Renting a car in Nepal is a great way of transportation to explore throughout the country freely. Wherever you want to travel, whether it's a city, have a family road journey or an adventure on the off-road in the Himalayas, a car rental service will be the best option.
From the noisy streets of Kathmandu to the peaceful hills of Mustang, hiring a car is the foremost way to be on your own and flexible.
Rental cars will allow you to experience beautiful and stunning places where public and other transportation cannot reach.
Nonetheless, the process of car hiring in Nepal has its specific requirements as well as demands.
In this guide, you will know everything you need to know before you rent a car in Nepal so that you could have a beautiful journey to enjoy without anything to worry about.
Understand the road condition
The road leading to rural areas in Nepal is beautiful, but it is also unpredictable. Many roads to the countryside and mountainous regions are narrow, steep and situated on the banks of the river whereas bigger cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan have good conditions of road.
Sometime travellers might face the problem of landslides which occur quite often during the monsoon season and some places of Nepal cannot be easily reached through same cars.
For example, travellers will need 4WD vehicles to travel to the high altitude places such as Mustang or Rasuwa or any off roads and for city areas with paved roads any normal cars and electric vehicles are okay.
The best possible thing to do before hiring a car is to research your path and be ready with the type of roads that await you. Choosing a right car based on the road type will assure a comfortable and tension free travel experience.
Right Vehicle Selection
The experience of your travel depends on the vehicles that you choose. And the selection of your vehicles depends on your travelling route and the size of the passengers. Therefore, selecting the right car while travelling in Nepal is very important.
Due to the distinct terrains of Nepal, travellers need different types of vehicles to have a comfortable and smooth ride on any road.
For example, if you rent a car to travel in city areas, a small sedan or hatchback will be good and will enable you to drive through the narrow streets properly.
And a 4WD SUV like Scorpio or Toyota Hilux is highly advised to drive on any trip to hilly or off-road terrain due to ground clearance and stability.
Choose a trustworthy agency
Choosing a reputable and reliable rental agency is a primary thing to do before hiring a car in Nepal.
Don’t rely on whatever comes in your way, do your own research on the company first. A well established agency provides clear terms of service, good documentation of the vehicles, transparent prices and maintains cars regularly.
To avoid bad experiences while travelling, do some research online by reading reviews on Google, Facebook, or TripAdvisor, before you book.
From there you will know how trustworthy a company is, how they treat their customers and the quality of service they provide. A reliable firm will give you the best experience along with safety.
Be aware of the Traffic Rules
It is vital to learn the Nepal traffic regulations in case you intend to self drive. The first and most obvious thing you have to consider is that Nepal is a left-hand driving country, which can be strange for those who used to drive on the right side.
Along with this, speed limits in cities and towns is 50 km/h, and at 80 km/h on the highway. Passengers seatbelts as compulsory and helmets as well among the motorcyclists and pillions.
As far as drunk driving is concerned it is strongly discouraged and very now and then there are police check points to check documents and sobriety.
And you need to have your driving license, International Driving Permit (IDP) and your vehicle registration and insurance documents with you at all times.
Roads markings are few or even unclear and in the city streets are unpredictable with jaywalking, animals and road and no periodic traffic controls.
Insurance policy
One crucial thing to consider while renting a car in Nepal is insurance coverage. And to have insurance is very important because no one knows what will have happened in the future. Before hiring a car, ask the service provider about the insurance policies.
Most agencies offer nothing but affordable third-party insurance which can take care of damage to other people but not your and hired vehicle.
It is like staying on the safe side and also ensuring safety, in case damages happen to the car, theft, and accidents. That’s why you should find out whether the rental packages cover everything or only roadside coverage.
Have drivers or Self driving
Self driving gives you the freedom to take cars wherever you want at your own time. But not all the agencies allow self driving options.
Most of the rental companies offer packages that come with professional drivers along with self driving options and some provide only self driving or chauffeured options. It is important to know about chauffeured cars or self-driving cars because not all the agencies have both options.
It is better to know this before hiring because you have time to think about it and plan for it, whether you want cars with drivers or willing to drive at your own pace. So, when choosing an option, it's best to select based on the driving location and purpose of travelling.
Consider the Rental Agreement and Terms
Before confirming the car rental company in Nepal, it is important to read the rental agreement and terms carefully. This agreement paper gives all the details of what you expect from the renter and what the agency will give to you.
Don’t confirm through online or by phone, ask for a paper agreement and read attentively all the terms such as daily mileage restrictions, the policies of returning it on time, fuel restrictions, late charges, and coverage.
There are also some contracts that state whether you can drive in the off-road areas or beyond the city. And if you have any confusion, ask twice to confirm deposit policies, how much deposit needed, and when to return.
Understanding terms and policies before your trip will save you a lot of inconveniences and charges later.
Examine the vehicle physically first before booking
It is always better to check the car before booking it. Do not drive away without giving a detailed physical examination to the car you are renting.
Check the car inside and outside properly and examine whether there are any broken mirrors, broken lamps, dented caps, or scratches on the car.
And also check the AC, horn, rims, brakes, windshield cleaners, and headlamps to ensure that they are functioning properly or not.
Car seats must be neat and clean, and do not forget to ask for a basic tool kit just in case of emergencies. This will save you from unexpected blame when returning the car which was not your fault.
Pricing structure with what's included and not included
The cost of hiring cars in Nepal varies depending on the type of car, the period of rental and other additional services. Before hiring a car, compare the pricing structure of more than 3 agencies.
After comparing the price you will know whether they present transparent prices or they will add surprise charges later on.
And also make sure of what is included and what is not included in the package, like the fuel, tolls, parking and driver tip, and late penalties for returning without time.
Some agencies will add an additional charge so be clear about the cost breakdown that will assist you to budget the cost of traveling and also helps to avoid conflict over surprise costs.
Conclusion
Renting a car in Nepal opens limitless travel opportunities, and you can be free to go to beautiful places the way you want. However, in order to get the best out of your trip, preparation is the most important.
Whether you need to know the conditions of the road and select the appropriate car to inspect the sale package, traffic regulations, and laws, every detail counts.
Reserving some time in order to research and raise your curiosities to a reliable rental company will save you the unnecessary hassle of sorting out last-minute details, surprise charges, or even dangerous driving conditions.
With proper information and planning, your car rental journey in Nepal can become not just the convenient one but also one of the most pleasant experiences of your trip.
