Self-driven rented cars provide flexibility

There are a number of affordable and convenient options

Recently, Delhi-based graphic designer Mohit Khanna, 28, and his friends wanted to head for the hills for a three-day getaway. The only hitch this young lot faced was that none of them had a bigger vehicle that could accommodate them all and tackle the hilly terrain. A car enthusiast friend of theirs suggested that they try the self-driven car rental option. They did so and had a wonderful time. “Having a self-driven car gives you the freedom to drive or stop at your own convenience and explore a destination at your own pace. You enjoy privacy. And don't forget the extra seat that you have, which would otherwise be taken up by the driver,” says Khanna.

Younger professionals keen for their own Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara-like experience, are taking to self-driven rental cars in a big way. You can hire them both for inter-city leisure travel and for work-related purposes, especially when you are in a city other than your own. Says Rush Parekh of Team-BHP.com, a web site for motoring aficionados: “I have found the self-drive rental option very convenient. Being a car enthusiast, I prefer to drive myself rather than be chauffeured around. Apps like Google Maps have anyway made it easy to find your way around a new city.” This option allows you to pick a car based on your needs. “If I need a seven-seater only once in two months, I would rather rent it from a self-drive rental agency than buy one myself and lug around that empty set of seats every day,” says Parekh. 

 

Chauffeured taxi services like Uber and Ola are cost-effective options for intra-city travel. However, they are better suited for limited duration, point-to-point commuting. The self-drive rental option is more attractive if you wish to have a car at your disposal for the a few hours, the entire day, for multiple days, or to travel long distances. “A self-driven cars works out to be 30-35 per cent cheaper than a chauffeured car,” says Greg Moran, chief executive officer (CEO) and co-founder, Zoomcar. 

Choose the right vehicle: Once you have decided on the self-drive option, you need to first select the right vehicle. “If you are travelling outside the city, factor in the number of passengers and the total luggage you will carry. Next, consider the type of terrain you will be travelling over. If you are going to the mountains or on a desert safari, an SUV with four-by-four drive will be ideal,” says Aditya Loomba, joint managing director, ECO Rent a Car. If you are renting a car for intra-city driving, you may opt for a hatchback or a compact sedan. If you need a car for a high-profile business meeting, you may even scale up to an executive sedan such as Toyota Camry or Altis.

Opt for a suitable rental plan: These cars come with a variety of rental plans. Rates vary depending on whether it is a weekday, weekend, or the peak season. For each rental rate you are permitted to drive for a certain number of kilometres free within an hour. Revv, for instance, offers the five, 10, 15 and unlimited free kilometres options (the last is only for fuel-excluded option and for trips of more than 24 hours). “The five free kilometre option means that if you drive the vehicle for 50 km within a 10-hour time frame, the rental rate you have paid will suffice. If you drive for a higher number of kilometres, you will have to pay an extra charge. Our maintenance and depreciation costs rise when a customer drives more, so we need to charge an additional amount,” says Karan Jain, co-founder and chief operating officer, Revv. Make a rough estimate of the number of kilometres you are going to travel and select the appropriate plan. If you are going on a long trip of a few days, you will have a lot of downtime, and hence may not require a higher kilometre plan. 

With and without-fuel options: “Some customers consider it a hassle to go to the fuel pump and get the car topped up. They prefer the with-fuel option. But there are also customers who are not sure about how much they are going to drive and what their fuel consumption is going to be. They opt for the fuel-excluded option,” says Jain. If you have to get fuel filled during the trip in the fuel-included option, the cost is reimbursed to you.  

Security deposit: Besides the basic rental cost, you will also have to pay a refundable security deposit. Loomba of ECO Rent A Car says that the deposit begins from Rs 5,000 for a car like Etios and goes all the way up to Rs 70,000 for a Toyota Camry or Mercedes. Sometimes companies waive this demand for loyal customers. By paying an additional cost (Rs 300 in case of Revv), you can have the car dropped and picked up from your doorstep. 

Decide on what you need and then calculate the total cost based on the various options available. Most rental companies have put their tariffs on their web sites, so you can compare the costs you will incur with various players.

Liability in case of breakdown and accidents: All car rental companies have tie-ups with third-party roadside assistance service providers and will arrange for them to reach you at the earliest. As long as the breakdown was not caused by you, the cost will be borne by the rental company. “Only in case of consequential damage caused by a mistake on the customer's part does he have to bear the cost. For example, a customer may continue to drive even when the engine light is flashing a warning, or he may drive with his foot constantly on the clutch pedal, causing a burn out,” says Jain. 

In case of an accident, the rental company does have an insurance cover. But often these covers come with a deductible, which means that the customer may have to bear a certain initial amount of liability.