When you book an outstation cab, the first question is usually “one-way or round trip?” The right answer can save you a surprising amount of money. Here’s how each option is priced and when to pick which.
How a one-way fare works
With a one-way drop you pay a fixed per-km rate for the distance from your pickup to your drop, and the driver allowance is already built in. You don’t pay for the car’s empty return journey. This is ideal when you are staying at your destination for more than a day or two, or returning by train or flight.
Example: Kolkata to Durgapur (≈170 km) in a sedan at ₹11/km ≈ ₹1,899 plus tolls.
How a round-trip fare works
On a round trip, you keep the car and driver for the whole journey. Most operators, including Zealot Trips, charge a lower per-km rate but bill a minimum of 250 km per day, plus a daily driver allowance.
Example: Kolkata to Durgapur and back the same day (≈340 km) in a sedan at ₹10/km = ₹3,400 + ₹300 driver allowance ≈ ₹3,700 plus tolls.
The simple rule
Why multi-day round trips can get expensive
Because of the 250 km/day minimum, a car that sits parked for three days still bills 750 km plus three days of driver allowance. That’s great value if you’re moving around every day — touring Ranchi’s waterfalls, say — but poor value if the car just waits at the hotel.
Quick comparison
- Same-day return: choose round trip.
- Return next day, travelling around at the destination: choose round trip.
- Staying 3+ days, little local travel: choose two one-way drops.
- Multi-city tour (e.g. Ranchi – Jamshedpur – Kolkata): choose round trip / multi-day.
- Returning by train or flight: choose one-way.
Hidden costs to check either way
- Tolls and parking — usually extra at actuals.
- State entry tax — applies when crossing from West Bengal into Jharkhand or Bihar.
- Night allowance — for driving between 10 PM and 6 AM.
- Extra km — sightseeing detours beyond the quoted route.
At Zealot Trips every quote lists these clearly, so the fare you see is the fare you pay. Try our fare estimator or browse route fares to compare both options for your trip.