Car rental deposit in Sharm El Sheikh: how much it is and how it works
The security deposit on a self-drive car in Sharm El Sheikh is set by the company that owns the car. According to our local partner companies in Sharm (October 2026), it is typically 300 to 500 US dollars or euros depending on the car, and about 1,000 for an expensive one. Some companies take your passport for the rental period instead of a deposit. The amount for each car is shown on its page before you send a request, so there is nothing to discover at pickup.
How much is the car rental deposit in Sharm El Sheikh?
There is no single figure, because each company decides it for each car. As a guide from our partners, an ordinary car usually sits between 300 and 500 US dollars or euros, and the more valuable the car, the higher the deposit; for an expensive car it can reach about 1,000. Treat these as typical ranges, not promises: the amount that counts is the one on the page of the car you choose.
Where you see the deposit before you book
The deposit is shown on the car's page, under the rental conditions, before you send a request. Some companies also add a note describing their deposit terms. Comparing two cars is therefore simple: open both pages and compare the daily price and the deposit side by side, because a cheaper day rate can come with a higher deposit.
Passport instead of a deposit
Some companies accept leaving your passport with them for the rental period instead of a cash deposit. In that case there is no deposit to pay. This is each company's own policy, so it is not available on every car; ask about it in your request, and agree how and when you get the passport back. Remember that you will need your passport at checkpoints if you drive, so ask whether the company keeps it or a copy of it.
Cars with no deposit
If a company has set a car's deposit to zero, the car is marked "No deposit" in the catalog and on its page. We show that label only when a company has actually configured a zero deposit, never just because a deposit has not been filled in. If no car carries the label right now, none is currently on offer.
How it is paid and how to avoid disputes
No online payment is taken when you send a request. The deposit is handled directly between you and the rental company, and the company's terms say when and how it is returned, so ask in your request. Large international brokers usually ask for a credit card in the main driver's name and hold the deposit on it; that is general market practice, not our terms, and it is why searches for renting without a credit card are common.
At pickup, photograph the car from every side and note the fuel level and the odometer. At return, do the same walk-around with the company's representative. Keep your Charm Rental booking reference: it identifies your request if you need to contact the company or us.
What to ask the company in your request
Before you rely on a car, write three short questions in the message field of your request. First, confirm the deposit amount shown on the page and the currency in which the company wants it. Second, ask whether the company accepts your passport instead of a deposit, and if you would rather pay a deposit, whether you can choose. Third, ask when and how the deposit is returned, and what the company's terms allow it to keep, for example for damage or missing fuel.
Asking costs nothing and the answer comes from the company that owns the car, not from us. If an answer is unclear, ask again before you travel rather than at the counter, and keep the reply with your booking reference. Our how it works page shows what happens after you send the request.