Thrifty Car RentalReviews of thriftyuae.com

Avoid this company! I had a very disappointing experience with Thrifty Dubai. When returning the vehicle, we were unexpectedly charged an additional AED 900, supposedly for parking fees, tolls, and traffic fines. When we reviewed the detailed list, we found several parking charges for locations we had never even used. Despite challenging these charges, no satisfactory explanation was provided. What is even more shocking is that at no point during the rental agreement were we clearly informed that these additional charges could be applied. You only discover them when returning the vehicle, with little opportunity to dispute them. This business practice is unacceptable and gives the impression that customers are being charged unjustified fees. I strongly discourage anyone from renting from Thrifty Dubai. I will never use this company again. Be extremely cautious if you decide to rent a car from them.

Thrifty rental at Hilton Jumeirah were excellent, the process was smooth and speedy, and the car was an excellent recommendation. I would commend Fajr, the manager at Thrifty Hilton Jumeirah, who was very friendly, professional and helpful.

the car itself was in perfect shape, the pickup service at the end of the rental (hotel) was not good at all. First wrong hotel, 2 hours late, and the highlight was a reduced return payment of the deposit!! was really a thrifty fan in Dubai, this changes a lot for my next visit in August, sorry!

Do not hire a car through Thrifty. Ever. I’m not usually one to leave bad reviews, but I genuinely want to warn people before they make the same mistake I did. I didn’t check the reviews before taking out a lease with Thrifty, and I really wish I had. Over the last few months I’ve noticed I’ve been charged for parking fines that don’t actually exist. When I cross-check them with the RTA, there is no record of the fines at all. The communication is honestly some of the worst I’ve experienced from any company. You’ll find yourself sending multiple emails, chasing for updates, and getting little to no response. To make matters worse, I recently lost my job due to the impact the regional conflict is having on businesses in Dubai and I now have to leave the country. I explained the situation to Thrifty and asked what options were available. Instead of trying to help, I was told I needed to pay an early termination penalty of over AED 4,100. Today that amount has suddenly increased to AED 4,500 with absolutely no explanation why it has now increased further. I have repeatedly explained that I do not have the money to pay this and that I have no choice but to return the vehicle before leaving the UAE. I asked if there were any alternative solutions or payment options and was ignored multiple times. The only response I received was another payment link. Most companies in Dubai have shown understanding and flexibility towards residents facing circumstances outside of their control. Thrifty, on the other hand, seems more interested in extracting as much money as possible while offering zero support, zero communication, and zero compassion. Between the unexplained charges, the questionable parking fines, the lack of communication, and the complete absence of empathy, this has been one of the worst customer experiences I have had in Dubai. Avoid at all costs!!

I rented a car for one day in Dubai Marina with full insurance coverage. While the car was parked, a truck hit it. The police report clearly states that the other driver was fully at fault. After the accident, I was shocked and disoriented. While I was being taken to the hospital by ambulance, I informed both the rental office where I was supposed to return the car and the call center about the incident. The police arranged for the car to be towed from the accident location. Now the rental service wants to deduct the towing cost from my deposit. I do not understand why I should pay for towing in a situation where the accident was not my fault, the car was parked, full insurance was purchased, and the police report confirms full responsibility of the other driver. This handling of the deposit and post-accident process is very disappointing and unclear. =====reply of reply==== Thank you for your response, but I do not follow this logic. The car was parked, the police report states that the other driver was fully at fault, and I had full insurance. After the accident I was taken to hospital by ambulance, but I still informed both your office and your call center about the incident. I also have WhatsApp screenshots showing that the recovery driver contacted Thrifty shortly after the accident and was told that I had to pay the recovery fee. I can also provide screenshots of my chats with your offices. So this was not simply an issue between me and an external recovery company. Thrifty was informed, Thrifty was involved, and the car was rented from Thrifty. I still do not understand why this cost should be deducted from my deposit in a no-fault accident confirmed by the police report.

Worst company I’ve ever dealt with. They illegally deduct money from your credit card under the excuse of “parking fines” even when the charge is clearly under dispute. There is zero customer service,no one answers, no one cares, and no one takes responsibility. This company operates with complete disregard for customers and basic ethics. Absolute scamlike behavior. Stay away at all costs

I am extremely disappointed with my experience with Thrifty Car Rental UAE. I signed a 12-month lease agreement from May 24, 2025, to May 24, 2026, and I fulfilled all my obligations under the contract. Every monthly rental payment was made on time, including my final payment for May 2026. As a gesture of good faith, I even returned the vehicle 6 days earlier than the contract end date (May 18, 2026). To my surprise, instead of being thanked for returning the car early and in good condition, I was charged a "lease penalty" of AED 216.68 without any prior explanation or clear justification. To make matters worse, because the charge was taken through direct debit from my bank account without my knowledge, I later received an email stating that I would also be charged an additional AED 210 "payment default fee" due to insufficient funds in my account. I find this extremely unfair and frustrating. I completed the full lease term, made all payments on time, and returned the vehicle before the contract ended. Yet I am now being asked to pay unexplained penalties and additional fees that appear to have resulted from charges that were never properly communicated to me. I have requested clarification regarding these charges and am still waiting for a satisfactory explanation. Transparency and customer service are important, especially when dealing with long-term customers who have honored their agreements. I hope Thrifty will review this matter fairly, explain the basis for these charges, and resolve the issue promptly.

Excellent service @ Ibn Battuta (and previously MoE) branch. Professional, courteous and accommodating staff. Very attentive and polite. Special thanks to Michelle and Delowar.