Why Renting a Car is Better than Taking your Own on Long Trips

The "Great Indian Road Trip" has a sense of magic that can be felt. The playlist is ready, the snacks are packed, and the open road calls. For many of us, the car is not simply a way to get from one place to another; it represents companionship and privacy, as well as freedom. So when planning for a trip — from going to the mountains of Uttarakhand to taking a heritage tour of Rajasthan — your first thought is likely to be to load the family car and hit the road.

However, before you do, you have to confront an important but common dilemma: Should I take my own car or rent one?

Although the connection you have with your vehicle is very real, the realities of driving long distances can often present a vastly different situation. Driving your everyday car thousands of kilometers over different terrains can quickly turn a dream vacation into a logistical disaster. Now more than ever, smart travellers are coming to understand that renting a vehicle is a safer, more comfortable and often more affordable way to travel long distances.

1. Save Your Car from "The Grind"

Oftentimes we underestimate how a long drive can affect a personal vehicle. For example, the fuel cost of a round trip of 1,000 km does not take into consideration the large amount of "silent depreciation" your vehicle is experiencing.

Many people do not take into account the wear and tear on their vehicle when they drive long distances. The quality of Indian Highway infrastructure has improved considerably; although, Indian highway infrastructure can still create unknown stress on personal vehicles. The potholes, gravel and construction that many people encounter while travelling on Indian Highways can have a negative effect on their Suspension and Alignment. In addition, stone chips from the highway or windshield cracks that are created by highway debris will be souvenirs you didn't request. Therefore, if you rent a vehicle for a long distance trip, and the rented vehicle had the amount of wear and tear listed above, you would have transferred that "mechanical wear and tear" to a rented vehicle. This allows your personal vehicle to remain in "excellent" condition for commuting to the office.
Mileage can severely devalue your vehicle. If you are planning to sell your vehicle in the next few years, the amount of mileage on your vehicle will have the largest affect on the value of your vehicle when you do sell it. If you have a vehicle with 30,000 kms vs. 50,000 kms on the odometer, the vehicle with 30,000 kms would command a higher price when you go to sell it. If you are travelling a few long trips each year, you can quickly build up "junk" miles on your vehicle, which would lead to depreciating your vehicle faster than what is necessary.
Maintenance Schedules can be impacted by long distance driving. Long distance driving usually puts your vehicle closer to its next scheduled service (Tires, brake pads and timing belts). Renting a vehicle would avoid bringing the vehicle into the next scheduled service interval.

2. The Luxury of the "Right Tool for the Job"

A major disadvantage to driving your own vehicle is the fact that you can only drive/park the vehicle you own. For example, if you own a small hatchback or a compressed natural gas (CNG) sedan, that configuration works great for navigating city traffic; however, it could lead to a lot of stress hauling around four adults and heavy luggage on a trip to the Himalayas.

This is where car rentals in Gurgaon really stand out because you can select the vehicle that best suits your trip, rather than simply using what you have available.

Terrain Considerations: Are you going to Spiti, Ladakh, or the remote parts of Himachal? In those cases, you need to get yourself a vehicle with a higher ground clearance and potentially 4WD capabilities in order to navigate water crossing and bad roads safely. A sedan with a low profile would be able to fit through many of the low-clearance areas, but it will likely incur damage due to scraping its underbelly.
Traveling with extended family? It's a sure way to create unhappy passengers when you try to fit five adults and a child into a five-passenger vehicle. Renting lets you have the option of upgrading to a full-size SUV, such as a Toyota Innova Crysta, or a full-size MPV, for the duration of the trip. You will have ample legroom for everyone, and most importantly, you will have enough cargo space to pack all your luggage without blocking the rear-view mirror..

3. Outstation Car Rental: The Joy of Being a Passenger

While driving is often enjoyable, there are times when it can become tiring and annoying. For example, having to drive through city traffic or highway fatigue for 12 hours is draining and can take the fun out of your vacation. Once you arrive at your destination, you may be too tired to fully enjoy your time there.

When looking for outstation car rentals, you may find that many car rental companies offer chauffeur service options to help ease any travel-related stresses. These chauffeur services allow you to make your trip more of a "journey" than just driving.

No more fatigue. Instead of becoming stressed over Google Maps or avoiding stray cattle in the middle of nowhere, you can take a nap, read a book, play games with your kids, or simply sit back and enjoy the scenery as it passes by.
Expertise regarding where to go and how to get there. Outstation drivers are like traveling professionals. They know the best routes to avoid traffic jams, the best dhabas to eat at, and how to navigate the many twists and turns of hilly roads during night time and in foggy conditions.
Liability-free. If you experience an event such as a minor scratch, flat tire, or breakdown, it is the rental company that takes on that responsibility. Most reputable companies offer roadside assistance or replacement vehicles so you can continue your travels without a hitch.

4. Choosing the Best Car for Long Road Trips

When planning to rent a vehicle, It's essential to explore available Options as well as How well they are suited to your particular needs and itinerary.

When Traveling in the Mountains (Manali, Shimla, Rishikesh),

you may find that Mahindra XUV700 and Tata Nexon are the Best cars for this type of Trip.
Reason: The Mahindra XUV700 and/or Tata Nexon have a higher ground clearance, thus they are better suited to navigating steep inclines and/or uneven terrains.

For Traveling on The Expressway (Jaipur, Agra, and Lucknow),

Consider the following Vehicles: Honda City, Maruti Ciaz, or Hyundai Verna.
Reason: The Honda City, Maruti Ciaz, and/or Hyundai Verna have superior Aerodynamic Design and thus will provide a more stable ride on long, level stretches of highway than Boxy SUVs (having higher centers of gravity).

For Large Families & Pilgrimages (Char Dham, Vaishno Devi)

The Contenders: Toyota Innova Crysta or Kia Carnival.
Why: These are "mile-munchers." They are designed specifically to carry 6-7 people in absolute comfort over hundreds of kilometers. The Captain Seats configuration in the Innova is particularly good for elderly travelers who need extra space.
The Winner: The Toyota Innova Crysta. It is the undisputed gold standard for Indian road trips—bulletproof reliability, powerful AC, and unmatched ride quality.

5. Cost-Effectiveness: It’s Cheaper Than You Think

People tend to believe that it is cheaper to rent rather than own. If you calculate things correctly, this will almost always end up working out in your best interest. This is especially true for groups of people, since they are most likely to share expenses.

Let's look at the hidden costs of owning your vehicle:

Maintenance: Oil top-offs; coolant checks; tire alignment; wheel balancing; approximately ₹3,000.00 - ₹5,000.00.
Clean-up: Mud/food crumbs after driving; approximately ₹1,000.00.
Tire life: If you drive a distance of 1,500 km, this will decrease the life of your tires significantly.

Now let's look at it from the standpoint of renting a vehicle:

Price Competitiveness: The Car Rental Industry in Gurgaon is extremely competitive. Depending on the day of the week and how long you rent for, rental rates can be very low.
Better Gas Mileage: Many new Rental Car Companies are now ensuring their vehicles are maintained and that they are newer vehicles with higher MPG. If you are driving an older gasoline vehicle, with an average of 10 km/litre, and rent a new diesel vehicle getting 16 km/litre, you can see substantial savings in fuel for longer distances. You could save so much money in fuel that the money you save could cover a portion of the daily rental rate.

6. Safety and Reliability

Perhaps the most critical factor is safety. Rental fleets are generally updated every 2-3 years. When you book a rental, you are likely driving a model equipped with the latest safety features like six airbags, ABS with EBD, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and fatigue alerts.

Furthermore, if your personal car is starting to age (5+ years old), taking it on a strenuous 12-hour journey is a gamble. A breakdown in the middle of a remote highway is not just an inconvenience; it is a genuine safety hazard for your family. Rental agencies ensure their fleet undergoes rigorous multi-point checks before every handover, minimizing the risk of mechanical failure.

Conclusion

Your personal vehicle may serve well for grocery shopping, commuting, and dining out from time to time; however, when it comes time to travel to mountain regions or across long distances via highway it may be wise to enhance your time spent driving through those types of locations with an upgrade.

By renting a car you gain complete control over which type of vehicle to rent considering the destination(s) you are headed to and therefore are also able to protect your investment in your own personal vehicle from the depreciation that comes about when a new car has been purchased. Additionally, you will also have the option of renting a vehicle that can accommodate your entire party should you wish to be driven by someone else and can thus take more time to concentrate on enjoying the road as it approaches and gets to your destination.

Experience the Best in Travel with Ajay Car Rental

Planning a road trip with your family or friends or are you looking for an upgrade? Ajay Car Rental will accompany you on this journey so you don't have to worry about your vehicle or the added stress of driving.

Ajay Car Rental has just the right vehicle for you.

We offer a diverse range of vehicles for rent, from Hatchbacks, sedans, SUVs, and luxury cars to chauffeur-driven vehicles.

Choose a Vehicle: Our well-maintained fleet of vehicles has something for everyone's needs, whether it is a rugged SUV for the hills or an elegant sedan for business, luxury cars for business, or family-sized vehicles such as Tempo Travellers.
Chauffeured Convenience: Let Ajay Car Rental take you to your destination in style with a professional driver.

Pricing Transparency: No hidden fees, just honest, fair prices for our high-quality service.

Book Now!!