Transit via tuk-tuk: fair pricing?

rtblair03 · Feb 23rd, 2007, 12:46

Is there any way to calculate a fair price for a ride in a tuk-tuk prior to embarking? In my experience thus far, all the meters have been broken, or the drivers have pretended not to understand me when I ask them to turn it on.

So, if I know how far I'm going, is there any good way to price it out before going into the bargaining stage . . . say, a certain amount of Rs. per Km?

capt_mahajan · Feb 23rd, 2007, 13:06

Afraid its a combination of Catch22 and Russian roulette... with the odds against you. You have to know the usual fare and the shortest route/distance to your destination , which he may not take you by even with the meter running and untampered.

I am an aggressive Indian, but heres what I do. Short distances upto maybe 3 km: 15/20 bucks max, or the meter, which will be lower. (in my experience, about 75% of the time they go by the meter)

about 7/8 30/40 bucks max or meter
15km 70 bucks max or meter.

recently came back from old delhi railway station to somewhere near vasant vihar for 100 bucks. Thats quite a distance, even though it was 5 in the morning and no traffic. But the guy was happy. He was also old and half blind, which made an interesting ride in the dark.

rtblair03 · Feb 23rd, 2007, 13:13

Thanks very much for your reply.

I recently went out and managed to get one to drive me wherever I wanted for around Rs.100 per hour. We went from the Rashtrapati Bhavan down to Humayun's Tomb, and then south as far as the Qutub Minar, and then to Sunder Nagar.

For the distance covered (which I guess is considerable)and the time it took for me to visit the sites (around 3.5 hours) was this fair?

capt_mahajan · Feb 23rd, 2007, 13:17

You paid too much, methinks.

As a comparison, you can get an airconditioned tata indica for 80km or 8hrs at 750 a day. If you exceed the limit there are fixed rates per km or per hour.

Just ask your nearest taxi stand, shop around, and haggle.

edit half day rates are 400/40km for 4 hours.

Nick-H · Feb 23rd, 2007, 13:42

Capt... I don't think you'd get those rates in Chennai, but we are famous for our over-charging auto drivers

It is almost never worth taking an auto for several hours or a day. They will charge you almost as much (or even more if they can) as you would pay for a car. So, if you want simplicity/somewhere to keep the shopping, go for a car.

If you want the experience (and it is more fun) and the exposure to the outside world of travelling by auto, take individual autos for individual trips.

capt_mahajan · Feb 23rd, 2007, 14:14

I last took a taxi at those rates in Delhi in December or January. And this is what they quoted, no haggling. Non ac was cheaper.

Thing is, what they quote to a foreigner may be totally different.

rtblair03 · Feb 23rd, 2007, 14:21

The other day, I hired one basically because I didn't feel comfortable crossing a six lane street (Going from the Oberoi to Sunder Nagar).

The driver looked at me and says "50". I laughed and said "10." He gestured for me to hop on.

He was attempting, in both a literal and figurative sense, highway robbery.

capt_mahajan · Feb 23rd, 2007, 14:32

The other day, my wife wanted to go buy catfood here in Hyderabad and one auto driver refused because traffic is bad there. So she walked on.

The guy drove up after her, told her he felt bad she was walking, and took her there! By the meter too.

rtblair03 · Feb 23rd, 2007, 14:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

The other day, my wife wanted to go buy catfood here in Hyderabad and one auto driver refused because traffic is bad there. So she walked on.

The guy drove up after her, told her he felt bad she was walking, and took her there! By the meter too.

Sometimes I'm convinced that walking is the best way to get around anyway. For a tourist, there's no better way to immerse yourself in the energy of a given area.

Nick-H · Feb 23rd, 2007, 14:56

Walking is certainly the best way to get around.

It requires a good map (easily available in these days of the Eicher City Maps), ability to read the map, confidence and time. Time is often the thing most lacking in a busy itinerary.

...Oh, and street signs etc in English script; a luxury I perhaps take for granted here!

ninasimone · Feb 23rd, 2007, 18:13

http://delhigovt.nic.in/autofares/Transport.asp[/url] Hi try this site.

Mio · Feb 23rd, 2007, 19:40

... or try this one (from Delhi Traffic Police): http://www.delhitrafficpolice.nic.in/auto-taxi-fare.htm

I've never believed that the offial fares are *that* low.

Perfect in combination with http://www.mapmyindia.com to get the distance.

capt_mahajan · Feb 23rd, 2007, 19:50

Mio, good site for quick calculation.

Yes, the fares are that low. And I am glad to see the figures in my first post here were not that far off the mark!

Feb 23rd, 2007, 12:46	#1
rtblair03 Delhi Belly Aficionado Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 6	Transit via tuk-tuk: fair pricing? Is there any way to calculate a fair price for a ride in a tuk-tuk prior to embarking? In my experience thus far, all the meters have been broken, or the drivers have pretended not to understand me when I ask them to turn it on. So, if I know how far I'm going, is there any good way to price it out before going into the bargaining stage . . . say, a certain amount of Rs. per Km? __________________ Rtblair03's Travel Blog http://indiandispatch.blogspot.com/

Feb 23rd, 2007, 13:13	#3
rtblair03 Delhi Belly Aficionado Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 6	Thanks Captain . . . what about hourly rates? Thanks very much for your reply. I recently went out and managed to get one to drive me wherever I wanted for around Rs.100 per hour. We went from the Rashtrapati Bhavan down to Humayun's Tomb, and then south as far as the Qutub Minar, and then to Sunder Nagar. For the distance covered (which I guess is considerable)and the time it took for me to visit the sites (around 3.5 hours) was this fair?

Feb 23rd, 2007, 13:42	#5
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,368	Capt... I don't think you'd get those rates in Chennai, but we are famous for our over-charging auto drivers It is almost never worth taking an auto for several hours or a day. They will charge you almost as much (or even more if they can) as you would pay for a car. So, if you want simplicity/somewhere to keep the shopping, go for a car. If you want the experience (and it is more fun) and the exposure to the outside world of travelling by auto, take individual autos for individual trips. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Feb 23rd, 2007, 13:06	#2
capt_mahajan Dis member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,864	Afraid its a combination of Catch22 and Russian roulette... with the odds against you. You have to know the usual fare and the shortest route/distance to your destination , which he may not take you by even with the meter running and untampered. I am an aggressive Indian, but heres what I do. Short distances upto maybe 3 km: 15/20 bucks max, or the meter, which will be lower. (in my experience, about 75% of the time they go by the meter) about 7/8 30/40 bucks max or meter 15km 70 bucks max or meter. recently came back from old delhi railway station to somewhere near vasant vihar for 100 bucks. Thats quite a distance, even though it was 5 in the morning and no traffic. But the guy was happy. He was also old and half blind, which made an interesting ride in the dark.

Feb 23rd, 2007, 13:17	#4
capt_mahajan Dis member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,864	You paid too much, methinks. As a comparison, you can get an airconditioned tata indica for 80km or 8hrs at 750 a day. If you exceed the limit there are fixed rates per km or per hour. Just ask your nearest taxi stand, shop around, and haggle. edit half day rates are 400/40km for 4 hours.

Feb 23rd, 2007, 14:14	#6
capt_mahajan Dis member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,864	I last took a taxi at those rates in Delhi in December or January. And this is what they quoted, no haggling. Non ac was cheaper. Thing is, what they quote to a foreigner may be totally different.

Feb 23rd, 2007, 14:21	#7
rtblair03 Delhi Belly Aficionado Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 6	The other day, I hired one basically because I didn't feel comfortable crossing a six lane street (Going from the Oberoi to Sunder Nagar). The driver looked at me and says "50". I laughed and said "10." He gestured for me to hop on. He was attempting, in both a literal and figurative sense, highway robbery.

Feb 23rd, 2007, 14:32	#8
capt_mahajan Dis member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,864	The other day, my wife wanted to go buy catfood here in Hyderabad and one auto driver refused because traffic is bad there. So she walked on. The guy drove up after her, told her he felt bad she was walking, and took her there! By the meter too.

Feb 23rd, 2007, 14:56	#10
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,368	Walking is certainly the best way to get around. It requires a good map (easily available in these days of the Eicher City Maps), ability to read the map, confidence and time. Time is often the thing most lacking in a busy itinerary. ...Oh, and street signs etc in English script; a luxury I perhaps take for granted here!

Feb 23rd, 2007, 18:13	#11
ninasimone Here comes the Sun Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: sydney australia Posts: 193	http://delhigovt.nic.in/autofares/Transport.asp[/url] Hi try this site.

Feb 23rd, 2007, 19:40	#12
Mio Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Passau, Germany Posts: 61	... or try this one (from Delhi Traffic Police): http://www.delhitrafficpolice.nic.in/auto-taxi-fare.htm I've never believed that the offial fares are that low. Perfect in combination with http://www.mapmyindia.com to get the distance.

Feb 23rd, 2007, 19:50	#13
capt_mahajan Dis member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,864	Mio, good site for quick calculation. Yes, the fares are that low. And I am glad to see the figures in my first post here were not that far off the mark!

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