Buying
First-time car buyer checklist (India)
A practical checklist for buying your first car in India — budget, safety, fuel type, and dealer red flags.
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Answers to the questions you actually ask.
Buying, financing, and keeping a car in India — explained like a magazine, with calculators where they help.
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- Buying6 min
Ex-showroom vs on-road price explained
What makes up your on-road price in India — RTO, insurance, TCS, and how to spot inflated dealer quotes.
- Fuel & EV7 min
EV vs petrol: when does it make sense?
Break-even math for electric vs petrol cars in India — annual km, charging costs, resale, and battery warranty.
- Finance5 min
EMI vs cash: true cost of financing
How car loan EMI, interest, and down payment affect your real ownership cost over 5 years.
- Ownership7 min
Hidden ownership costs explained
Beyond the sticker price — fuel, insurance, service, tyres, and depreciation over 5 years.
- Safety5 min
How to read car safety ratings
GNCAP crash test ratings vs ADAS features — what actually protects you on Indian roads.
- Ownership7 min
Mods vs warranty and running costs
What aftermarket parts mean for your warranty, insurance, and real-world ownership costs in India.
- Fuel & EV6 min
Petrol vs diesel: city, highway, and 5-year cost
When diesel still wins in India — and when petrol (or CNG/hybrid) is the smarter buy for your km mix.
- Buying7 min
Manual vs automatic in India: AMT, CVT, DCT
Traffic fatigue, reliability myths, and which gearbox fits Indian roads — without dealer jargon.
- Ownership8 min
Extended warranty in India: when dealer EW is worth it
Should you buy extended warranty on a new car in India? What EW covers, 3-year vs 5–7-year packages, accessory bundles, and when to skip the dealer quote.
- Fuel & EV8 min
CNG vs petrol in India: running cost, boot, and when to skip
Factory CNG vs petrol for Indian city use — refill network, power and boot trade-offs, and running-cost math by annual km.
- Buying7 min
BH series registration in India: who it is for and common failures
BH (Bharat) series number plates explained — eligibility, how they differ from state RTO plates, interstate moves, and when not to take BH.
- Buying8 min
Sedan vs SUV under 15 lakh: which first car fits India?
Sedan or compact SUV under ₹15 lakh on-road — ground clearance, mileage, safety, boot, and city vs highway trade-offs for Indian first-time buyers.
- Fuel & EV9 min
Is a hybrid car worth it in India?
Strong hybrid vs mild hybrid, payback vs petrol and CNG, and when a hybrid beats EV for Indian city and highway use.