Key facts about booking ahead
- Most trips
- Book the day before
- Festivals, Diwali week, weddings
- Book 1–2 weeks ahead
- Advance-booking discount
- 10%, taken off the fare on the invoice
- Same-day booking
- Yes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Rates (same for early and late bookings)
- Sedan ₹12/km · Ertiga ₹13/km · Innova Crysta ₹18/km
- Advance payment
- None. Pay at the end by cash or UPI
- Free cancellation
- Up to 8 hours before pickup
- Night charge
- 20% between 10 PM and 6 AM
- How to book
- Call or WhatsApp +91 99745 30788
What is the ideal booking timeline?
Count back from your pickup. Two weeks ahead is right for festivals, weddings and several cars; a few days for outstation trips; the day before for most rides and early flights. Inside the last day you can still book, 24/7, at the same per-km rate.
- 2 weeks before
Festivals, weddings, groups
Diwali week, a wedding, or a trip that needs several cars, a Tempo Traveller or a bus. Fix the dates and send them to us first; details can follow.
- 1 week before
Temple days at Bahucharaji
Navratri and Poonam, when many pilgrims travel on the same days. Plan an early start to beat the crowd at the temple.
- 1–3 days before
Outstation and one-way trips
Udaipur, Ambaji, Ahmedabad and other long drives, especially if you want an Ertiga or Innova Crysta for a family.
- The day before
Most rides and early flights
Airport drops, station drops, plant shifts and local rides. Booking now gets the 10% advance-booking discount.
- Same day
Short notice
Call +91 99745 30788 at any hour. Same per-km rate; the choice of car depends on what is free.
- Before pickup
Your driver's details arrive
We send the driver's name, phone number and car number, and the car is GPS-tracked.
- After the trip
Pay at the end
Cash or UPI, with a GST invoice if you need one. Nothing was paid upfront.
How early should you book, trip by trip?
It depends on how many other people want a car on the same day. Ordinary days need little notice, while festival days at Bahucharaji, Diwali week and the wedding season fill first. The table shows what we suggest from our bookings in Becharaji and Ahmedabad.
| Your trip | Book | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Local ride, station drop or plant gate drop | A few hours ahead, or the day before | Usually a car is free; the day before also gets the 10% discount |
| Airport drop for an early flight | The day before | We fix the pickup time from your flight time, and an early start needs a driver planned the night before |
| One-way drop or outstation trip | 1–3 days ahead | Gives you the car you want, especially an Ertiga or Innova for a family |
| Bahucharaji temple on Poonam or in Navratri | A few days to a week ahead | Many pilgrims travel on the same days; Sharad Navratri 2026 runs 11–19 October |
| Diwali week or summer holiday trip | 1–2 weeks ahead | Families leave on the same days; Diwali 2026 is Sunday 8 November |
| Wedding or group trip with several cars | As soon as your dates are fixed | Several cars, or a Tempo Traveller or bus, must be kept for the same hours |
| Daily staff transport for a company | Before the start date | Routes, shifts and backup cars are planned once, then run every day |
These are our suggestions, not rules. If your date is close, call anyway: we run 24 hours a day and can often find a car at short notice.
Which dates should you book early for in 2026–27?
Book early for Navratri, the Poonam fairs at Bahucharaji, Diwali week and the summer school holidays. The next busy run is Sharad Navratri, 11–19 October 2026, followed by Ashwin Poonam on 25–26 October and Diwali on Sunday 8 November 2026.
- Sharad NavratriVery busy · Dussehra 20 Oct
- Ashwin PoonamOne of the biggest temple fairs
- Diwali & Bestu VarasFamily trips and New Year visits
- Kartik PoonamBusy at the temple
- Chaitra NavratriVery busy · Ram Navami 15 Apr
- Chaitra PoonamOne of the biggest temple fairs
- Summer holidaysHill stations and long trips
- Sharad NavratriVery busy · Dussehra 9 Oct
Temple dates are from our Bahucharaji temple calendar, which lists every Poonam to December 2027. The dates follow the Drik Panchang Purnima calendar; a Poonam can shift by a day. Check your school's own dates for the summer break.
How much does booking early save?
The 10% advance-booking discount comes off the fare. On a one-way sedan trip from Becharaji that is about ₹120 to Ahmedabad (100 km), ₹204 to Ambaji (170 km) and ₹372 to Udaipur (310 km).
| Becharaji to | Distance | Sedan fare | Booked ahead | You save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad | 100 km | ₹1,200 | ₹1,080 | ₹120 |
| Ambaji | 170 km | ₹2,040 | ₹1,836 | ₹204 |
| Udaipur | 310 km | ₹3,720 | ₹3,348 | ₹372 |
Fares are indicative: distance × ₹12/km for a sedan, one way. An Ertiga is ₹13/km and an Innova Crysta ₹18/km, so the saving is larger in those cars. Tolls, parking and state tax are extra at actual cost.
Booking ahead or on the day: what is the difference?
The rate, the payment terms and the driver details are the same either way. Booking ahead adds the 10% discount and a full choice of cars; booking on the day gets whichever car is free.
| Booked ahead | Booked the same day | |
|---|---|---|
| Per-km rate | ₹12 / ₹13 / ₹18 | ₹12 / ₹13 / ₹18 |
| 10% advance-booking discount | Yes | No |
| Choice of car | Any car you ask for | The nearest free car |
| Busy days (Navratri, Poonam, Diwali) | Car kept for you | May be fully booked |
| Driver details before pickup | Yes | Yes |
| Advance payment | None | None |
| Night charge (10 PM–6 AM) | 20% | 20% |
What do you get by booking early?
Booking in advance gets 10% off, shown on your invoice. You also get the car you asked for, a pickup time planned around your trip, and the driver's name, phone number and car number before pickup. You still pay nothing until the trip is over.
- 10% off: the advance-booking discount is taken off the fare on your invoice. There is no code to remember.
- Your choice of car: sedans are the most common, so an Ertiga (6 seats) or Innova Crysta (7 seats) is easier to get when you book early.
- A planned pickup: for an early flight or a long drive, we plan the start so you travel in daylight where you can. Driving between 10 PM and 6 AM adds 20%.
- Details before pickup: we send the driver's name, phone number and car number before the car arrives, and every car is GPS-tracked.
- Nothing to pay upfront: no advance or deposit. Pay at the end by cash or UPI, with a GST invoice if you need one.
Can you book a taxi on the same day?
Yes. We take bookings 24 hours a day, every day, and a same-day trip costs the same per-km rate as one booked weeks ahead: ₹12/km for a sedan, ₹13/km for an Ertiga and ₹18/km for an Innova Crysta. For the fastest answer at short notice, call rather than message.
What changes at short notice is the choice, not the price. On a busy day the nearest free car may be a sedan rather than the Ertiga you wanted, and on Navratri or Poonam days at Bahucharaji cars can be fully booked. The only time-based charge is the 20% night charge between 10 PM and 6 AM, and it applies whether you booked early or late. Our 24-hour cab service page covers night and early-morning rides.
What if your plans change after you book?
Tell us as soon as you know. Cancelling is free up to 8 hours before pickup, and since you paid no advance there is nothing to refund. Charges apply only once the car has left the garage for your pickup, including a no-show.
To move a booking to a different time or date, call or WhatsApp the same number with the new details and we confirm the change. If the trip grows (another stop, an extra day or more people), tell us before the day so we can confirm the fare and, if needed, a bigger car.
What should you send when you book?
Six details are enough for us to confirm the car and fare in one reply: pickup point, drop and stops, date and time, one way or return, people and luggage, and the car you want. Copy the message below, fill it in and send it on WhatsApp.
Booking message
Hi, I want to book a taxi in advance. Pickup: (address and a landmark) Drop: (destination and any stops) Date and time: (for example 14 Oct, 6:00 AM) One way or return: People and luggage: Car: Sedan / Ertiga / Innova Crysta
How do you book a taxi in advance?
- Fix your date, time and pickup point. Note where you are going, any stops on the way, and whether it is one way or a return.
- Send it on WhatsApp or call. Message +91 99745 30788 with the details, how many people are travelling and how much luggage you have.
- We confirm the car and the fare. You get the per-km rate, the estimated distance, the 10% advance-booking discount and what is extra (tolls, parking, state tax).
- Get the driver's details. Before pickup we send the driver's name, phone number and car number.
- Travel and pay at the end. No advance; pay the driver by cash or UPI when the trip is over.
What mistakes should you avoid when booking ahead?
Most fare surprises come from missing details: an unplanned stop, a car too small for the group, or a pickup inside the night-charge hours. Tell us the whole plan when you book and the fare we confirm is the fare you pay, plus tolls and parking.
Leaving out stops
Every stop on the way adds distance. List them when you book so the confirmed fare includes them.
Too small a car
A sedan seats 4, an Ertiga 6 and an Innova Crysta 7. Count luggage too, especially for the airport.
Forgetting the night charge
A pickup between 10 PM and 6 AM adds 20%. If your flight time allows, a pickup at 6 AM or later avoids it; ask us to plan the time with you.
Changing plans too late
Cancelling is free up to 8 hours before pickup. Once the car has left the garage, charges apply.
Assuming extras are included
Tolls, parking and state tax are paid at actual cost on top of the fare. Waiting is free for 30 minutes, then ₹100 an hour.
Booking only one way by mistake
If you need to come back, say so. A one-way drop and a round trip are priced differently.
Where do these facts come from?
Every rate, discount and condition on this page is from Shiv Shakti Tours & Travels' own published terms. The lead times in the table are our suggestions from day-to-day bookings, not fixed rules.
- Terms and conditions: per-km rates, night charge, waiting, payment by cash or UPI.
- Cancellation and refund policy: free cancellation up to 8 hours before pickup.
- Services and rates: cars, seats and offers, including 10% off advance bookings.
- Bahucharaji temple calendar: Navratri and Poonam dates for 2026–27.
- Drik Panchang: the Hindu calendar the Poonam and Navratri dates are taken from.
About this answer
Written and checked by Vaibhaviba Bhavsinh Solanki, owner of Shiv Shakti Tours & Travels, a GST- and MSME-registered taxi and car rental company in business since 2018. Branch: Hansalpur Circle, Becharaji, near the SMG (Maruti Suzuki) plant, Gujarat 384210. Head office: B-50, First Floor, Jay Bhanu Society, Gate No. 2, Ghatlodiya, Ahmedabad 380061. Open 24/7 on +91 99745 30788. Rated 4.9 on Google.
To cite this answer:Shiv Shakti Tours & Travels, "How far in advance should I book a taxi?", updated 9 October 2026, https://www.shivshaktitoursandtravels.in/answers/booking/how-far-in-advance-to-book-a-taxi/