Every car rental in Dubai involves a security deposit, and for luxury and sports cars it can be significant. It is often the most misunderstood part of renting a car, so this guide explains exactly what it is, how much it is, how to pay it — including in crypto — and when you get it back.
Booking deposit vs security deposit
There are two different payments, and it helps to keep them apart:
- Booking deposit: 30 % of the rental total (minimum €200), paid online in crypto when you reserve. It is part of the rental price, not an extra. The balance is paid on delivery.
- Security deposit: a separate, refundable amount left when you receive the car. It covers costs that only become known after the rental: tolls, fines, extra fuel or extra kilometres.
How much is the security deposit?
It depends on the car. As examples: €1,000 for the Cadillac Escalade, €2,000 for the Porsche 911, €2,500 for the G 63, €3,000 for the Lamborghini Huracán, €4,000 for the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and €5,000 for the Ferrari SF90. The exact amount for each car is shown on its page and confirmed when you book.
How to pay it: crypto or card
Traditional rental companies usually block the deposit on a credit card. With FiloBlade you can also leave it in crypto, which means no card hold and no reduced credit limit during your trip. It is one of the main reasons people choose to rent without a credit card. If you prefer to use a card, that is possible too.
What can be deducted
- Salik tolls recorded during your rental (see our Salik guide).
- Traffic and parking fines registered against the car (see our fines guide).
- Fuel, if the car is returned with less fuel than at delivery.
- Extra kilometres beyond the 250 km per day included, charged at the rate for that car.
- Damage not covered by the insurance, or the applicable insurance excess, as set out in the rental agreement.
When do I get it back?
The security deposit is returned 14–21 days after you return the car. The delay is not arbitrary: speed camera fines and Salik tolls can take days or weeks to appear in the official systems, and the rental company needs to check them before releasing the deposit. Once the checks are done, the remaining amount is returned, by the same method where possible.
How to get your full deposit back
- Check the car with the delivery agent at handover and photograph any existing marks.
- Respect speed limits; Dubai's cameras are everywhere.
- Return the car with the same fuel level as at delivery.
- Keep within the included kilometres, or budget for extras.
- Do not drive off-road or on dunes, which is generally excluded from insurance.
- Avoid parking fines: always pay for street parking or use valet.
Who holds the deposit?
FiloBlade is a booking service working with licensed local rental companies. The rental agreement, insurance and security deposit are signed with the company that delivers your car, and the terms are set out in that agreement. Read it at handover and ask us on WhatsApp if anything is unclear.
Ready to choose? Browse the fleet or read how to pay with crypto step by step.
Insurance and the deposit
Every rental includes basic comprehensive insurance. That insurance covers damage within the terms of the rental agreement, but like most policies it usually comes with an excess and exclusions — for example off-road driving, driving under the influence or an unregistered driver behind the wheel. In those cases, costs can be charged to the driver and taken from the security deposit. Reading the exclusions at handover takes two minutes and avoids unpleasant surprises.