Car and Driver Hire for Independent Types

If you just can't tolerate somebody else making decisions for you, maybe you'd prefer to just hire a car and driver from Namaste India Tours. We prefer you purchase one of our packages. Why? Because we make a more reasonable profit that way. And because we often spend hours  working with a client on their trip just to end up with an itinerary nearly identical to one we already have posted.

But it's your trip and, hey, if you'd rather do the hotel work yourself, here's what we need from you in order to prepare a quote:

1. EXACTLY when do you arrive? Date and TIME. If you don't require airport pickup, then tell us what day and at what time on that day you want to leave Delhi with our car, and exactly where we would pick you up.
2. How many are in your party?
3. Which car? (The answer to #2 lets us be sure you have chosen an appropriate car.)
4. Your itinerary: a list of all the cities you want to cover with dates attached. Yes, it matters.

Full disclosure: we're gonna add Rs 500 to the price of your trip to work with you on a personalized itinerary. It'll cost you about the same as a super grande double mocha decaf latte with sprinkles.

Gentle reminder: If you decide to make your own hotel arrangements, then you have to make your own hotel arrangements. We won't be suggesting hotels at each station for you and please don't ask us to call and check on availability on your behalf. If you get in trouble out on the road, or you find out that the hotel you booked is awful, then of course your driver or Jawahar will find a hotel for you, but beyond that, if you want us to help with hotels, then you need to purchase a package from us that includes hotels. New to India and want to read the truth about India hotels? See this. 

More than it did before Covid hit!! Here's how we charge for our cars and drivers. (These figures aren't negotiable.) We have to adjust pricing periodically, so if you are reading an old post on some message forum, these prices will look different.

We base our rates on a minimum of 250 kilometers per day. This is industry standard. Even if the car does not leave the hotel parking lot that day, you still pay. No company can afford to have a car hundreds of kilometers away that isn't earning money. Some days you'll travel more than 250 km and some days you may travel less. 

BTW, we are the ones who decide how many kilometers in a day are reasonable for the safety and comfort of our clients and drivers. That's one reason we require your itinerary before we will do a quote.

There are pesky, hefty, taxes to get in and out of Uttar Pradesh, or to cross any border for that matter. You won't ever be asked for money when you get to a toll booth if you travel with us. Our price guide below is figured to absorb all border taxes. Plus all the seemingly random "I'm a guy who might be in a uniform standing next to an iron bar that I've pulled across the road and I am collecting money from cars that pass by me" taxes.

Now: you want a well-rested and well-fed driver. Happy driver--happy life. Our drivers do not sleep in their cars. The rates below also include your driver's food and accommodation.

So, except for the more unusual itineraries, we'll giving you a quote based on a per day fee. You can do the math yourself if you really want to. 

If your itinerary requires you to be on the road more than five hours a day,  leave at an ungodly hour, or anything else that WE consider unusual, then this formula will not apply

Google Maps Warning: Great little tool and getting better each year. Still horribly inaccurate for times between some cities. I mean, if the Google directions say "head southwest on unknown road", how do they possibly know how long that will take?

Rates below include all fuel, road tolls, green taxes, border taxes and even parking fees, plus your driver's food and accommodation, but not the mandatory 5% Goods and Services Tax. 

• AC Swift Dzire or Etios Sedan (max three guests)
  Rs 6,000 each day out of Delhi
• AC Toyota Innova Crysta or Similar (max five adult guests)
  Rs 7,500 each day out of Delhi
• AC Force Tempo Traveler Van (normally configured for ten, max of twelve guests)
  Rs 12,000 each day out of Delhi

We only offer AC cars. The few people who requested Non-AC cars back in the early days of our company often had a change of heart on the road. Air-conditioning also keeps our drivers happy. Happy drivers are important.

...on page 178 that we should be able to rent a car and driver in Rajasthan for 4.5 rupees per km!"
You've got a REALLY old edition.  We regularly do mystery shopping in Rajasthan and our rates are pretty standard for All India Tourist cars. If you hire a car from a company within Rajasthan and stay in Rajasthan, then the car doesn't have to pay any border taxes because it isn't crossing any borders, then yes, it will be cheaper than the rates above. If you are leaving from Delhi it's a different matter. If someone gives you a per kilometer quote, be darn sure it includes the border taxes, which differ depending on the seating capacity of the vehicle and which state lines you are crossing. 

In a general sense, yes. But he cannot accompany you into monuments and act as your guide inside attractions. He would get in big trouble. There are unions of certified guides and they will not tolerate any encroachment. It is even difficult for him to accompany you inside if you have hired a guide, so it is better if you do not ask him if he'd like to come along. We can send a certified guide along with you, but honestly it isn't necessary. It is more cost effective to grab a guide when and where you feel you need one. 

Yes. But all our services begin in Delhi. Means you must be in Delhi as well, with a few rare exceptions.

Note: We will not accept services that we feel are unwise or unsafe. Examples: driving overnight, driving a 10 hour day between cities, departing from the airport for Agra at 2 am.  At our discretion, we require a break of journey between some cities for the safety and comfort of our guests, drivers, cars and other people on the road. It is not negotiable. It's not arrogant or rude to refuse an unwise service; it's prudent. 

Here's a link to our payment policy.  The most important thing to know is that we require full payment in advance before you leave Delhi with one of our cars and the driver. You might be able to find a company that doesn't, but we do. 

Come on. You know you like to read. And you've got plenty of reading to do if you are going to research and book all your own hotels. At least on Namaste India Tours' website  there are no irritating ads flashing at you while you are trying to read.