days or weeks later, so you are still billed for them after the rental ends.
Where a deposit is taken, it should be blocked on your card, not charged. Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism says it should be released within 30 days after you return the car if nothing is owed, Gulf News reports.
Which App Is Best for Renting a Car in Dubai?
The best app is the one that matches how long you need the car: car sharing for a few hours, a delivery app for a few days, and a subscription if you live here.
| Your need | Best app to try | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A quick trip across town | Udrive | By the minute, with fuel and parking included |
| A day or a weekend | Yango Drive or eZhire | Low day rates; eZhire delivers with no deposit |
| You already use Careem | Careem Car Rental | Delivery in two hours, zero deposit |
| Visiting from abroad | SIXT or Hertz UAE | Airport branches and clear licence rules |
| A luxury or sports car | Renty or OneClickDrive | A wide choice of luxury cars |
| A car for a month or more | invygo or Selfdrive | No deposit at invygo; lowest monthly price at Selfdrive |
| A new car for a year | Carasti | New 2026 cars on long plans |
Udrive vs eZhire, invygo vs eZhire and More Compared
These are the comparisons people search for most. Let's compare them two at a time.
Udrive vs eZhire
| Compare | Udrive | eZhire |
|---|---|---|
| How you get the car | Pick up a car parked near you | The car is delivered to you |
| Lowest price | AED 0.70 a minute, or AED 99 a day in the app | AED 99 a day |
| Deposit | None | None |
| UAE App Store rating | 4.4 out of 5 (8,887 ratings) | 4.4 out of 5 (9,676 ratings) |
| Included in the price | Fuel, and parking in Udrive zones | Comprehensive insurance and roadside help |
Pick Udrive for trips of a few hours, because you pay only for the time and fuel is included. Pick eZhire for several days, because the car comes to you and comprehensive insurance is included.
invygo vs eZhire
| Compare | invygo | eZhire |
|---|---|---|
| One week | From AED 350 | From AED 659 |
| One month | From AED 1,500 | From AED 1,599 |
| Deposit | None on monthly plans | None |
| Extras | Monthly car swaps, subscribe to own | Daily rentals, Tabby and Tamara |
| Included | Insurance, maintenance and roadside help | Comprehensive insurance and roadside help |
Pick invygo for a month or more: it is cheaper, and maintenance is included. Pick eZhire for a few days, or if you want to pay in instalments.
Udrive vs ekar
ekar was Udrive's main car sharing rival, but it is no longer in the UAE App Store, its Android app has not been updated since June 2025, and its websites did not load when we checked. Pick Udrive for car sharing by the minute or hour, or Yaldi if you hold an Esaad card.
What You Need to Rent a Car in Dubai
To rent a car in Dubai you need a valid driving licence, your passport or Emirates ID, and usually a credit card in your name, and most apps want you to be 21 or older. Which licence you need depends on whether you live in the UAE.
On a visit or tourist visa, use your home licence if your country is on the accepted list. If not, bring an International Driving Permit with your home licence.
You need a UAE driving licence. A foreign licence is not enough once you are a resident.
Rental firms can be stricter than the law, so check the app's rules before you book.
Dubai's RTA says an international licence issued abroad works only on a visit visa, and only for a light vehicle or a motorcycle. The apps add their own rules:
- Age: Udrive and Carasti are for drivers aged 21 or older. Careem's accident cover is only for drivers aged 25 and over.
- Licence history: Hertz UAE asks residents for a UAE licence held for at least 12 months.
- Payment: Hertz UAE wants a credit card in the driver's name and does not take debit cards for the block.
Things to Keep in Mind When You Rent a Car in Dubai
Fines can arrive up to three months later
Fines and Salik reach the rental firm late, from a week to three months after the rental, eZhire says, and most firms add an admin fee. Keep your booking details until the last charge has cleared.
A few habits save money and arguments:
- Film the car before you drive. Walk round it with your phone camera, including the wheels and the fuel gauge.
- Ask for the fine number. A real traffic fine has a number you can check on the RTA or Dubai Police app.
- Pay by credit card. A block on a credit card is easier to dispute than cash.
If a deposit or charge is not refunded, this is what to do:
- Ask the app in writing. Use the in-app chat or email, give your booking number and keep the replies.
- Ask for proof. Ask for the fine number, Salik record or damage photos behind each charge.
- Complain to Dubai's consumer protection team. File a complaint on consumerrights.ae or call 600 545555, with your booking details and the chat.
FAQs
Which car rental app is cheapest in Dubai?
For short trips, Udrive from AED 0.70 a minute with fuel and parking included. For a day, Yango Drive showed cars from AED 45 from partner firms. For a month, Selfdrive showed AED 1,149 plus VAT, about AED 1,206.
Can I rent a car in Dubai without a deposit?
Yes. Udrive, eZhire, invygo on monthly plans and Careem Car Rental say they take no deposit, and Selfdrive and Yango Drive have no-deposit cars on some models. You still pay fines and Salik after the rental.
Can I rent a car by the hour in Dubai?
Yes. Udrive lets you rent by the minute, hour or day, from AED 39 an hour in its app listing, with fuel and parking included.
Is ekar still working in Dubai?
ekar is no longer in the UAE App Store, and its Android app has not been updated since June 2025. Udrive and Yaldi are the car sharing apps you can download now.
Can tourists rent a car in Dubai?
Yes. On a visit or tourist visa you can drive with a home licence from an accepted country, or with an International Driving Permit and your home licence. Most apps want you to be 21 or older and ask for your passport and visa.
Sources and method29 sources from 15 publishers
Official
- Dubai Media Office: Salik toll rates (4 March 2026) Dubai Media Office: Salik toll rates (4 March 2026)
Reporting and other sources
- About this guide: we analysed the 13 car rental apps that were available in Dubai at the time of writing. Prices, deposits, fees and store listings were checked on 18 and 19 October 2026. Notes on charges that arrive later come from UAE App Store reviews written in 2025 and 2026. Prices change often, so check the app before you book.
- Udrive: cars and prices Udrive: cars and pricesFAQ
- Yaldi Yaldi
- Careem: car rental Careem: car rental
- Yango Drive Yango Drive
- eZhire: economy car rental eZhire: economy car rentalnon-rental charges
- Selfdrive: fees Selfdrive: fees
- Hertz UAE: rental requirements Hertz UAE: rental requirements
- invygo: car subscription in the UAE invygo: car subscription in the UAE
- Carasti: car subscription Carasti: car subscription
- Subscribe Me Subscribe Me
- Gulf News: car rental deposits must be refunded within 30 days Gulf News: car rental deposits must be refunded within 30 days
- RTA: driving with a licence issued abroad RTA: driving with a licence issued abroad
- App Store UAE listings UdriveYaldiCareemYangoeZhireSelfdriveOneClickDriveRentySIXTHertz UAEinvygoCarastiSubscribe Me
