Your Ideal Wheels for Dehradun

After you’ve been in Dehradun a little while, you’ll soon come to terms with the traffic jams, noise, carts, bikes, and large animals occupying the lanes, and you may start thinking about purchasing your own vehicle.

How safe is it to drive in Dehradun?

Driving yourself around will bring you a lot of freedom, but it has its challenges too. From unpredictable drivers and bad road conditions, to narrow, crowded lanes and steep hills, fender-benders, and low-speed collisions are very common all across India. Make sure you are covered with good insurance, drive defensively at all times, and don’t sweat the small bumps and scratches. You may also want to choose your vehicle accordingly. If you come from a right-hand drive country, give yourself a few weeks to get comfortable with driving on the other side of the road.

How much space do you need?

You may think that two-wheelers in India are built for 4 riders by the way people load up onto them here, but that’s not technically true, legal, OR safe. Are you driving a family around? Is it just you? Will you be giving friends or coworkers rides frequently? With this in mind, choose a car or bike with adequate seating for everyone - but remember that 2 wheelers may be particularly dangerous for young children.

How much stuff will you carry?

If your vehicle is going to be your primary conveyance for equipment, or even shopping bags, make sure you buy one that meets the need. A scooter with a roomy compartment under the seat and a nice big foot platform has much more storage space than a motorbike, and a car has even more.

How about the weather?

The weather in Dehradun is a character of its own. From almost-freezing winters to blazing hot summers and the wettest monsoons you can imagine, you will certainly need to factor this into your decision. Two-wheelers are handy and great in fine weather, but in the heat, cold, and rain, you will find a car far more safe and comfortable.

How far will you drive?

Don’t buy your wheels until you know where you will do most of your driving, and what the traffic is like! A half hour stuck in traffic twice a day is a lot worse on a motorbike than in an air-conditioned car, but motorbikes and scooters can often weave through traffic cutting your commute time in half. If you are looking to spend time driving up in the mountains, you’ll want reliable wheels to keep you on those winding roads.

How big?

Cars in India tend to run smaller than in other countries like the USA, and as soon as you start driving around, you can see why. Lanes are narrower, people drive closer together, and fuel is expensive. A larger car might feel safer on the road, but if you can’t squeeze it into the tiny driveway of your house, you might quickly find yourself on the hunt to downsize.

Once you’ve figured out what type of vehicle is a good fit for you, your next step is to take the plunge and buy! Check out: 5 Factors for Buying a Vehicle in Dehradun

ABOUT ETHAN
Ethan moved to Dehradun in 2015 with his family, and has enjoyed introducing people to this amazing city ever since. He loves exploring new places, spending time outdoors, and geeking out about culture. Ethan stays busy developing and running cross-cultural trainings, helping out newcomers to the area, and taking pictures of this incredible part of the world in his spare time.

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