[vb-saan]

I normally arrange a car with our ex-driver whenever I visit Kerala. He bring the car home and on the day of return, he drop me at the airport and handover the car back to the owner. If I remember correctly, the daily rate was around Rs. 900 - for a Ford Figo diesel.

Originally Posted by SajiNSalin

Driving in Kerala especially on the National Highway is a very stressful job. Driving in Germany and India are very different things. Why not hire an Innova with driver and let him do all the driving? You will have a lot of options in that case.

Driving in Kerala is stressful, but even more stressful is to sit in a car as a passenger with an unknown driver on Kerala roads. Just for that reason I prefer self-drive option whenever I visit home

[dhanushs]

You will have a hard time finding it online in Kerala. I hope you remember the Cochin days.

Come home, get out, walk through your town, ask friends and local taxi guys and you'll definitely land one. Especially in Alappuzha. If you still don't get it, give me a call.

[Johnnny]

Originally Posted by blackwasp

A friend recently hired a Jeep Compass from Nova Self Drive. (link - http://www.novaselfdrivecar.com/). He was happy with the service, but do note that the car will be a white board car.

If you don't mind that, you can contact the number mentioned on the website and check for pricing. IIRC, they offer a daily plan, e.g. you pay the fuel for use and fixed amount per day.

I didnt have a pleasant transaction with them during my last visit to Cochin. They are yet to pay my advance money back. They do have a wide range of cars(Only white board) which attracts a lot of foreigners as well and sadly sometimes you wont get the cars that we book in advance and ruin our trip. Hassle free approach,no background check,nothing and its a white board so mind it if you are into some trouble.

[SPIKE ARRESTOR]

Originally Posted by Jaggu

@Spike most of these are local business, but definitely there are quiet a few. Post the location where you need the vehicle? that would help folks from that area to help better.

I need the car in Kayamkulam, to be precise.

Originally Posted by SajiNSalin

Driving in Kerala especially on the National Highway is a very stressful job. Driving in Germany and India are very different things. Why not hire an Innova with driver and let him do all the driving? You will have a lot of options in that case.

Thank you for your suggestion, I've grown up in India and lived in Kerala for several years before moving to Germany, so I know what to expect. I'm Indian Wine matured in German Oak

Originally Posted by vb-san

Driving in Kerala is stressful, but even more stressful is to sit in a car as a passenger with an unknown driver on Kerala roads. Just for that reason I prefer self-drive option whenever I visit home

Exactly, I've wet pants the moment I see a driver sitting in an improper driving position.

Originally Posted by dhanushs

You will have a hard time finding it online in Kerala. I hope you remember the Cochin days.

I slowly realize this, it's not easy in Kerala.

Come home, get out, walk through your town, ask friends and local taxi guys and you'll definitely land one. Especially in Alappuzha. If you still don't get it, give me a call.

Ok, will have to try that as well. I asked Koya as well, he told "ippol sheri aaki tharaam" ("will arrange immediately") and disappeared.

Spike

[benbsb29]

I faced the same hassle when i was looking for a self drive car as a runabout in Kerala when i visited last May. There was a wedding in the family, and the primary car at home was being used by my brother and dad for various errands. Tried looking up Google and called up quite a few numbers i found. All led to a dead end. Some were downright disrespectful and condescending too.

The car rental entity in Kerala is very much an opaque business and runs entirely on references and word of mouth, from what i discovered. Unless you want to pay the big bucks, which goes against my spending pattern in general.

Finally swallowed my pride, and ended up borrowing my aunt's car which sees less running in general.

[supremeBaleno]

Originally Posted by SPIKE ARRESTOR

I need the car in Kayamkulam, to be precise.

This thread hasn't seen an update for 2+ weeks, so not sure if you were able to get the cars.

If not, let me know. Kayamkulam is close to my place & I can check around and link you to folks who have rental cars available.

[SPIKE ARRESTOR]

Originally Posted by benbsb29

All led to a dead end. Some were downright disrespectful and condescending too.

True, I had a dude (I found him on OLX), who tried to brainwash me that his 3 Series was a M3, which was not the case.

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

This thread hasn't seen an update for 2+ weeks, so not sure if you were able to get the cars.

If not, let me know. Kayamkulam is close to my place & I can check around and link you to folks who have rental cars available.

SupremeBaleno, no luck yet. I'm still looking for good options, would be great if you could help me out, we can PM if you like.

Spike

[supremeBaleno]

Just to confirm I understood your requirements right, you need an Innova & a white sedan in September, both for a week. And both will be self-driven.

Regarding the sedan, what specific model/brand or segment are you looking for ?

[drjkonline]

Interesting thread as Kerala is a unique place for Taxis and car rentals. I agree that things work more on word of mouth there. I stumbled upon this thread as I was looking for a car rental for 3 days from Cochin airport. Visiting places near Kayamkulam, Haripad and staying in Kuttanad area. Zoomcar shows Ecosport available for approx Rs. 8000/-with 390 kms included, which should meet my requirement. But their site for pickup seems to be Edapally toll, which is 17 kms from Airport. Any help from resident Kerala team-Bhp members would be appreciated, as my relatives in Kerala dont seem to be helping me out adequately in the word of mouth side of things.

[arif_t01]

Originally Posted by drjkonline

Interesting thread as Kerala is a unique place for Taxis and car rentals. I agree that things work more on word of mouth there. I stumbled upon this thread as I was looking for a car rental for 3 days from Cochin airport. Visiting places near Kayamkulam, Haripad and staying in Kuttanad area. Zoomcar shows Ecosport available for approx Rs. 8000/-with 390 kms included, which should meet my requirement. But their site for pickup seems to be Edapally toll, which is 17 kms from Airport. Any help from resident Kerala team-Bhp members would be appreciated, as my relatives in Kerala dont seem to be helping me out adequately in the word of mouth side of things.

A small suggestion. Did you ask them about handing over of the car from the Airport itself?

Or else, you could rent an Ola/Uber from the Airport to Zoomcar office at Edapally & continue from there. You could also return the vehicle to their office at Edapally when you are done & take an Ola/Uber back to the Airport too!

[drjkonline]

Originally Posted by arif_t01

A small suggestion. Did you ask them about handing over of the car from the Airport itself?

Or else, you could rent an Ola/Uber from the Airport to Zoomcar office at Edapally & continue from there. You could also return the vehicle to their office at Edapally when you are done & take an Ola/Uber back to the Airport too!

Thanks Arif. My mistake. I simply assumed there is no Uber or Ola in Kochi. As u say, will check vehicle delivery at Airport with Zoom Cars, otherwise will make the trip to Edapally with Ola/Uber.

[SPIKE ARRESTOR]

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

Just to confirm I understood your requirements right, you need an Innova & a white sedan in September, both for a week. And both will be self-driven.

Regarding the sedan, what specific model/brand or segment are you looking for ?

Hey SupremeBaleno, sorry, somehow I just missed your post. I need a car to lug around some of my guests, for a week. Innova would be the best, open to other choices as well. Minimum 5 persons should seat comfortably. Self-driven needed.

The white Sedan is needed basically for the wedding day as a wedding car, self-driven or with an accompanying driver is also fine. Looking for a BMW 5 or 7 series, Audi A5 or A6 (no Mercs, SUV's or modified cars).

Spike

[benbsb29]

Originally Posted by SPIKE ARRESTOR

The white Sedan is needed basically for the wedding day as a wedding car, self-driven or with an accompanying driver is also fine. Looking for a BMW 5 or 7 series, Audi A5 or A6 (no Mercs, SUV's or modified cars).

Spike

For my brother's wedding, he used a Jag, while the bride came in a white 5 series. Both came with driver. I believe the norm with these luxury cars is that they are usually available with the driver. Also, in my opinion on your wedding day, its better not to have to worry about these cars by being a self driven vehicle, and i would suggest taking the option with the driver included.

If you like, i can enquire about the contact details for that Bimmer.

[deetjohn]

Looks like there is a new one which just debuted over here - Indus Go.

I saw a lot with Swift, Ciaz, XUV, S-Cross, Innova etc. parked near Kakkanad with the company decal waiting for registration.

And a quick search took me to this FB page: https://www.facebook.com/indusgo/

Discounts and brand new cars await all those who book now.

[hamster]

Originally Posted by drjkonline

Thanks Arif. My mistake. I simply assumed there is no Uber or Ola in Kochi. As u say, will check vehicle delivery at Airport with Zoom Cars, otherwise will make the trip to Edapally with Ola/Uber.

Didnt know that this thread existed, when we went from Chennai to Kochi to Guruvayur in Feb.
Did lot of homework on this front on self drive Vs Rentals in Kochi and here are my couple of cents.
1) Zoom Car does not have a airport pickup/drop facilities. You might have to get down to the city either in Edapally or Palarivattom and get the car. No major support in terms speaking to somebody there locally in Zoom car. Since we were heading towards Guruvayur from airport, and the zoom car yard was towards the city, we dropped it.
2) Jiffycars.in - These guys do have an airport pickup and drop facility. But they charge separately for that. Also, unlike zoom, they charge for the fuel. The cost worked out almost equivalent to zoom (including their "first" time use discount code in their website). The guy is very helpful and had a long chat with him why I couldnt avail their service, even though their USP was airport pickup and drop

Finally called up my college mate in Kochi and got an chauffer driven Innova for a pickup and drop from the airport at a very reasonable rate. Infact the rate was very much similar to Jiffy/Zoom's cars (which we could take either a jazz/i20/ecosport).
Turned out to be a sensible decision, since we were two families travelling and both the designated drivers (read the husbands ) were dead tired after very long days at work, the previous week. Also, the roads were very narrow and though it would have been a fun to drive, we would have been more tired after the narrow, curvy, traffic, single lane road.
PM me, if you need the contact of the innova travels guy. Will be glad to help.