# How far in advance should I book a taxi?

**Short answer:** The day before is enough for most trips.

With Shiv Shakti Tours & Travels in Becharaji and Ahmedabad, booking the day before is enough for most taxi trips, and booking in advance gets 10% off the fare. For Navratri, Poonam, Diwali week and weddings, book one to two weeks ahead. Same-day bookings are taken 24/7, and no advance payment is ever needed.

- Source page: https://www.shivshaktitoursandtravels.in/answers/booking/how-far-in-advance-to-book-a-taxi/
- Answered by: Vaibhaviba Bhavsinh Solanki, owner of Shiv Shakti Tours & Travels
- Last checked: 9 October 2026
- Book: call or WhatsApp +91 99745 30788 (24/7)

## Key facts about booking ahead

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| 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:

- **2 weeks before:** festivals, weddings, groups. Diwali week, a wedding, or a trip that needs several cars, a Tempo Traveller or a bus.
- **1 week before:** temple days at Bahucharaji (Navratri and Poonam).
- **1–3 days before:** outstation and one-way trips (Udaipur, Ambaji, Ahmedabad), especially for an Ertiga or Innova Crysta.
- **The day before:** most rides and early flights (airport, station, plant shifts, local rides). Booking now gets the 10% advance-booking discount.
- **Same day:** call +91 99745 30788 at any hour. Same per-km rate; the choice of car depends on what is free.
- **Before pickup:** we send the driver's name, phone number and car number; the car is GPS-tracked.
- **After the trip:** pay by cash or UPI, with a GST invoice if needed. Nothing is 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. These are our suggestions from bookings in Becharaji and Ahmedabad, not fixed rules.

| 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 |

## Which dates should you book early for in 2026–27?

| Date | Occasion | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 11–19 Oct 2026 | Sharad Navratri | Very busy; Dussehra 20 Oct |
| 25–26 Oct 2026 | Ashwin Poonam | One of the biggest temple fairs |
| 8–9 Nov 2026 | Diwali and Bestu Varas | Family trips and New Year visits |
| 24 Nov 2026 | Kartik Poonam | Busy at the temple |
| 7–15 Apr 2027 | Chaitra Navratri | Very busy; Ram Navami 15 Apr |
| 20 Apr 2027 | Chaitra Poonam | One of the biggest temple fairs |
| May–early Jun 2027 | Summer holidays | Hill stations and long trips |
| 30 Sep–8 Oct 2027 | Sharad Navratri | Very busy; Dussehra 9 Oct |

Temple dates are from the Bahucharaji temple calendar (https://www.shivshaktitoursandtravels.in/blog/bahucharaji-temple-taxi.html), based on the Drik Panchang Purnima calendar (https://www.drikpanchang.com/calendars/purnima/purnima-calendar.html?year=2027); a Poonam can shift by a day.

## How much does booking early save?

The 10% advance-booking discount comes off the fare. Indicative one-way sedan fares from Becharaji (distance × ₹12/km; tolls, parking and state tax extra):

| 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 |

An Ertiga is ₹13/km and an Innova Crysta ₹18/km, so the saving is larger in those cars.

## Booking ahead or on the day: what is the difference?

| | 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. Every car is GPS-tracked, and a GST invoice is available.

## Can you book a taxi on the same day?

Yes. Bookings are taken 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. At short notice the choice of car may be smaller, 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.

## What if your plans change after you book?

Cancelling is free up to 8 hours before pickup, and since no advance is paid there is nothing to refund. Charges apply only once the car has left the garage for the pickup, including a no-show. To change the time or date, call or WhatsApp the same number.

## What should you send when you book?

Six details are enough to confirm the car and fare in one reply. Send this on WhatsApp to +91 99745 30788:

```
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?

1. Fix your date, time and pickup point.
2. Send it on WhatsApp or call +91 99745 30788, with the number of people and luggage.
3. We confirm the car, the fare, the 10% advance-booking discount and what is extra (tolls, parking, state tax).
4. Before pickup we send the driver's name, phone number and car number.
5. Travel and pay at the end by cash or UPI.

## What mistakes should you avoid when booking ahead?

- **Leaving out stops:** every stop adds distance; list them 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.
- **Forgetting the night charge:** a pickup between 10 PM and 6 AM adds 20%; a pickup at 6 AM or later avoids it if your flight time allows.
- **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 extra at actual cost; waiting is free for 30 minutes, then ₹100 an hour.
- **Booking only one way by mistake:** a one-way drop and a round trip are priced differently.

## Follow-up questions

**Can I book a taxi tonight for tomorrow morning?** Yes. Call or WhatsApp +91 99745 30788 with the pickup time and place. We are open 24/7, so a booking made late at night is fine, and booking the day before gets the 10% advance-booking discount.

**Do I have to pay anything when I book?** No. There is no advance or deposit. You pay at the end of the trip by cash or UPI.

**Is a last-minute taxi more expensive?** No. The per-km rate is the same whenever you book. You only miss the 10% advance-booking discount. The 20% night charge applies to trips between 10 PM and 6 AM either way.

**How early should I book for Navratri at Bahucharaji?** A few days to a week ahead. Sharad Navratri 2026 runs from 11 to 19 October, and pilgrims travel on the same days, so cars for Navratri and Poonam go first.

**Can I book my return trip at the same time?** Yes. Give us both dates and times when you book, and say whether the car waits or comes back for you. Waiting is free for 30 minutes, then ₹100 an hour, so for a long gap, ask us whether two separate trips cost less.

## About this answer

Shiv Shakti Tours & Travels is a GST- and MSME-registered taxi and car rental company in business since 2018, rated 4.9 on Google. 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. Not connected with other businesses of the same name elsewhere in India.

Sources: https://www.shivshaktitoursandtravels.in/terms-and-conditions.html · https://www.shivshaktitoursandtravels.in/cancellation-refund-policy.html · https://www.shivshaktitoursandtravels.in/service.html