Car Rental Srinagar

How does car rental in Srinagar work with Soun Kashmir?

Almost every visitor who rents a car in Srinagar rents it with a driver, and for good reason. The valley roads are narrow, the hill sections are steep and the best stops are often a short walk from a car park that only a local knows. Soun Kashmir lists tourist cabs, each with a driver-cum-guide, and you choose the vehicle and the plan.

The booking is simple. You tell us the dates, the route and the group, we reply with a written quote, and you confirm the plan. Ask for the driver's name and phone number before you arrive. This page explains the kinds of hire, how to choose a vehicle and what the rate covers. For the vehicles themselves, see the list on car rental in Srinagar.

Which kind of hire do you need?

Which vehicle fits your group?

Choose by the number of people and the amount of luggage. Two guests with two suitcases are comfortable in a sedan. A family of five or six, or three adults with large bags, will do better in a seven-seat cab. Groups of eight and more can compare the 8 seater, the 14-seater and the 17-seater Tempo Traveller pages, which are arranged on request. Two single-vehicle pages go deeper: the Etios cab service and the Fortuner cab service, the second of which is a premium SUV arranged on request.

What does the listed rate include?

• The cab you chose, in good running order, for the hire you agreed.
• Fuel, so you are not asked for petrol money at the end of the day.
• Parking and tolls on the route, so a stop at a busy site does not become a dispute.
• The driver's allowance and the driver's time, including waiting at ordinary stops.
• A driver-cum-guide who knows the roads and the places worth a stop.

The rate is the starting point of your quote. The route, the number of days and the season decide the final amount, and you should ask for any extra charge, such as a night halt, to be written into the quote. The final price is confirmed in writing before you pay.

What is not part of the rate?

• Stays and meals, unless you book a package. A houseboat or hotel can be quoted with the cab through hotel booking in Kashmir.
• Entry fees, gondola tickets, pony rides and other local services, which you pay on the day or which can be arranged in advance on request.
• Personal items and tips, which are at your own discretion.

Does every car come with a driver?

Yes. Soun Kashmir hires out cabs and Tempo Travellers with a driver only, and it does not rent out bikes or motorcycles. The roads to Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg climb through bends and sudden weather, parking is tight at the popular sites and checkpoints are common on the main routes. A local driver handles all this calmly and lets you look at the view instead.

Tips for a smooth hire

• Send your flight or train details, so the driver is waiting when you arrive.
• Tell us the number of suitcases as well as the number of guests, because a boot fills faster than people expect.
• Carry original photo ID for your whole group. Checkposts are common, especially on the road to Ladakh.
• Share the places you want to see and the ones you can skip, and let the driver shape the order around traffic and weather.
• Keep some slack in the plan in winter and in the monsoon, since mountain roads can close for a day.

What decides the final fare?

Four things: the vehicle, the route, the number of days and the season. A transfer within Srinagar is a smaller job than a six-day tour, and a peak-season week costs more than a quiet one. If you are comparing offers, ask what is included in each, because a low figure with fuel and tolls added later can end up higher than a clear one. Our quotes show everything in one place.

How do you book a car?

1. 1Send the dates, the route, the number of guests and your preferred vehicle.
2. 2We reply with a written quote and the plan.
3. 3Confirm the plan, and read our terms and conditions, which explain how bookings work.
4. 4Ask for your driver's details before you arrive, and call a planner at any hour during the trip.