Payment, security deposit and protection: your questions

When booking, you choose between two options:

• Advance payment: you pay 100% of the rental online by bank card, at no extra cost, with instant confirmation.
• Payment at pick-up: you pay a down payment online (equivalent to one day's rental) to secure the vehicle in your name, then the balance in cash (euros or dinars) to our agent when the keys are handed over. A surcharge applies to this option; the amount is displayed when booking.

For online payments, we accept:

• international Visa and Mastercard bank cards (including debit cards and PCS cards);
• Apple Pay, Google Pay, Amazon Pay and Link.

Before paying, make sure that online and international payments are enabled on your card, that you have sufficient funds and that no spending limit is blocking the transaction: our payments are processed as international payments.

Algerian bank cards (CIB, CNEP, etc.) are not accepted online. If you are in Algeria, the down payment and the security deposit are paid at one of our agencies.

• Online: payment is made in the currency displayed on the website (in euros if you book from abroad).
• On site: the balance and the cash security deposit can be paid in euros (€) or Algerian dinars (DZD), as you prefer.

The official reference currency remains the Algerian dinar (DZD).

When you visit our website from abroad, prices are automatically displayed in euros to make your calculations easier; the reference currency remains the Algerian dinar (DZD).

We cannot give fixed prices in euros, as the conversion depends on a variable external exchange rate. To get an exact price, run a simulation directly on our website. To find out an amount in dinars, contact our Reservations team on WhatsApp +213 560 659 309.

No, SAFAR EL AMIR does not exchange currency. Cash payments are accepted only in euros (€) or Algerian dinars (DZD); other currencies (dollars, pounds, etc.) are not accepted.

You can exchange your money at an authorized exchange office, or opt for advance payment by bank card.

On site, the balance is paid in cash (euros or dinars) to our agent: our agents do not have card payment terminals.

If you prefer to pay by card, contact our Reservations team on WhatsApp +213 560 659 309: they will send you a secure payment link by email or WhatsApp. This link is valid for 4 hours from the time it is sent.

The exact amount is shown in your confirmation email (PDF summary) and in your customer account, under "My reservations". It may include:

• the rental balance, if you chose payment at pick-up;
• the cash security deposit, if you did not pay it online;
• any options added on site.

SAFAR EL AMIR does not charge any fees based on card type (credit or debit): the price displayed when booking is the final price. Your bank may, however, charge its own transaction fees.

No, SAFAR EL AMIR no longer charges any administration or booking fees. You only pay a down payment, which secures the vehicle in your name:

• online by bank card, with instant confirmation by email;
• or in cash (euros or dinars) at one of our agencies, if you are in Algeria.

The exact down payment amount is displayed when you run a simulation on our website.

Yes, you can authorize a trusted person to pay the down payment in cash (dinars or euros) before you arrive. Let us know in advance on WhatsApp +213 560 659 309 so that we can arrange the meeting safely.

SAFAR EL AMIR refunds the full refundable amount. Any differences come from banking intermediaries, over which we have no control:

• card processing fees (the payment provider's commission), which are non-refundable;
• any currency exchange fees, if your payment was converted into another currency, at the rates in effect.

These fees are usually minimal, but vary depending on the amount and type of transaction.

You will be asked for two things:

• an original, valid ID document from your country of residence (ID card or passport), which is kept in a safe place for the entire rental period;
• a security deposit, paid either in cash at pick-up, or online no later than 12 hours before your arrival via an online card deposit (a bank card imprint debited as a deposit).

Good to know: if you pay your security deposit online, you do not need to leave your ID document.

These conditions are set out in our general rental terms (article on the security deposit), in your confirmation email, in the "Final Checklist" email and in your customer account.

You must present an original, valid ID document from your country of residence. For example, if you live in France: a French ID card or passport.

• The Algerian ID card (old green model or biometric) is accepted only for customers residing in Algeria who booked at our local agencies. Exception: the biometric ID card issued by a consulate is accepted under certain conditions (see the dedicated question).
• Expired, photocopied or illegible documents are not accepted.

If you pay your security deposit online by bank card imprint, you do not need to leave your ID document.

Yes. If you do not have a valid ID card, you can leave your original, valid passport as a guarantee: the one you traveled with.

• It must bear the Algerian entry stamp; otherwise, it will be refused.
• It is kept in a secure safe and returned to you at the end of the rental.

Yes, an Algerian biometric ID card issued by a consulate is accepted, on one condition: the issuing authority must be the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

How can I check? On the front of your card (photo side), look for the "سلطة الإصدار" field (issuing authority): it must read "وزارة الشؤون الخارجية" (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

If in doubt, send us a photo of the front of your card on WhatsApp +213 560 659 309: we will check it immediately. We do not keep any copy of your ID document.

Yes. The security deposit and the documents handed over for the rental are kept in a secure safe, accessible only to our authorized staff.

Your personal details are processed securely and confidentially, and are never shared. Your bank details are never stored on our servers.

No. Your payments are processed by a PCI DSS-certified platform (Level 1, the highest), with data encryption: your full card number is never stored, and each payment requires a new authorization from you.

Only charges duly recorded on return (damage, late return) may be withheld, up to the amount of the security deposit paid. If you extend your rental, a new payment will be requested.

The security deposit amount depends on two factors:

1. the vehicle model chosen;
2. the protection level selected: the higher the protection (Basic, Standard, Maximum), the lower the security deposit.

The exact amount is displayed when you run a simulation on our website and is shown in your confirmation email. It may be displayed in euros if you visit the website from abroad.

You can choose between two options:

1. Cash security deposit, on the day of pick-up

• In euros or dinars, paid to our agent.
• Refunded on site on the day you return the vehicle, if the return inspection is satisfactory.
• Your original ID document is kept for the entire rental period.

2. Online security deposit by bank card (debited bank card imprint) — recommended

• 36 hours before your rental starts, you receive the "Final Checklist" email containing a secure link.
• Pay your security deposit by card no later than 12 hours before your arrival.
• You keep your ID document, with no cash to handle and no bank fees.
• Automatic refund within 7 business days after the vehicle has been returned in line with the rental terms.

It is a security deposit paid online by bank card: the deposit amount is temporarily collected and held in SAFAR EL AMIR's account to guarantee the rental.

At the end of the rental, once the vehicle has been returned in line with the rental terms (condition, fuel, mileage and punctuality), the security deposit is automatically refunded to you in full within 7 business days, depending on bank processing times.

• Free, with no bank fees on our side.
• Nothing to do to get your money back.
• No need to leave your ID document.
• Remains valid if you extend your rental or are upgraded.

• Cash security deposit: it is handed back to you immediately on site, along with your documents, when you return the vehicle, if the return inspection is satisfactory.
• Online deposit: it is automatically refunded to you in full within 7 business days after the vehicle has been returned in line with the rental terms, depending on bank processing times.

If damage or charges are identified (fuel, late return, mileage, etc.), the corresponding amounts are withheld, up to the amount of the security deposit.

No. Each reservation has its own security deposit: it is not possible to transfer the security deposit from one rental to another, even for an identical vehicle and package.

• Basic Protection (included): third-party liability and 24/7 assistance. In the event of damage, the costs are charged to you up to the amount of the security deposit.
• Standard Protection (optional): covers tires and side windows, with a reduced security deposit.
• Maximum Protection (optional, recommended): covers tires, windows and glass breakage, with a greatly reduced security deposit.

In all cases, the amount claimed can never exceed the amount of the security deposit paid. Only the drivers named on the contract are covered by the protection: in the event of an incident involving an undeclared driver or a driver under the influence of alcohol, the renter bears the full cost of the damage.

Your maximum deductible is the security deposit amount shown in your confirmation for the protection you chose. For example, if your confirmation shows a security deposit of €400 with Standard Protection, the amount that may be claimed from you for covered damage will not exceed €400.

With Maximum Protection, coverage includes tires (punctures, blowouts, accidental damage), side windows, the windshield and the rear window. Exclusions include, in particular, the wheel rims, the rocker panels, the roof and the mirrors. Full details are available in our general rental terms.

Coverage for theft or fire depends on the official gendarmerie report. If the investigation confirms that the incident was not caused deliberately and that nothing links you to it, you are covered by our protection.