[ajmat]

I hired two Innova Crystas through Vailankani.

Very professional and immediate response over WhatsApp.

• You need to call and reconfirm the day before you take the cars
• They will provide the numbers of the delivery drivers who will contact you on landing
• You meet them in the car park and they video the car and collect your ID.
• You make full payment either by cash or UPI plus Rs 1500 for collection /delivery in cash.
• Do check the day before on who will collect the car - I messaged them and they said the same drivers will collect.
• I contacted the drivers who instructed us to stop at a designated pillar in the departure area at a designated time. I rang 20 min before to ensure they were there.
• Handover happened in 10 min
• The cars were given with hardly any fuel. My gang filled up full tanks. They got 30 litres for free.
• I did hit a small hidden boulder and there was slight damage but that was ignored may be due to the fuel in the tank.

Overall, they were professional and highly recommended.

[simplynitin]

Rented a carens diesel iMT from Vailankani (goacars.in) for 3 days. Initially had booked Innova but later realised that it had captains seats. We were 6 adults and 2 toddlers, would have been difficult to accomodate with captains seats. Spoke to them just a day before arrival and they happily switched to 7 seater carens. The pickup was smooth and took just 15 minutes, most of it recording a walkaround video to capture the existing minor scratches. The car had around 30k on odo and drove very well. No issues were observed. The drop off took less than 10 minutes. Pickup and drop location was dabolim airport. Only point of grouse is that you need to walk till the airport exit toll with all the luggage. But that's not the issue specific to vailankani, it's for all self drive rentals. Something for goa airport to look at.
Overall 5 stars and would recommend to anyone looking to rent self drive cars in Goa.

[SaNdY_AR]

which one did you guys who have booked with Vailankanni book?

There are three of them that I can see

Vailankanni Auto Hires
Vailankanni car rentals
Goacars.in

Please guide. I am looking for a no nonsense self drive experience.

regards
Sandy

[lamborghini]

Originally Posted by SaNdY_AR

which one did you guys who have booked with Vailankanni book?

There are three of them that I can see

Vailankanni Auto Hires
Vailankanni car rentals
Goacars.in

Please guide. I am looking for a no nonsense self drive experience.

regards
Sandy

I think they're one and the same.
I generally connect through whatsapp: +91-9822101598

[simplynitin]

Originally Posted by SaNdY_AR

which one did you guys who have booked with Vailankanni book?

There are three of them that I can see

Vailankanni Auto Hires
Vailankanni car rentals
Goacars.in

Please guide. I am looking for a no nonsense self drive experience.

regards
Sandy

I also connected with them through WhatsApp @ +91 98221 01598

[ashkamath]

Originally Posted by ajmat

I hired two Innova Crystas through Vailankani.

Very professional and immediate response over WhatsApp.
[*]The cars were given with hardly any fuel. My gang filled up full tanks. They got 30 litres for free.

Overall, they were professional and highly recommended.

Most of the on hire taxi companies in Goa are very professional and responsive.
Regarding the car given with hardly any fuel, this is the common and simple way the car / 2 wheeler rentals make additional money. The tourists who visit have much less idea about the fuel efficiency of the car, the distance they could cover during their stay and are generally want to be safe and hence always tend to fill more than necessary.

Next time you are renting a car from Goa, insist of Full tank to full tank basis. The full tank will be on auto stop basis at the same fuel station. There are multiple fuel stations around Dabolim airport within a distance of 2-3 Kms radius.

This is how you could do.
Once the car comes to the airport ask the driver to drive to the nearest fuel pump and fill her upto auto stop and hand it over to you. The driver from rental company will pay for the fuel this time. So, you get a full tank car.

You can then drive back 2-3 Kms or less to airport, pick up your family and luggage and drive away.

While returning, factor in 10 minutes for this exercise. arrive at airport and drop your family and luggage, pick up the driver and drive to the fuel pump and again at the same dispenser, fill her up till auto stop. Now you pay for the fuel and return the car full tank.

For the 2-3 kms you take the car from airport to fuel pump and back, it should be complimentary as you are already paying a hefty rental per day to the company and 2-3 Kms is not a big deal. However if you feel the need to pay, you could pay Rs 100-150 for the same.

All you need is some 10 minute extra time both when you arrive and when you depart and you could save a couple of thousand of rupees here.

I reside in Goa and I discuss these matters with the local rental agencies. They listen to me, smile and brush it off. The whole point is. If the customer is not bothered, why should we?

If every visitor to Goa follow this Full tank to full tank process, everyone could save some money and the transaction will be much more precise. You pay for what you use, so to say. Again let them not tell you that there are no petrol pump close by etc. Just a small search on Google map will throw you a couple of fuel pumps around Dabolim within 2-3 kms radis. I live 2 Kms from Dabolim airport and so, I know.

This is not limited to Dabolim. The same can be done at Madgao railway station, panaji bus stand or any other place. However it may not be possible at the new Mopa international airport as it is quite away from the cities and the nearest fuel station I believe is atleast over 10 Kms or more.

[rayjaycleoful]

Originally Posted by rayjaycleoful

- Clear and crisp communication on WhatsApp
- Sharing of details of the pick-up/ delivery guy beforehand
- Mechanically strong and clean car

Self drive rentals are the most convenient and cheapest way to move around in Goa. Do it if you think you are skilled enough and are comfortable on narrow Goa/undivided roads. You will see more self drive rentals than white number plate cars everywhere.

Will definitely take a Thar/ V cross in a future trip

Quoting my own post after another trip to Goa and another rental from the same company. Was a much larger group this time so took 2 Crysta AT and 1 Ertiga manual. They gave each to us at less than advertised price for a couple of days' rental (maybe less tourism?). The Thar/ V cross fascination didn't last; maybe if they get the Thar Roxx soon.

I would hire from Vailankanni again due to the merits in quoted post.

About the cars:
> Mechanically were fine but had a decent number of battle scars and dented/ painted panels - do take a proper video always
> None of the reverse cameras worked/ worked accurately. I think the base Crystas don't even have sensors so we were doing guided reverses
> Crystas had speed limiters at 80, Ertiga did not
> Crystas are the most typical BOF - amazing power (torque) even when fully loaded up, you can drive in the bumpy & windy roads with ease. Though the steering is very hard for anything except a straight road
> Ertiga though manual was less hectic to manouvre; I wish they had an option of automatic Ertigas for hire as well but personally picked the Crysta every time over it for the diesel fun
> Drove a manual car (Ertiga) after almost a year and was pleasantly surprised at the pep - I now understand how the Gurgaon MNC cab drivers fly around in these

Originally Posted by ashkamath

Again let them not tell you that there are no petrol pump close by etc. Just a small search on Google map will throw you a couple of fuel pumps around Dabolim within 2-3 kms radis. I live 2 Kms from Dabolim airport and so, I know.

You, sir, make a lot of sense but unfortunately I don't see this changing for a long time. The rental guys always win because of the margin of extra fuel filled by the previous renter OR the money taken from the previous renter due to even one bar of fuel mismatch.

[RM Motorsports]

I have an upcoming trip to Goa next weekend. Though I will be driving to Goa, and some friends will be flying, we will need another rental car as we are 6 of us. I was searching for rental cars and came across this video.

They have hatchbacks to luxury SUVs. Swifts to Cretas to Fortuners to Audis. Incase if we rent a car from them, will share the experience once back from Goa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOzvZ_C0vV0

[ashkamath]

Originally Posted by RM Motorsports

I have an upcoming trip to Goa next weekend. Though I will be driving to Goa, and some friends will be flying, we will need another rental car as we are 6 of us. I was searching for rental cars and came across this video.

As a Goan resident, I suggest you drive down to Goa and take time to check around for self drive cars. There' are self drive rental agency on every second Street here. It's not a difficult issue. Chances are your hotel/accomodation guy will have self drive cars to offer.

The reason I am mentioning is don't rush and get into a deal that's inconvenient to you. The daily rates are almost standard across the state. Do not take a private registered car (black board). Many people try to rent their private cars and it's illegal and cops are on the lookout for such tourists. Always opt for the proper rental car with Yellow on black plate. It should be non negotiable.

Self drive cars from airport is a good idea, but don't rush into it. Don't hurry. Take it easy, inspect the car, take a video of the car, odo meter, and check spare tyre /accessories too.

Normally they give you car with almost No fuel and you have to fill her up. This is a ploy to extract maximum from the tourist as when you return the car, definitely you would be leaving a lot more petrol than when you receive it.

Ask for a full tank to full tank method. They give the car full tank and you return the car full tank. If the airport is Dabolim, then the nearest petrol pump is Karma petrol station in Chicalim which is about 3 Kms from airport or any petrol pump in Vasco city (max 3-4 kms). So while returning keep another 30 minutes extra for any last moment arguments or issues raised by the car lender.

If your destination is South Goa, then never choose Mopa airport as it's quite far, almost at Maharashtra border and takes a couple of hours to reach. It's remote without any facilities. Opt for Dabolim airport as it's a couple of kms from Vasco City.

Call your hotel guy and inquire if they offer a self drive rental car. The chances are they do and you could strike a better bargain. There are plenty of options available, so do not get into FOMO mode.

Drive safely in Goa. No drink and drive as Goan police always are on lookout for drunk tourists driving. They are prized catch for them. Stay safe.

[am1m]

Originally Posted by ashkamath

Drive safely in Goa. No drink and drive as Goan police always are on lookout for drunk tourists driving. They are prized catch for them. Stay safe.

Thanks ashkamath, very good info in your post. I'd also add for all of us tourists driving in Goa, please be considerate where you park. A lot of roads are narrow and a badly parked car, especially on the narrow roads leading to beaches like Palolem causes a lot of hassles for other vehicles. Nothing wrong with walking a bit if there is no parking right in front of the restaurant or beach you want to visit, good for health!

Also please consider where you take selfies. Have lost count of the number of times I've seen idiot tourists park around blind corners, especially on the old highway between South Goa and Madgaon, just to take selfies! Completely dangerous.

[mugen_pinaki27]

Self drove Swift in and around Goa

Given the relatively dilapidated roads of Northern Goa, I dropped my initial plan of travelling across Goa on a scooter with my wife. Called up Ketan Cars and Bikes in Anjuna and he set me up with a fabulous 2019 (IIRC) Swift AMT. Now, I was a bit hesitant at first, since I had no experience with an AMT but after a quick spin in and around my hotel premises, I felt good. And off we went to explore Goa in all her beauty!

What was great!
• The refinement was on another level. Having recently purchased a pre-owned 2019 Tata Tiago XZ+, I wished for the same smoothness in my steed. Sigh!
• The brakes had a strong bite. Once or twice, I almost did a wild stoppie. But over a week of traversing across Goa’s roads, I eventually learned the controls.
• While the front doors closed with a seemingly reassuring “thud”, the rear doors were tinny.
• Triple-digit speeds felt good but nowhere as safe as it felt on the Tiago.

What was not so great!
• The tyres could have done with a little more grip. On a few sections of the road going towards Palolem beach, I felt the grip could have been better.
• The body shell did not inspire that much confidence. Having been spoilt with the “heft” of the Tiago, I took it a bit easy.
• The audio system did not “Wow” me. Again, kudos to Tata for having spoilt me with their terrific audio setup.
• The car, despite having driven carefully, did pick up a lot of dings and subtle scratches. Thanks to the silver paint, however, they didn't irk Ketan. He was cool about the whole deal


About Ketan Car and Bike Rental, Anjuna

Just a day prior to leaving for Goa, did a quick Google search and came across this fellow. The multiple 4.5+ star ratings gave me the confidence to approach him and enquire about available vehicles. Having not ridden in Goa previously, I asked for a scooter. He gave me an almost new Yamaha Fascino with 6000 km on the odo. I was impressed with the refinement but chuckled at the fact that the speedometer cable was disconnected. I was told that due to flooding, a lot of the wires get eroded away. Hence, the cable was removed. Anyhow, the scooter performed admirably well. But the roads in and around Anjuna made me a bit nervous. When I communicated my intention to Ketan about switching from a scooter to a car, he was cool about it. He personally came to hand over the Swift with half a tank and asked me to take it easy, which I did. Interestingly, on the last day of our stay in Goa, he was gracious enough to drop us off at Manohar International Airport (for a fee, of course) but nothing that was not palatable. Though the guard at my hotel did warn me that he was overarching me, the quality of his vehicles and his mannerisms overshadowed that sentiment. All in all, I would recommend the guy highly if you are anywhere in and around Anjuna.

Scooter fare: 500 Rs/day with 2 bars left
Swift AMT fare: 1300 Rs/day with half a tank

Was the price alright per December 2024 standards or was it a shade high? Do let me know my fellow BHPians.

Cheers!