Road Trip Checklist: What to Check Before You Drive from Chandigarh

A good road trip starts before you turn the key. Ten minutes with a checklist can save you a missed turn, a flat tyre with no jack, or a dead phone on a mountain road.

This is the checklist we'd give a friend driving out of Chandigarh, whether it's a day trip to Kasauli or a week in the mountains. Go through it the night before and again at pickup.

• Your driving licence (the original, not a photo)
• ID proof such as Aadhaar, passport or voter ID
• The car's papers, which stay in the car, so check they're in the glovebox
• Your rental booking details and our number, +91 98150 70133
• Emergency contacts saved on your phone and written on paper

• Tyres: no visible damage, and they don't look low
• Spare tyre, jack and wheel spanner: all in the boot
• Lights: headlights, brake lights and indicators all working
• Wipers and washer fluid: important in the monsoon
• AC and heater: both working
• Brakes: firm, with no strange noises
• Fuel level: noted at pickup, because you'll return the car at the same level
• Scratches and dents: photographed before you drive off
• Fuel type: petrol or diesel, so you fill up with the right one

Rough driving times from Chandigarh:

• Kasauli: about 1.5 to 2 hours
• Shimla: about 3 to 4 hours
• Amritsar: about 4 to 5 hours
• Dharamshala: about 5 to 6 hours
• Manali: about 7 to 9 hours

A few planning habits that help:

• Download offline maps. Mobile signal drops in parts of the hills.
• Start early, so you reach the mountain sections in daylight.
• Check the weather and road updates, especially in the monsoon and winter.
• If you're leaving the Tricity in a rented car, tell the rental company first. With ODAC24, just share your route with us before you go.

Our route guides cover the details for Kasauli, Manali and Dharamshala.

• Phone charger and a car charger
• Water bottles and some snacks
• A small first-aid kit and any regular medicines
• Motion sickness tablets if anyone needs them on hill roads
• Warm layers, even in summer, for the higher hills
• Sunglasses and a cap
• Cash and UPI for tolls, parking and small dhabas
• A torch, and a bag for rubbish so nothing is left on the road

If you rent a car, check how many kilometres are included. With ODAC24 you get 200 km per day, so a 2-day trip includes 400 km. Extra kilometres cost ₹10–15/km, depending on the car.

Add up your route distance plus some local driving, and you'll know whether you need an extra day. Fill up before you head into the hills, because fuel stations are fewer and further apart there.

• Take a break every two hours or so. Swap drivers if you can.
• Use a lower gear going downhill instead of riding the brakes.
• Honk before blind bends, and don't overtake on curves.
• Vehicles going uphill have the right of way on narrow stretches.
• Never drink and drive. Hill roads leave no margin for mistakes.
• In a rental car, unpaved roads are fine, but avoid river crossings and extreme trails.

• Fill up to the fuel level you started with.
• Check under the seats and in the boot for your belongings.
• Return on time, or ask for an extension in advance. With ODAC24, tell us at least 2 hours before your return time.
• Walk around the car with the team. With ODAC24, your deposit is refunded instantly after this quick inspection.

We rent hatchbacks, sedans, SUVs and 7-seaters for road trips from Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula, starting at ₹1,200 per day. See every car on our fleet page, or call or WhatsApp us on +91 98150 70133 and tell us where you're headed. We'll suggest a car that suits the route.

For trip ideas, read why a car is the best way to explore North India and our list of the best cars for monsoon trips.