Asia > 🇮🇳  India > Aurangabad (IXU)

TL;DR: Driver hire preferred over self drive
car v no car
car v no car
The Car or no Car advice for  Aurangabad can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Aurangabad ;  is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).

🚆 🚌⛴️ Do you need to rent a car in Aurangabad ?

These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t strictly need to rent a car.

🇮🇳 Mode

Score

🚆 Trains - includes all types of inter-city rail based transport: Major rail junction with frequent intercity services. trains score 6
🚌 Bus & Metro - includes bus rapid transit, trams, suburban rail and metro / subway: City buses and shared transport cover most areas. buses score 6
👀 Guided Tours - includes bus or car based private tours and guided walking tours: Ajanta and Ellora cave tours dominate tourism. walking score 8
🚶‍♂️ Walking - includes both urban walking and rural hiking: Key areas are walkable with planning. walking score 5
🚴 Cycling - includes urban cycling and bike share + rural cycling. Considers safety and hire availability: Traffic and safety concerns limit cycling. cycling score 3
⛴️ Ferries & Cruises - includes river crossings, dinner cruises, lake steamers etc (not long duration cruise packages): No ferries or water transport. ferries score 0
  • For all transport modes, a score of 0 = very poor or none available; 10 = outstandingly good.

💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Aurangabad?

These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.

🇮🇳 Factor

Score

🚗 Car Availability & Cost - is there a wide choice of self-drive rental cars at decent prices? Self-drive possible but limited and awkward. car rental availability score 3
⛽ Fuel & Toll Costs - Fuel moderate, some tolls nearby. Typical: $4.5/gal | 1.2 €/l fuel and tolls score 6
🛣️ Road Quality - Road quality inconsistent. road quality score 4
⚠️ Road Safety - Traffic safety poor. road safety score 3
🅿️ Parking Availability & Cost - Parking informal. parking score 5
  • For all factors, a score of 0 = very poor; 10 = outstandingly good


Aurangabad Car Rental Costs

J F M A M J J A S O N D
3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 3 3 3
Price bands:
  • From 1 ($0-10 per day) to 10 ($90-100 per day);
  • For typical cheapest available economy hire car;
  • Jan - Mar 2027 / Apr - Dec 2026.
  • Prices correct as of Feb 2026 - estimates only, not a guarantee.
🚗Do we need a car in Aurangabad? Is it worth it? Should we rent one? | Comment
Aurangabad is a gateway city for two of India’s greatest UNESCO sites: Ellora Caves and Ajanta Caves. The city itself is lively and busy, with traffic typical of many Indian cities. Public transport exists, but it can feel confusing for first-time visitors. Taxis and app-based rides work well, yet day trips to Ajanta and Ellora sit far outside town. So, should you rent a car in Aurangabad? The answer depends on whether you want maximum freedom for sightseeing or prefer organised transport. Because the region’s highlights lie in different directions, your choice matters.


🚶 Why You Don’t Need a Car in Aurangabad City

Aurangabad’s main hotels, restaurants, and shops cluster fairly close together.
Taxis and auto-rickshaws handle most short trips easily.

In short: no car needed for city sightseeing.


🚕 Taxis and Ride-Hailing Work Well

App-based taxis (where available) and local cabs are the most practical option.
They offer straightforward travel to:

  • Bibi Ka Maqbara

  • Panchakki

  • City markets

➡ For urban travel, taxis beat driving yourself.


🚌 Public Transport Is Possible but Not Ideal

Local buses run across the city, but routes are busy and not tourist-friendly.
Timetables can feel unpredictable.

➡ Most travellers avoid using city buses.


🚗 When a Car Helps: Ajanta and Ellora

Aurangabad’s star attractions sit far apart:

  • Ellora Caves: about 30 km away

  • Ajanta Caves: about 100 km away

A car becomes extremely useful if you want to:

  • Visit both caves over two days

  • Explore Daulatabad Fort

  • Reach rural areas on your own schedule

However, many visitors choose a car with driver instead of self-driving.
The roads are good, but driving aggressively is common in India.

➡ A car with driver is often the best balance of freedom and safety.


🧭 Quick Decision Table

Your Plan in Aurangabad Car Needed?
Staying within the city ❌ No
Visiting Bibi Ka Maqbara ❌ No
Taking taxis to local attractions ❌ No
Day trip to Ellora ❔ Optional
Day trip to Ajanta ❔ Optional
Doing Ajanta + Ellora + Daulatabad in one trip ❔ Optional
Deep rural exploration ✅ Yes

🎯 Conclusion: Should You Rent a Car in Aurangabad?

  • ❌ Skip the self-drive car if you plan to stay within the city or rely on taxis for short trips.

  • ❔ Consider hiring a car with driver for Ajanta, Ellora, and Daulatabad, because these sites sit far apart and public transport options are slow.

In the end…

Aurangabad is manageable without a car, but day trips to the region’s breathtaking cave temples become far easier when you use a private driver or a well-organised tour.


Search for Car Rental in Aurangabad with Economy Bookings .com

🚗Do we need a car in Aurangabad? Is it worth it? Should we? | Comment

🚗 ✅ ❌ Summary Table

This summary score brings together how much you really need a car, whether it’s worth it, and an overall recommendation.

🇮🇳 Factor

Score

Road Trips - Is Aurangabad a good place to start a road trip? Heritage focused regional drives road trip score 6
Road Trip Length - How long might a typical road trip last? | In a loop / out and back / one way? 1–2 days - Ajanta and Ellora cave trips

Structures - Are there loads of impressive bridges and tunnels around Aurangabad? Functional roads to historic sites structures score 4
🚦 Overall Need for a Car - Is it necessary to hire a car in Aurangabad? (high score = yes). need score 6
💶 Is It Worth It? - High score = good value worth score 4
Partial car rental doodle Partial Rental: Is it worth renting a car in Aurangabad for some of the time, rather than all or nothing (e.g. for a 7 day trip)?

3/7

Do most people visiting Aurangabad rent a car? (From 0 to 10). worth score 3
🚗Should You Rent a Car in Aurangabad?
overall should you rent a car score 7

Frequently Asked Questions

Visited? – Have we visited Aurangabad in person (year)? N/A
  • How do we define "road trips" and suggest their duration?
Updates – When was this page last updated:
  • Automatic*: Feb-26
  • Manual*: Oct-25
  • Automatic = update of table data; Manual = update of page text | How do we update pages ?
What are the general advantages and disadvantages of renting a car in any location?
  • Pros include – time freedom, wider access, often best value for groups of 4–7.
  • Cons include – hassle of driving on unfamiliar roads and parking, often expensive for solo travellers and couples, less environmentally friendly than public transport.
I'm still not sure whether or not to rent a car in Aurangabad – can you offer more advice?
  • We always welcome comments using the form below.
  • Unfortunately we can’t take phone calls or answer individual emails.
Can you advise us on how to get the best car rental deal in Aurangabad?
  • Our most useful advice is not to rent a car you don’t need!
  • After that, our advice is similar to what you would expect anywhere else – book well ahead, use your own CDW insurance, watch out for fuel contracts, avoid fines and shop around.

👍🏾 / 👎🏻 Will You Rent a Car in Aurangabad?

Will you rent a car?Would you rent a car in Aurangabad, or would you rely on tours or public transport instead? Everyone travels differently, and the right choice often depends on where you’re going, how long you’re staying, and what kind of trip you’re planning.

Hopefully this page has given you a quick, practical overview of the pros and cons of renting a car in Aurangabad, and whether it’s really necessary or not. Maybe it’s helped you make up your mind — or maybe you’ve already visited and have insights to share.

We always welcome comments, questions, and comparisons with other cities.

All feedback is read, and any questions or clarifications are usually replied to within 24 hours.  

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