Need Advice – Rental Car Impounded by Rafid, Rent-a-Car Company Stalling Release
One of my friends rented a car, and I was the driver at the time. I unfortunately had a minor accident, and the car was impounded by Rafid for 7 days.
After the 7-day impound period ended, I went to Rafid to collect the car and pay all fines/storage charges. However, they told me they cannot release the vehicle to me because I’m not the registered owner. They said a representative/PRO from the rent-a-car company must come in person or issue an NOC.
The issue is that the rental company has been continuously stalling. Since Thursday, they’ve been saying things like:
- “Tomorrow our PRO will go”
- “We’ll issue the NOC”
- “Someone will contact you”
…but nobody actually contacts me or shows up.
Meanwhile:
- Rafid is charging daily storage fees (around AED 50–100/day)
- I believe the rental company may also continue charging rental days
- The delays are entirely from the rental company’s side
I have:
- WhatsApp chats showing continuous follow-ups
- Call records
- Proof that I’m trying to resolve everything and willing to pay all fines/charges
At this point I feel stuck because I cannot release the car myself, and the rental company is not cooperating.
My questions:
- Can I file a complaint against the rental company for delaying the release?
- Is there any legal protection so they can’t keep charging me while they themselves are refusing to cooperate?
- Which authority should I contact in the UAE/Sharjah for this type of issue?
- Has anyone dealt with something similar before?
Any advice would really help. Thanks in advance.