Considering renting a car in India? Known for crowded, colorful cities and truly crazy traffic, India can be an intimidating place to drive. On the other hand, if you plan to explore the countryside and smaller towns and villages, having your own wheels may be a fun and liberating way to get around.
Few travelers rent a car to drive themselves in India. It’s more common for foreigners to hire a car with a driver who knows the backroads, shortcuts, and somewhat lax rules of the road. But if you’re set on renting a car yourself, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Essential Tips for Renting a Car in India
Book from home.
Don’t wait until you get to India to rent a vehicle. It will be cheaper to book your car from the United States before you go. The further ahead you reserve your car, the better the chance of landing a deal because you can watch out for price drops.
You need an International Driving Permit.
To drive in India, you must either be a legal resident with an Indian driver’s license or have an International Driving Permit. This document is simply a translated version of your state-issued driver’s license and can be obtained from the AAA. Give yourself some lead time to apply before you leave on your trip.
You’ll drive on the left.
India is a former British colony and consequently a place where people drive on the left.
Pay for the rental in rupees.
Although it may seem easier to be charged in dollars instead of rupees, this option will cost you more in the long run. Pay in the local currency to avoid Dynamic Currency Conversion fees. If you opt to pay in U.S. dollars, the rental car company converts the purchase amount from the local currency on your behalf. But this process is entirely unnecessary, since your credit card company will process the transaction in either currency, and you will pay through the nose for the non-convenience.
Double check your insurance coverage.
Before you leave for India, contact your credit card company to see what collision coverage, if any, it offers on car rentals abroad. A car rental contract in India generally requires fire insurance and third-party liability. These supplemental fees will automatically be added to the cost of your rental.
A self-drive rental car comes with a hefty deposit.
If you opt to drive a rental car yourself, then you’ll have to pay a deposit that can be anywhere from $750 to $3000, depending on the type of car being rented. In the event of any damage, the deposit will be forfeited.
Rules of the road are more like guidelines.
You may think you’ve encountered your fair share of crazy drivers at home in the US, but drivers in India likely take the cake. Don’t expect your fellow drivers to stay in their lanes, obey traffic lights, or even to stay on the road (sidewalks are fair game). There’s a reason for the steep deposit.
Having a rental car in big Indian cities is a nightmare.
Traffic is notorious, few drivers stick to the rules of the road and parking can be extremely difficult. Be forewarned that car theft is more common in India than many other places, which is another reason for such a large deposit. If you need a car for exploring the countryside, schedule your car pickup time for when you’re ready to leave the city.
Inspect the car carefully before driving it off the lot.
Make sure to protect yourself from potential false damage claims by carefully look over your car before driving away. Document every nick, scratch or dent. Your smartphone will come in handy for taking photos of any imperfections to ensure you won’t have to pay for them later.
Renting a Car With a Driver in India
Is renting a car with a driver starting to sound like a good option? It’s much more common in India than renting a self-drive car, and it doesn’t have to break the bank. When you hire a car with a driver for the day or even for a few days, you don’t have to pay that large deposit, and you’ll benefit from having a local behind the wheel.
Here are a few things to consider when hiring a car and driver.
Rates vary.
Everything from the size of the car to whether your driver speaks English to the number of days and distance traveled contributes to the daily rate of the car and driver for hire. Do some research ahead of time and be sure to find a reputable company. Rates will usually include fuel, insurance, tolls, state taxes, parking, and the driver’s food. For a multiple-day trek across India, rates will also include the driver’s accommodations.
Tip your driver.
It’s customary for travelers to tip their driver on a daily basis. Depending on how happy you are with his services, 200 to 400 rupees per day is reasonable.
Your driver is not your personal tour guide.
While your driver will be happy to get you to each destination and answer general questions, you shouldn’t expect a personal tour guide who is well-versed in every historical detail of major sites and able to make restaurant recommendations. Your driver won’t accompany you inside monuments and attractions; he’ll wait in the car and simply be ready to take you to the next destination when you are ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference in a rental car for domestic or international use?
Cars made in domestic are generally cheaper, but they offer fewer features than cars made abroad.
International cars tend to be more expensive but provide better comfort and safety equipment (e.g., air conditioning, seatbelts and anti-lock brakes).
Consider how often you will be driving each day and the type of car you want.
If you’re traveling for more than 100-miles, you might consider renting a local (domestic) car as they are typically cheaper.
However, if you’re going to be driving a lot around cities and going offroad, an international model might be the best choice.
Do you require a car to travel around Europe?
It all depends on where and what you are looking for. A typical European town might have different priorities than a rural location.
You also need to think about how long you are going to be in each country. You may need an economical car if there are frequent trips and you don’t plan on staying in one place for long.
In most cases, buying secondhand cars is cheaper than renting. It is often cheaper to buy a used car than rent one in Europe. For example, you can save money on fuel and parking fees, maintenance costs and insurance.
Another benefit is the fact that you can drive your car without any distractions.
Many websites provide information about renting a car in Europe. Check out our recommendations.
How can I rent car in another country?
The best way to do this would be by using an international rental agency such as Hertz, Avis, or Europcar. These companies offer both short-term rentals or long-term leases. They have offices across Europe.
They also provide customer service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If renting from them, you don’t need any previous experience. They will take care of everything including insurance and breakdown coverage. You only need to know where to go and when to get there.
Can I rent a vehicle in Germany and have it returned to Switzerland after returning it?
The answer to this question depends on many factors, including what type of vehicle you are renting, how long you plan to spend driving, and whether you have any special requirements for your rental car, such as child seats, etc.
For example, if you are planning to drive from Munich to Zurich, then there is no need to book a car because you can use public transport instead. Renting a car might be a good option if your goal is to drive from Munich, Barcelona and back during your holiday.
Do Europe’s rental cars come with automatic transmissions
Yes. Because they can be very costly to fix if you cause damage while driving the vehicle, rental agencies don’t rent them without an automatic transmission. It would cost far too much money to replace all those parts each time you drive off with dents on the bodywork.
Ask for an automatic transmission if you are looking to rent a car in Europe.
Statistics
- American Airlines, for example, offers AAdvantage members 35% off Budget and Avis — but you need to rent from an airport. (nerdwallet.com)
- For canceled trips two days or shorter, a guest is charged 50% of one day’s trip cost. (insider.com)
- I’d say 70% of the time, we have a hassle-free encounter, but there have been certain companies that we prefer not to use anymore. (theworldpursuit.com)
- Save up to 30% on your rental car in Europe when you book with us today. (autoeurope.com)
- You can rent an automatic but these cars can cost as much as 50% more than a manual vehicle. (earthtrekkers.com)
External Links
autoslash.com
alamo.com
avis.com
enterprise.com
How To
How can I avoid being charged for pre-existing damage to my rental car?
For example, if you drive a rental vehicle for a few hours before returning it to a rental agency, what happens when you return the vehicle? Is it possible to be charged for damage to your rental vehicle if there is a scratch? This is a very common issue for those renting cars from different companies. Even if customers do not cause damage to the rented car, some agencies charge customers for it. To avoid these charges, you should always ask whether you will be charged for any scratches or dings on the vehicle. Here are some ways you can make sure you don’t get charged for any pre-existing damage to a car rental.
- Ask for a duplicate of the agreement.
- Make sure to read the description carefully.
- Take care to read all the fine print.
- Get a complimentary cleaning service
- Take care of the car’s condition.
- Keep everything in the car.
- Always carry cash with you when renting a vehicle.
- Keep receipts for all payments.
- You must not allow anyone to touch your car without your consent.
- Never accept a gift of the company.
- Only use a reliable rental agency
- Keep the contract with you.
- Make sure the car is in perfect condition before you return it.
- Please provide your contact information to the agent.
- Avoid repeating the same company.
- You should note important details about your car like its mileage, make, engine size, and color. ;
- Take photos of the damage
- Wash the car by yourself
- A third party should inspect your car.
- Never agree to pay additional fees
