Renting a self-drive car for the first time raises the same questions every time: what documents do I need, how much is the deposit, what happens with fuel and tolls, and what if I'm late? This guide answers them the way Aadhya Self Drive works, from booking and pick-up in Delhi to getting your deposit back. If you only want the prices, see what self-drive costs.
What you need
- A driving licence you have held for at least a year.
- A government ID: Aadhaar, passport or voter ID.
- To be at least 21, or 25 for luxury and premium SUVs.
- Upload your licence and ID in My Account on the website or app before the trip, and bring the originals to pick-up.
What it costs
Each car has an hourly rate and the minimum booking is 24 hours, so a day costs 24 times the hourly rate. Longer trips get a discount, applied automatically: 10% off over 48 hours, 20% over 5 days, 30% over 15 days and 40% for 30 days or more. A coupon code replaces the long-trip discount, and trips of 24–48 hours booked in our Android app get ₹400 off. Our prices page lists the day price of every car.
The deposit
Every car has the same refundable security deposit of ₹5,000, paid with the booking. It comes back within 3–5 days of the car being checked after your trip, minus any damage, fuel shortfall, unpaid tolls, challans or late fees. Refunds go to your original payment method or UPI; depending on the bank, they can take up to 10 business days to show.
How booking works
- Choose a car and your dates on the website or the app.
- Upload your driving licence and ID in My Account.
- Send the booking request: our team checks it and confirms.
- Pay a ₹500 advance or the full amount online, or pay at pick-up.
Picking up the car
Collect the car at our Mahipalpur office, about 5 minutes from IGI Airport Terminal 3, or have it delivered to your door anywhere in Delhi NCR, including the airport terminals. Delivery and collection carry a driver charge, which our team quotes when they confirm the booking.
The rules on the road
- Fuel: return the car at the same level. A shortfall is charged at a premium per-litre rate.
- Tolls: the car has a FASTag, and the tolls are yours. National highway toll plazas no longer take cash, so keep the FASTag topped up; unpaid tolls come out of the deposit.
- Challans: traffic fines during your trip are yours, deducted from the deposit or invoiced.
- Speed: driving over 120 km/h immobilises the car automatically. A reactivation fee applies and the deposit is forfeited.
- Distance: kilometres are unlimited, and the All-India permit lets you drive out of Delhi; you pay any state entry taxes.
Extending or returning late
Need the car longer? Ask at least an hour before your drop-off time; an extension depends on the car being free. A late return is billed per hour from the actual drop-off time, so leave room for Delhi traffic, especially before a flight.
If something goes wrong
Our team is available 24/7, and so is roadside help: call +91 96251 09442 for a breakdown or an accident, and report any damage straight away. Damage is charged at ₹1,500 per panel on hatchbacks and ₹2,000 per panel on SUVs, and ₹30,000 to ₹80,000 for major damage.
Cancelling
Cancel in the app up to 24 hours before pick-up and the amount you paid is refunded. Within 24 hours of pick-up the booking can't be cancelled in the app and isn't refundable, and no-shows aren't refunded.
Ready to go?
See all our cars with their prices, or find a destination in our weekend getaways from Delhi. Questions? Call or WhatsApp us any time.
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Unlimited kilometres, a ₹5,000 refundable deposit and 24/7 support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Aadhya Road Trippers
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