Renting a Car in India: Do You Need at Least 10 Years of Driving Experience?

Driving in India is nothing like your experiences in France! Most roads are in poor condition, and there are virtually no “highways.” Imagine roads winding through dozens of villages. Everything is packed with people, street vendors, and roaming animals—whether cows or stray dogs. Anyone who’s been to India will tell you: renting a car and setting off on your own is a whole different experience than in Europe!

There are many people on the streets of Jaipur, India. India is a massive country. If you want to visit even just northern India, particularly Delhi and Jaipur, it’s really much more practical to hire a driver!

What are the benefits of hiring a driver in India?

Hiring a driver offers many benefits. He knows the rules of the road, is familiar with the locals, and knows how to use the horn! But more importantly, he’ll take you off the beaten path and open the doors to Indian families—often modest ones—with whom you can share meals and learn about their way of life. In short, having a local driver with you will let you do everything you’d love to do but wouldn’t dare to do on your own! This applies to most destinations—find out how to find a driver in Jordan.

Classic yellow taxi in India in a traffic jam with a young driver

Getting around cities: which modes of transport should you choose in India?

In Delhi, we recommend taking the metro. It’s modern, efficient, and very affordable. It will help you avoid Delhi’s traffic jams… Expect to pay less than 30 cents per trip for a local experience full of pleasant surprises!

A green and yellow metro train heads toward its next station in India. In Jaipur, we recommend cycling as the easiest way to get around. The city is relatively flat, and this mode of transportation will let you explore all of the city’s neighborhoods: from vegetable and flower markets to all the artisans (marble sculptors, jewelers, etc.).