5 things your car dealer doesn’t want you to calculate

Summary

1. Get an itemised ON-ROAD quoteAsk for a written breakup of ex-showroom price, registration/road tax, insurance, TCS (if applicable), FASTag, accessories and every discount. Compare the final amount payable, not just the advertised discount.2. Compare insurance outside the dealershipYou are not required to buy insurance from the dealer. Compare outside quotes on the same IDV, deductible, coverage, cashless garages and add-ons such as Zero Dep, RTI and Engine Protect.3. Check the exact variant’s safetyDon’t judge safety only by the number of airbags. Check the applicable Bharat NCAP/crash-test rating, ESC, ISOFIX and other safety equipment. Make sure the rating actually applies to the variant/model you’re buying.4. Petrol, CNG or EV? Calculate break-evenDon’t choose only on fuel price. Calculate cost per km and how many kilometres you’ll need to drive to recover the higher purchase price of a CNG/EV version. Also consider charging, maintenance, insurance and resale.5. Check manufacturing date + do a PDIBefore accepting delivery, verify the VIN, manufacturing month/year and odometer. Inspect paint, panels, tyres, glass, lights, AC, electronics, warning lights, spare wheel, toolkit and keys.6. Calculate the REAL 5-year costUse this formula:On-road price + interest/fees + fuel/electricity + insurance + servicing + tyres/repairs − resale value.A cheaper car today isn’t necessarily the cheaper car to own.7. Check resale value before buyingLook at prices of 3–5-year-old used versions of the same model. Depreciation can cost you lakhs more than the ₹30,000– ₹50,000 discount you negotiated while buying.