FAQ
Peer-to-peer car sharing allows private car owners to rent their vehicles directly to verified drivers through our secure platform. We manage bookings, payments, protection options, and support—making it simple, safe, and flexible for everyone.
Yes. The platform operates in compliance with applicable local laws, insurance regulations, and consumer protection requirements.
Yes. Our app and website are available 24/7 for bookings, messaging, payments, and incident reporting. Customer support availability may vary by time of day but emergency assistance is always accessible.
To rent a car, you must:
- Hold a valid driving licence accepted in the country of rental
- Pass our identity and driving eligibility checks
- Have an approved payment method
- Valid driving licence
- Passport or Emirates ID (or equivalent national ID)
- International Driving Permit (if required)
You can list your vehicle if:
- You are the legal owner or authorised user
- The car meets age, condition, and safety requirements
- Registration and insurance are valid
- The vehicle passes onboarding checks
Earnings depend on:
- Vehicle type and demand
- Rental duration
- Pricing strategy
- Availability
Owners can set prices, availability, and rules, and receive transparent earnings summaries through the dashboard.
Yes. Owners have full control and may accept or decline booking requests, provided decisions comply with platform policies and non-discrimination rules.
Follow the step by step handover guide and process in our app.
Owner earnings are released after trip commencement, in stages throughout the trip duration. Final payments are released at the commencement of the trip, subject to:
- Successful vehicle return
- No unresolved incidents
- Platform payout cycle
Funds are transferred directly to your selected payment method.
All vehicles on DriveSmart must have fully comprehensive insurance as part of the Drive Smart Terms of Use. During DriveSmart trips, DriveSmart provides Protection Plans which provide financial coverage for any accidents occurring to the vehicle during such Trip. The amount of financial coverage, and details regarding this coverage can be found in the DriveSmart Protection Plan area of our Platforms.
We use a combination of:
- Identity verification
- Licence validation
- Payment authentication
- Behaviour monitoring
Users who fail checks or violate policies may be suspended or removed.
All vehicles are tracked using DriveSmart's Tracking Partner to support with::
- Support recovery
- Verify trip timing
- Assist in incident resolution
Tracking details are disclosed transparently, all Car Owners have access to their Vehicle tracking, and the DriveSmart tracking solutions can be disables during personal vehicle usage. More information can be found in the DriveSmart Terms and Conditions and the Vehicle Tracking information found on the DriveSmart platforms.
If the vehicle becomes undriveable:
- Pull over safely
- Contact roadside assistance via the app
- Notify us through the in-app support or incident reporting tool
We will assist with recovery, alternative arrangements where applicable, and next steps.
As much as we hope that incidents do not occur during DriveSmart trips, accidents can happen and it is important to us that all our DriveSmart users understand the processes that need to be followed in such occurrences.
Although many of you will already be familiar with the vehicle accident reporting processes in the UAE, we have developed this guide as a refresher and to reiterate the DriveSmart incident reporting process that also must be followed for DriveSmart trips.
As Car Renters, it is essential that you follow all aspects of these processes to ensure you reduce your financial liability as much as possible and follow all the laws and regulations of the UAE.
1.First 5 Minutes (Safety and Evidence)
Check for injuries – If anyone is hurt, call emergency services and don’t move vehicles.
If no injuries / minor damage – Turn on vehicle hazards, move vehicle to safe location, if possible, and set a warning triangle.
Document the scene – Take clear photos / videos of vehicle plates, full vehicles, close ups of any damages, vehicle registration cards and driving licenses.
Exchange details – Driver’s licenses, Emirates IDs (if applicable), phone numbers, vehicle insurances and vehicle license plate numbers.
2.Report through official channels
Dubai Minor Accident – Follow process through Dubai Police App (downloadable from App Stores). “Report Minor Traffic Accident”.
Abu Dhabi Minor Accident – Follow process through Saaed Police App (downloadable from App Stores). “Report Accident”.
Major Accident – Call 999.
You must take a screen shot when the police report application is completed. This is essential evidence to be provided as part of the DriveSmart Incident reporting process.
3.Follow DriveSmart Incident Reporting
Follow the step-by-step incident reporting process in the DriveSmart App.
The process will require you to upload information, documents, screen shot of police report application and other pertinent information.
Completion of this DriveSmart Incident Reporting process must be conducted immediately after the accident, as part of the DriveSmart Terms of Use.
Failure to do so will result in financial claims by DriveSmart and will result in temporary or permanent blocking of DriveSmart use.
4.Wait for DriveSmart Recovery Partner
As part of the DriveSmart Incident Reporting process, the DriveSmart Recovery Partner will be contacted.
Regardless of the damage, however minor, all DriveSmart trips that have accidents, or any damage incidents, will result in the recovery of the vehicle.
The DriveSmart Recovery Partner will be provided with your contact details and may call / message you to inform you on time to collection and confirm location.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you only hand over the vehicle to the approved DriveSmart recovery partner. Details of which can be found on the DriveSmart App.
5.Send Police Report to DriveSmart
Once received, you are required to send the Police Report to DriveSmart through the DriveSmart App.
Receipt of this Police Report takes anywhere from 2hrs – 48 hrs dependent on complexity and severity of accident.
It is essential that you send this police report to DriveSmart as this is the legal document that apportions accident fault and has a direct impact on financial liability.
Failure to provide this Police report will result in financial claims by DriveSmart and will result in temporary or permanent blocking of DriveSmart use.
Do’s and Don'ts
Do:
Take as many pictures as needed to capture damage and evidence of fault.
Try and find an amicable and agreed position on fault with other driver(s), where possible.
Don’t:
Get into a protracted and/or aggressive debate regarding fault with other driver(s). Any debate will be handled by the respective Police.
Drive the vehicle after an incident, regardless of whether you feel the damage is minor.
This guide is provided for general information only. Local police and insurance procedures may change without prior notice. Drivers must always follow the latest instructions issued by the Dubai Police, Abu Dhabi Police, or other competent authorities. DriveSmart’s in-app incident reporting process does not replace official police or insurance reporting requirements. The company accepts no liability for actions taken based solely on this summary.
Yes, extensions can be requested through the app, subject to Owner approval and vehicle availability. Do not keep the car beyond the agreed time without approval.
No. renters are responsible for:
- Fuel usage
- Toll charges
- Parking fees
- Traffic fines incurred during the trip
Any post-trip charges will be processed according to platform policy.
After each trip, Owners and Renters rate each other. This helps maintain trust, quality, and accountability across the platform.
Cancellation terms depend on:
- Timing of cancellation
- Reason for cancellation
Details can be found in the DriveSmart Terms and Conditions
We use secure systems and encryption to protect personal and payment information in line with applicable data-protection laws.
You can reach us via:
- In-app chat
- Email support
- Emergency assistance (24/7 during active trips)
Our support team is here to help every step of the way.