🚗India road trip checklist
Long Indian road trips are won before the ignition: a serviced car, papers in the glovebox, a topped-up FASTag and a fuel plan for the stretches where the map goes quiet. Agree the driving shifts before day one — not at 2 a.m. on the highway.
Documents
Carry RC, insurance, PUC and licence copies
Physical or DigiLocker copies are accepted at police checks.
Money
Top up FASTag
Tolls are FASTag-only; a low balance means double toll or a long wait. Crossing many NH tolls? The annual pass (₹3,075 on the Rajmargyatra app) covers 200 crossings for private cars over a year — NHAI national highways and expressways only, not state tolls.
Safety
Save breakdown and highway helpline numbers
Insurer roadside assistance, 1033 for national highways and the car maker's helpline.
Check road conditions and closures
State highway handles and BRO for mountain roads; some passes open only by day.
Gear
Spare tyre, jack and a puncture kit
Check the spare's pressure too; a tubeless kit and a 12 V inflator fix most punctures.
Pack a car kit
Torch, tow rope, jumper cables, first aid and a reflective triangle.
Transport
Service the vehicle before leaving
Oil, brakes, coolant, wipers and tyre pressure; a check-up costs less than a highway breakdown.
Plan fuel stops for the long stretches
Note the last pump before mountain passes and desert stretches.
Agree the driving shifts
Two-hour shifts and no night driving on hill roads.
Connectivity
Download offline maps for the whole route
The network drops between towns; mark fuel and food stops in advance.
Food
Stock snacks and water
Two litres per person per day plus dry snacks for stretches with no dhabas.
planning one of these?
Niklo suggests this checklist when your stops are far enough apart to make it a driving trip.
Tick it off as a crew, not alone.
Put this checklist on a Niklo trip and every item gets an owner, a due state and a crew that can see it — next to the itinerary, the map and the money.