SELF DRIVE HIRE
CAR RENTAL CHANDIGARH TO SHIMLA
115 km up NH5, three hours, drivable all year. Automatic hatchbacks from ₹1,999 a day with the Himachal permit and insurance already included.
115 km
One way
3 hrs
Drive time
2 to 3 days
Typical hire
₹1,299/day
From
Free
Tricity delivery
Shimla is the route we hire out more than any other, and it is the one where an automatic earns its money. NH5 from Parwanoo upwards is a continuous three hour climb with enough traffic near Solan to keep you working the clutch. In a manual that is tiring. In a Baleno with two pedals it is a pleasant drive.
The road itself is in good condition and needs nothing special from the vehicle. What it does need is timing. Reach Shimla in daylight and the parking situation is manageable. Arrive after dark on a Friday and you will spend forty minutes looking for a space you cannot see.
Cars go out with a full tank from anywhere in the Tricity. We photograph the condition with you, hand over the permit papers, and you leave from your own gate rather than a depot on the wrong side of town at six in the morning.
WHICH CAR FOR SHIMLA
Most bookedMaruti Baleno
SUZUKI₹1,999/day · 300 km included
Automatic, comfortable at NH5 speeds and narrow enough for Shimla's lanes. The single most booked car on this route and the one we recommend first.
CheapestMaruti Swift
SUZUKI₹1,299/day · 300 km included
The budget option and perfectly capable. It is a manual, so expect to be busy on the Solan climb and in the Shimla traffic.
For familiesHyundai Creta
HYUNDAI₹3,999/day · 350 km included
For families. The higher seating helps on the climb, the boot takes a proper week of luggage, and it is the better car if you are adding Kufri and Chail.
Seven seatsMahindra Scorpio N
MAHINDRA₹5,499/day · 350 km included
Seven seats when the group will not fit in five. Big for Shimla's older lanes, so park lower and walk in rather than trying to squeeze up to the Mall.
THE KILOMETRE MATHS
Round trip, Chandigarh to Shimla and back
230 km
Chandigarh to Shimla and back is about 230 km. A 300 km daily allowance covers that inside a single day, and a two day hire gives you 600 km, which is comfortably enough to add Kufri at 14 km and Chail at around 45 km from Shimla.
The allowance only becomes a question on a longer loop. Shimla, then Narkanda, then Sarahan and back starts pushing past 500 km, and if you are thinking about carrying on toward Kinnaur you should tell us so we can talk about a higher allowance or a different car rather than letting the overage build quietly at ₹8 a kilometre.
WHAT THE RATE COVERS
Included
- Comprehensive insurance on the vehicle
- Himachal Pradesh inter-state permit
- GPS tracking on every car
- 24/7 WhatsApp support for the whole trip
- Free doorstep delivery across the Chandigarh Tricity
- Full tank at handover, photographed condition report
Paid separately
- Fuel, which you top up and return full
- Tolls and any state entry fees on the way
- Kilometres past the daily allowance, at ₹8 each
- Parking and challans during your rental
- Refundable deposit of ₹5,000, returned within 24 hours
Permits and paperwork
The Himachal Pradesh inter-state permit is included and travels with the car, so the Parwanoo barrier is a slow drive-through rather than a stop. Shimla itself needs no additional permit. If you plan to continue past Narkanda toward Kinnaur, mention it when you book so we can confirm the car is cleared for it.
When to book
April to June is peak and books out first, especially any weekend. October and November are the best value of the year, with clear air and thin traffic. December to February brings snow above Kufri, which is the reason many people come and also the reason we want to know your exact plan before handing over keys in deep winter. Book at least a week ahead for a long weekend.
One way, or drop back in Chandigarh
Most Shimla hires are round trips and that is the cheapest structure. One way drops in Shimla are possible but carry a retrieval charge, because the car has to come back to Chandigarh with a driver. On a 115 km route that charge usually outweighs simply keeping the car for the extra day, so we will normally tell you to keep it.
Planning the drive itself?
This page covers the rental. Road surface, fuel stops, where to break the journey and what to see when you arrive all live in the guide.
Chandigarh to Shimla route guide →FAQ
RENTING FOR SHIMLA
How much is a self drive car rental from Chandigarh to Shimla?
A Baleno automatic is ₹1,999 a day with 300 km included, a Swift ₹1,299, and a Creta ₹3,999. A typical two day Shimla trip in the Baleno is ₹3,998 of rental plus fuel and tolls. Insurance, the Himachal permit, GPS and Tricity delivery are inside the daily rate.
Is an automatic worth it for the Chandigarh to Shimla drive?
On this route, yes, more than on any other we run. The 60 km climb from Parwanoo is continuous, and the stretch near Solan mixes trucks and slow traffic so you shift constantly. The Baleno costs ₹700 more a day than the Swift and most people who have done both say it was the better call.
Do I need a permit to drive to Shimla from Chandigarh?
You need the Himachal Pradesh inter-state permit, and it is already included in your rate with the paperwork in the car. Nothing to arrange, nothing to pay at Parwanoo. Shimla town itself requires no separate permit.
Can I take a rented car up to Mall Road?
No, and neither can anyone else. The Mall is pedestrianised. Park at the Rivoli, Lakkar Bazaar or Victory Tunnel car parks, take a ticket, and walk the last ten to fifteen minutes uphill. This is normal and worth planning for rather than being surprised by.
How many days should I rent the car for?
Two days works for Shimla and the Ridge. Three lets you add Kufri and Chail without rushing, and the third day costs one more rental day rather than any meaningful extra distance. A single day is possible but means six hours of driving around a short visit.
What happens if it snows while I have the car?
Message us. NH5 is cleared as a priority so Shimla usually stays reachable, but the roads above Kufri can close at short notice. We would rather adjust your plan or extend the hire than have you attempt a road that has just been shut, and we have held cars for people waiting out weather before.
CHANDIGARH TO SHIMLA
230 km round trip. Car at your door in the Tricity. Insurance and the HP permit already in the rate.