Why Owning a car in Mumbai is so challenging?
Mumbai is one of the most densely populated cities in the World, and hence, owning a car here has its own merits and demerits. We will try to articulate these merits and some of the demerits of owning a car in Mumbai. Further, we would try to educate you about the possible alternatives that you can opt for instead of buying a car.
So, if you have been struggling with whether you want to buy a vehicle or not, this article might be able to answer all your questions. With the increasing number of Car Rentals in Mumbai, living without a car of your own has become a feasible alternative, and compared to the burden of owning a vehicle, this is a much better alternative.
Demerits of owning a Vehicle in Mumbai
There are many demerits of owning a vehicle in Mumbai, let’s see the possible solutions for this:
1. Issues of parking spaces
As written above, Mumbai is one of the most densely populated cities in the World, and one of the most visible signs of this issue can be witnessed with Parking spaces. Every parking space in Mumbai is accounted for, and you cannot park without permission in most cases, especially within residential compounds and other residential places.
Every parking place is either reserved or accounted for, and residents pay hefty sums for such parking spaces to be reserved in their names. So owning a car directly adds to the charges of holding a parking space to your monthly expenses. And this is an expense you would have to bear the brunt of whether you drive your car or not. Over time, these expenses, along with the expenses of vehicle upkeep and petrol charges, would be way ahead of the monetary utility they add to your life.
2. Maintenance Charges
Whether you drive your car or not to keep its value in the resale market or keep the vehicle fit for your use, you must provide regular maintenance. While car maintenance charges were pretty low in the older times now, they have risen to an ultimate higher where a simple maintenance job can end up costing more than 10k at least.
Now, all these charges are acceptable if you drive your car regularly, but if you have been someone who drives your car once in a while, these charges are not worth it. So, while maintenance is an essential part of car ownership, if you use your vehicle scarcely then these maintenance charges are only an add-on.
3. Insurance Charges
Comprehensive insurance plans are another charge that you would have to provide for while trying to opt for a new car. These charges increase as per the value of your car, and you would have to provide for them even if your car is standing and not being driven regularly.
Comprehensive insurance covers that cover the expenses of the whole value of the car in cases of theft, breakdown, or water logging is pretty expensive. So, while a person gets a comprehensive insurance plan to save oneself in case of damages, insurance charges become a cyclical charge that you would have to provide for whether you drive a vehicle or not.
4. Rising Petrol Charges
With the erratic nature of inflation markers In the nation and our nation’s profound dependence on gulf countries for gasoline, petrol prices might showcase further rises in the future. And with such price hikes, keeping a petrol-driven vehicle would become a profound expense in the future. So, this could, in due time become a demerit as well.
Merits of Owning a Vehicle in Mumbai
1. Flexibility
One of the biggest merits of owning a vehicle is its flexibility; you can drive whenever you feel like it and move beyond the hassles of congestion in prime hours. This merit itself is one of the best advantages that car ownership would provide you in case of ownership. This flexibility would further help you with freedom and mobility along the way.
2. Relief from traffic and congestion
Since you have a vehicle of your own, you can always plan your excursions according to the needs of the hour and travel when roads are least congested. With public transport and cabs, you would not have such flexibility. You would have to leave at the pre-ordained time, or you would end up wasting time and energy.
3. Freedom from Dependence on Public Transport
This is a well-understood merit of owning a vehicle; once you get a vehicle of your own, you will be able to easily manage and drive along the as per your own choice and freedom. Most people buy a vehicle due to this merit only, but if you don’t have a vehicle, self-drive cars booking in Mumbai can aid you in getting a vehicle of your choice to drive around in.
4. Ability to settle anywhere.
With a car, you can choose to live along the outskirts of the city as well and not worry about connectivity issues. In most cases, places situated on the outskirts of the city are cheaper to rent or even buy, so this could be an added benefit as well.
While you have now become privy to the merits and demerits of owning a vehicle, what if we could suggest a way to have the benefits of owning a vehicle without the hassles of ownership at the most affordable prices? Car rentals are one such way through which you can rent a car whenever it seems necessary for you.
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They also ensure that you do not have to pay any kind of charges that car ownership is generally equated with. So rent freely with RenTrip, one of the leading self-drive car rental service providers who can quickly provide you with a wide range of vehicles easily. RenTrip offers complete freedom of extending your rental period and also provides the most competitive charges for car rental. So whenever you think of car renting think of RenTrip. Download their application today.
