{"id":25663225,"date":"2026-10-18T20:18:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T14:48:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/?p=25663225"},"modified":"2026-10-18T20:18:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T14:48:12","slug":"smart-way-to-buy-a-car-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/smart-way-to-buy-a-car-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Smart Way to Buy a Car in India"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ad4f6b1bd9b4\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ad4f6b1bd9b4\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/smart-way-to-buy-a-car-in-india\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/smart-way-to-buy-a-car-in-india\/#Why_the_Showroom_Price_is_not_Your_Real_Price\" >Why the Showroom Price is not Your Real Price<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/smart-way-to-buy-a-car-in-india\/#Step_1_Set_Your_Budget_Before_Visiting_a_Showroom\" >Step 1: Set Your Budget Before Visiting a Showroom<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/smart-way-to-buy-a-car-in-india\/#Step_2_Match_the_Car_to_Your_Real_Usage\" >Step 2: Match the Car to Your Real Usage<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/smart-way-to-buy-a-car-in-india\/#Step_3_Compare_On-Road_Quotes_Not_Ex-Showroom_Prices\" >Step 3: Compare On-Road Quotes, Not Ex-Showroom Prices<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/smart-way-to-buy-a-car-in-india\/#Step_4_New_Car_or_Used_Car\" >Step 4: New Car or Used Car?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/smart-way-to-buy-a-car-in-india\/#Step_5_Finance_Without_Overstretching\" >Step 5: Finance Without Overstretching<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/smart-way-to-buy-a-car-in-india\/#Step_6_Test_Drive_Inspect_and_Negotiate\" >Step 6: Test Drive, Inspect and Negotiate<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/smart-way-to-buy-a-car-in-india\/#Step_7_Insure_the_Car_Properly\" >Step 7: Insure the Car Properly<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/smart-way-to-buy-a-car-in-india\/#Step_8_Calculate_Your_Five-Year_Ownership_Cost\" >Step 8: Calculate Your Five-Year Ownership Cost<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/smart-way-to-buy-a-car-in-india\/#How_Car_Advertisements_Shape_Your_Decision\" >How Car Advertisements Shape Your Decision<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/smart-way-to-buy-a-car-in-india\/#Common_Car-Buying_Mistakes\" >Common Car-Buying Mistakes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/smart-way-to-buy-a-car-in-india\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>The smart way to go about buying a car is to get your total ownership budget sorted first. Then you can pick a vehicle that will fit its on-road price, EMI, insurance, fuel costs, servicing and depreciation comfortably inside it. A car is a recurring financial commitment that goes on long after you drive it off the lot. So it is not just a one-time purchase.<\/p>\n<p>A well-used rule of thumb has it that you should keep the EMI at 10 to 15% of your monthly take-home pay and put in at least 20% down. In India, the on-road price typically comes in 10 to 20% higher than the ex-showroom price. An 8 lakh loan at 9% over five years will add up to a whacking 1.96 lakh in interest alone.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a style=\"text-align: center;\" href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/course\/personal-finance-course-in-kerala\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Ace your personal finance journey with Entri&#8217;s Personal Finance Online Course. Join Now!<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Budget for the on-road price, not the advertised ex-showroom price.<\/li>\n<li>Keep the EMI within 10% to 15% of your monthly take-home pay.<\/li>\n<li>Aim for a 20% down payment and a 3 to 5 year loan tenure.<\/li>\n<li>Small cars attract 18% GST. Larger cars attract 40%.<\/li>\n<li>Cars above \u20b910 lakh attract 1% TCS on the full sale value.<\/li>\n<li>Insurance, fuel, servicing, and depreciation add to the real cost.<\/li>\n<li>Low EMI or zero-down-payment offers are marketing hooks, not proof of affordability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_the_Showroom_Price_is_not_Your_Real_Price\"><\/span><strong>Why the Showroom Price is not Your Real Price<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The ex-showroom price is basically just the starting price. Then you have got road tax, registration, insurance, FASTag, fuel costs, servicing, tyres, parking and depreciation all stacked on top. Three recent bits of info that matter:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h4><strong>GST 2.0:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">Since September 22nd 2025 \u2013 small petrol cars up to 1,200 cc and small diesel cars up to 1,500 cc, both under 4 metres, are only charged at 18% GST. The bigger cars and SUVs come in at 40% flat with the old cess gone, and electric cars are at 5%.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h4><strong>TCS:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">Sellers collect 1% Tax Collected at Source on cars above 10 lakh rupees, on the entire sale value. It is now covered under Section 394 of the Income-tax Act 2025, and you can claim it back when you do your taxes.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h4><strong>Road Tax:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">It is a state thing, so the cost gap between showroom and on-road varies wildly from city to city. And then there is depreciation \u2013 it is steeper than most buyers expect.<\/p>\n<p>The insurance schedule used to calculate the value of your car when it gets insured assumes that up till six months it&#8217;s only 5% down, for 6 to 12 months its 15%, then 20% in year 2, 30% in year 3, 40% in year 4 and 50% in year 5.<\/p>\n<p>What you do get in the actual resale values does vary by brand and model, but the trend is clear<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_1_Set_Your_Budget_Before_Visiting_a_Showroom\"><\/span><strong>Step 1: Set Your Budget Before Visiting a Showroom<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Decide the maximum you can spend without touching your emergency fund, rent, education costs or investments. Then work backwards from the EMI.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Example:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Take-home income of \u20b912 lakh a year is \u20b91 lakh a month. A 10% to 15% EMI limit means \u20b910,000\u2013\u20b915,000, which at 9% over five years supports a loan of roughly \u20b94.8 to \u20b97.2 lakh.<\/p>\n<p>Add a 20% down payment and your on-road budget is about \u20b96 lakh to \u20b99 lakh.If you have dependents, existing loans or irregular income, stay at the lower end.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_2_Match_the_Car_to_Your_Real_Usage\"><\/span><strong>Step 2: Match the Car to Your Real Usage<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Your usage<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Suitable choice<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Financial logic<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Daily city commute<\/td>\n<td>Hatchback or compact sedan<\/td>\n<td>Lower price, fuel and maintenance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Small family, occasional highway trips<\/td>\n<td>Compact SUV or sedan<\/td>\n<td>Balance of comfort and cost<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Short commute, reliable charging<\/td>\n<td>Electric car<\/td>\n<td>Low running cost; check battery warranty<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_3_Compare_On-Road_Quotes_Not_Ex-Showroom_Prices\"><\/span><strong>Step 3: Compare On-Road Quotes, Not Ex-Showroom Prices<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Call every dealer and ask them for a written, itemised quote covering the ex-showroom price, road tax, registration, insurance, FASTag, TCS (if it applies) and any extra features you want.<\/p>\n<p>New cars do come with three years of third-party cover and one year of own-damage cover. So keep that in mind. And never, ever finance non-essential accessories.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333; font-size: 15px;\"><div class=\"lead-gen-block\"><a href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Personal-Finance-coursePDF.pdf\" data-url=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Personal-Finance-coursePDF.pdf\" class=\"lead-pdf-download\" data-id=\"25556854\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><button class=\"btn btn-default\">free download PERSONAL FINANCE course roadmap<\/button><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_4_New_Car_or_Used_Car\"><\/span><strong>Step 4: New Car or Used Car?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Factor<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>New car<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Used car<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Upfront cost<\/td>\n<td>Higher<\/td>\n<td>Lower<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Depreciation<\/td>\n<td>Steepest in early years<\/td>\n<td>Slower after the initial drop<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Warranty<\/td>\n<td>Usually comprehensive<\/td>\n<td>Limited or expired<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Maintenance risk<\/td>\n<td>Lower initially<\/td>\n<td>Higher without service history<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Before buying used, verify the registration certificate, service records, accident and claim history, pending challans and tyre and battery condition, and get an independent mechanic&#8217;s inspection.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_5_Finance_Without_Overstretching\"><\/span><strong>Step 5: Finance Without Overstretching<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A loan should help ease your cash flow, not stretch it to the breaking point. Compare<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>real interest rate<\/li>\n<li>processing fee<\/li>\n<li>prepayment charges<\/li>\n<li>total repayment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>New-car loan rates right now start at roughly 7.5% to 9% a year, depending on the lender, your credit history, and the length of the loan you choose.<\/p>\n<p>And rates are moving too \u2013 the RBI hiked the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50% back in October 2026, its first increase since February 2023. So floating-rate loans may get more expensive, although the pass-through does differ from lender to lender.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Tenure (\u20b98 lakh at 9%)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Monthly EMI<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Total interest<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3 years<\/td>\n<td>\u20b925,440<\/td>\n<td>\u20b91.16 lakh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>5 years<\/td>\n<td>\u20b916,607<\/td>\n<td>\u20b91.96 lakh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>7 years<\/td>\n<td>\u20b912,871<\/td>\n<td>\u20b92.81 lakh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Total interest equals (EMI \u00d7 number of months) minus the loan amount. A longer tenure lowers the EMI but raises the interest. So if the numbers feel tight, increase the down payment or choose a cheaper car.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_6_Test_Drive_Inspect_and_Negotiate\"><\/span><strong>Step 6: Test Drive, Inspect and Negotiate<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Before you sign the dotted line, you have to negotiate the final on road price and get quotes from at least two or three car dealerships in the area. Don&#8217;t even think about signing before you have taken a few things for a spin:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Take the car out for a real test drive \u2013 not just a spin around the block but on some smooth roads, rough roads and even through heavy traffic.<\/li>\n<li>Have a look at crash test ratings, you know the ones where they see how well the car stands up to being crashed. Also check out how many airbags it has.<\/li>\n<li>In India, six airbags aren&#8217;t even mandatory but Bharat NCAP \u2013 which is the Indian equivalent of the Euro NCAP \u2013 will be rating cars on how safe they are and how well they hold up in a crash starting from 2023.<\/li>\n<li>And then ignore all the &#8220;today only&#8221; hype \u2013 just be cool and ignore it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_7_Insure_the_Car_Properly\"><\/span><strong>Step 7: Insure the Car Properly<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You have got to get third-party insurance, by law. It will cover you if you accidentally hurt someone or damage their property. But just so you know, it won&#8217;t pay for fixing your car.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Insurance type<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>What it covers<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Best for<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Third-party only<\/td>\n<td>Liability to others<\/td>\n<td>Minimum legal compliance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Own-damage cover<\/td>\n<td>Your car&#8217;s damage or theft<\/td>\n<td>Owners with valid third-party cover<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Comprehensive<\/td>\n<td>Third-party plus own damage<\/td>\n<td>Most new and financed cars<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Add-ons<\/td>\n<td>Zero depreciation, engine protection, roadside help<\/td>\n<td>Broader protection<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Shop around for renewal quotes every year, rather than just letting it auto-renew. Have a look at the insured declared value, deductibles, how to make a claim and what kind of garages are in the insurance network.<\/p>\n<p>One thing that can make a real difference is a No Claim Bonus &#8211; it can save you up to 50% on own-damage premiums and you can even take this to a new car you might buy.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_8_Calculate_Your_Five-Year_Ownership_Cost\"><\/span><strong>Step 8: Calculate Your Five-Year Ownership Cost<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you think about it, a \u20b910 lakh on road car and a \u20b92 lakh down payment means you have got to pay off \u20b98 lakh, plus all the interest that comes with it, not to mention all the other stuff like insurance, fuel, servicing, tyres and parking.<\/p>\n<p>Do not forget about depreciation \u2013 that is the bit that nobody ever tells you about that can really add up over time. Two cars that might seem to have the same price tag can really end up being very different in terms of what they actually cost you.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Car_Advertisements_Shape_Your_Decision\"><\/span><strong>How Car Advertisements Shape Your Decision<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Car ads are really good at making you think about all the things you want out of a car, like how safe it is, how much fun you can have in it, and how it fits in with the rest of your family. A nice cinematic advert for a fancy SUV can make a car that is not really right for you feel like you can&#8217;t live without it.<\/p>\n<p>If you take a closer look at a breakdown of our <a href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/mercedes-benz-marketing-strategy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">marketing strategy for Mercedes-Benz<\/a> for example, you&#8217;ll see how car brands manage to build emotional connections like this.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Ad message<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Emotional trigger<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Reality check<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>&#8220;Drive your dream&#8221;<\/td>\n<td>Aspiration, status<\/td>\n<td>Does the EMI fit your budget?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>&#8220;Protect your family&#8221;<\/td>\n<td>Safety, responsibility<\/td>\n<td>Compare crash ratings, not slogans<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>&#8220;Zero down payment&#8221;<\/td>\n<td>Instant affordability<\/td>\n<td>Bigger loan, more interest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>&#8220;EMI starting at\u2026&#8221;<\/td>\n<td>Low monthly burden<\/td>\n<td>Check tenure, interest, final payment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>&#8220;Limited-period offer&#8221;<\/td>\n<td>Urgency, FOMO<\/td>\n<td>Verify the deadline is genuine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>But before you let an ad influence your decision, just remember:<\/p>\n<p>What is it actually claiming?<\/p>\n<p>Then what emotion is it using to make you feel a certain way?<\/p>\n<p>What is missing from what it&#8217;s saying?<\/p>\n<p>And most importantly, would you still want to buy the car even if it was all stripped back to the bare basics \u2013 no music, no celebrity, no deadline to meet?<\/p>\n<p>Take something like \u2018Zero down payment, EMI starting at \u20b99,999\u2019 for example. Sure, the loan amount, rate, tenure, fees and any balloon payment might not be mentioned. But that low EMI often comes with a much longer loan term and a lot higher interest.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a style=\"text-align: center;\" href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/course\/personal-finance-course-in-kerala\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Ace your personal finance journey with Entri&#8217;s Personal Finance Online Course. Join Now!<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_Car-Buying_Mistakes\"><\/span><strong>Common Car-Buying Mistakes<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Buying the most expensive car your loan eligibility allows.<\/li>\n<li>Treating a low EMI as proof of affordability.<\/li>\n<li>Financing accessories and unnecessary add-ons.<\/li>\n<li>Skipping an independent inspection on a used car.<\/li>\n<li>Using up your emergency fund on the down payment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The smartest buyer does things a bit differently from the rest. They work out their budget first, then figure out the ownership costs, then do a bit of comparison shopping, and only then do they even think about stepping foot in a showroom.<\/p>\n<p>Car adverts are useful for getting an idea of how a brand positions its cars. But never take an advert as any kind of financial advice. When the purchase fits with your income, how you use your car, and your long term goals, then a car becomes a useful asset, rather than a pricey liability.<\/p>\n<div class=\"alert alert-warning\"><strong>Disclaimer:<\/strong> The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, financial guidance, or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Readers should conduct their own research or consult a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. The author(s) and the publisher disclaim any liability for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance on the information provided herein.<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>RELATED POSTS<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/debt-snowball-vs-debt-avalanche\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Debt Snowball vs Debt Avalanche: Which Method Clears Debt Faster?<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/what-happens-to-debt-after-a-person-dies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>What Happens to Debt after a Person Dies?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/how-to-check-if-someone-took-a-loan-in-your-name\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>How to Check If Someone Took a Loan in Your Name<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/cibil-score-under-730\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>CIBIL Score Under 730? RBI\u2019s Expected Credit Loss Framework Could Shut the Loan Door<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/entri.app\/blog\/why-rich-dad-poor-dad-author-robert-kiyosaki-says-he-is-in-debt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Why &#8216;Rich Dad, Poor Dad&#8217; Author Robert Kiyosaki Says He is $1.2 Billion in Debt<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"modal\" id=\"modal25556854\"><div class=\"modal-content\"><span class=\"close-button\">&times;<\/span>\n<div>\n<div class=\"wpcf7 no-js\" id=\"wpcf7-f25556854-o1\" lang=\"en-US\" dir=\"ltr\" data-wpcf7-id=\"25556854\">\n<div class=\"screen-reader-response\"><p role=\"status\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\"><\/p> <ul><\/ul><\/div>\n<form action=\"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25663225#wpcf7-f25556854-o1\" method=\"post\" class=\"wpcf7-form init\" aria-label=\"Contact form\" novalidate=\"novalidate\" data-status=\"init\">\n<fieldset class=\"hidden-fields-container\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7\" value=\"25556854\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_version\" value=\"6.1.6\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_locale\" value=\"en_US\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_unit_tag\" value=\"wpcf7-f25556854-o1\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_container_post\" value=\"0\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_posted_data_hash\" value=\"\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7cf_hidden_group_fields\" value=\"[]\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7cf_hidden_groups\" value=\"[]\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7cf_visible_groups\" value=\"[]\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7cf_repeaters\" value=\"[]\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7cf_steps\" value=\"{}\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7cf_options\" value=\"{&quot;form_id&quot;:25556854,&quot;conditions&quot;:[{&quot;then_field&quot;:&quot;group-coding&quot;,&quot;and_rules&quot;:[{&quot;if_field&quot;:&quot;course&quot;,&quot;operator&quot;:&quot;equals&quot;,&quot;if_value&quot;:&quot;Coding&quot;}]},{&quot;then_field&quot;:&quot;group-accounting&quot;,&quot;and_rules&quot;:[{&quot;if_field&quot;:&quot;course&quot;,&quot;operator&quot;:&quot;equals&quot;,&quot;if_value&quot;:&quot;Commerce&quot;}]}],&quot;settings&quot;:{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;animation_intime&quot;:200,&quot;animation_outtime&quot;:200,&quot;conditions_ui&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;notice_dismissed&quot;:false,&quot;repeater_remove_button&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;notice_dismissed_update-cf7-5.9.8&quot;:true,&quot;notice_dismissed_update-cf7-6.1.1&quot;:true}}\" \/>\n<\/fieldset>\n<p><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"full_name\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text wpcf7-validates-as-required\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"Name\" value=\"\" type=\"text\" name=\"full_name\" \/><\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"phone\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-tel wpcf7-validates-as-required wpcf7-text wpcf7-validates-as-tel\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"Phone\" value=\"\" type=\"tel\" name=\"phone\" \/><\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"email_id\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-email wpcf7-text wpcf7-validates-as-email\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"Email\" value=\"\" type=\"email\" name=\"email_id\" \/><\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"language\"><select class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-select wpcf7-validates-as-required\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" name=\"language\"><option value=\"\">Language<\/option><option value=\"Malayalam\">Malayalam<\/option><option value=\"Tamil\">Tamil<\/option><option value=\"Telugu\">Telugu<\/option><option value=\"Kannada\">Kannada<\/option><option value=\"Hindi\">Hindi<\/option><\/select><\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"course\"><select class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-select wpcf7-validates-as-required course-field-select\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" name=\"course\"><option value=\"\">Upskill in<\/option><option value=\"Stock Market Course\">Stock Market Course<\/option><option value=\"Mutual Funds\">Mutual Funds<\/option><option value=\"Forex Trading\">Forex Trading<\/option><option value=\"Coding\">Coding<\/option><option value=\"Commerce\">Commerce<\/option><option value=\"German Language\">German Language<\/option><option value=\"Montessori Teacher Training\">Montessori Teacher Training<\/option><option value=\"OET\">OET<\/option><option value=\"MEP\">MEP<\/option><option value=\"Robotics &amp; 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Then you can pick a vehicle that will fit its on-road price, EMI, insurance, fuel costs, servicing and depreciation comfortably inside it. A car is a recurring financial commitment that goes on long after you drive it [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":132,"featured_media":25663226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[802,1867],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25663225","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-stock-marketing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Smart Way to Buy a Car in India<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Smart way to buy a car in India in 2026: set an on-road budget, keep EMI within 10\u201315% of take-home pay, and plan for insurance and depreciation.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" 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