Rent a Car companies face the road toll

Car hire companies in Dubai remain uncertain as to how the introduction of a road toll will affect the industry. All vehicles in Dubai will be required to display a pre-paid charge card in their windshield when the toll system is introduced in July, including hire cars. Sensors on the two toll points; one on Al Garhoud Bridge and one on Interchange Four of Sheikh Zayed Road, will automatically deduct AED 4 from the card every time the vehicle passes underneath.

The problem is how to charge the customers.

Hertz and several other car hire companies in the region are currently in talks with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) about the possibility of linking the charge card directly to the customer's credit card, so that the toll is immediately charged to their account when they pass through the sensor.

The latest announcement from the RTA said that the tolls would operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week, but it is understood that talks are ongoing, and the final details of the toll system are yet to be revealed.