Your Essential Guide to Buying an Auto Rickshaw

Auto Rickshaws are widely used for transport as passenger vehicles, for cargos and also for personal usage due to its affordable price and cheaper fare then car taxis. Being compact in size and having only three wheels an autorickshaw is very much commutable. In the rainy season people consider auto rickshaw over their own bike or booking a car taxi as the fair is affordable and saves us from getting wet. 

Buying an auto rickshaw takes a lot of effort. Some people’s bread and butter is dependent on their auto rickshaw if they are using it as a passenger vehicle. 

Hence here we are going to discuss what aspects need to be kept in mind while buying an auto rickshaw:

Purpose of Buying an Auto Rickshaw

Before buying an Auto Rickshaw it is crucial to decide your purpose and needs. Be clear in your mind whether you are buying it for:

• Passenger Transport - Most people buy an Auto Rickshaw for earning purpose due to the passengers choosing Auto rather than a bus to avoid not a getting a seat fear.
• For Cargo - to transport small size goods to a measurable distance.
• For Personal use

Types of Auto Rickshaw

Currently four types of Auto Rickshaws are available in the market based on their fuel types:

1. Petrol Auto rickshaw - They are commonly used, have good power hence can be used for long and short distance both.
2. CNG Auto Rickshaw - They are more affordable and have better fuel efficiency but less power than petrol and Diesel Auto 
3. Diesel Auto Rickshaw - Most powerful Auto rickshaw, mainly for heavy use and long distance, not so eco- friendly
4. Electric Auto Rickshaw or E - Rickshaw - Work on electricity hence require a battery, highly eco- friendly.

New vs Used Auto Rickshaw

Before buying keep the comparison in mind: 

New

• Has long life and low maintenance - A new engine has a life span of 10 to 20 years, hence can be used for long years and does not require maintenance constantly.
• Has company warranty - Generally new auto - rickshaw comes with 5 years of company warranty hence any problem before this time period can be checked by the company service center for free.
• Buyer needs to pay a higher upfront price. 

Used or Old 

• less warranty - not buying from the company hence you will receive very less warranty or no warranty at all.
• Maintenance depends on engine condition - as the engine gets older it starts causing problems hence the maintenance costs higher.  
• Affordable - can be purchased in half of the price then the new one hence it is affordable
• Check documents such as insurance, PUC certificates thoroughly before buying. All the documents should be proper and updated.

Deciding Budget and Finance Options

Budget is the key factor to buy a vehicle. Auto Rickshaws range from 2 to 4 lakh depending on the brands. Before buying, decide a budget according to your needs. 

Finance and loan

• Contact several finance companies and banks for vehicle loan 
• Compare their finance offers 
• Compare the prices and EMI options of several dealers 

Top Brands

Here are the top 5 reputed brand Of Auto Rickshaws:

1. Bajaj - They have high durability and good performance 
2. Mahindra - comes in both electric and bio fuel options 
3. Tvs - Affordable and provide descent performance 
4. Piaggio - good for heavy use such as in cargos and transporting goods 
5. Atul - powerful and affordable 

Features to Evaluate Before Purchase 

• Engine Power - Diesel engine gives more power than a petrol or CNG engine and good for heavy cargo 
• Mileage - Mileage decides the everyday running cost of the vehicle 
• Build quality - Higher build quality = better safety 
• Comfort - comfort depends on suspension and seating 

Pre - Purchase Inspection

Before taking the delivery of your auto, book a pre - purchase inspection to check:

• Fit and finishing of the vehicle - The paint and finish should be up to the mark 
• Check Odometer - It should read zero
• Gear and braking system - Gears shifting should be smooth and handy with responsive braking system 

Maintenance and After - Sale Services

Choose a brand that gives you the best after - sale services. A brand’s reputation is affected by the quality of after sale service they provide hence compare all brands wisely.

• Go to brands website and check the reviews of after - sale services
• Talk to the people who already have an Auto Rickshaw from a particular brand
• Check reviews on third party sites for better understanding. 

Make sure that the company's service center is at an accessible distance from your resident.

Buying an Electric Auto Rickshaw is a Good Decision?

Polluted environment around us is forcing people and the government to take action. Petrol and diesel vehicles take a big part in polluting the environment. Hence electric vehicles such as E - Rickshaw can be a better option than a petrol or diesel Auto - Rickshaw.

Benefits of an electric Auto - Rickshaw are:

• Low running cost since it does not require bio- fuel.
• Silent and eco - friendly hence do not cause sound and air pollution.
• Less maintenance - Only battery need s to be changed timely 
• Subsidy from the government - Since environment is big issue, government is also promoting E - Auto Rickshaw by giving subsidy 

Final Thoughts 

Buying an auto - rickshaw is not about buying a vehicle, it is more about livelihood source. Hence a deep market research is required before buying the vehicle. Most people buy it from a known dealership without checking the quality, fit and finish of the vehicle and get scammed. So before buying, understanding your needs, a correct comparison, and checking reviews are required to buy smartly. 

For buying or selling vehicles ZoneZepper is helping people with its free classified ads facility. Buyers and sellers can post ads of their vehicle for free on zonezapper.in.