On-Road Price Calculator

The on-road price is what you actually pay the dealer — not the advertised ex-showroom number. Between the ex-showroom and the car keys sit a stack of mandatory charges: state RTO road tax (plus any state cess), the fixed registration + HSRP plate + FASTag fees, a hypothecation endorsement if the car is on loan, motor insurance, dealer handling charges, optional accessories, and 1% TCS if the ex-showroom is above ₹10 lakh. Add it all up and the on-road price typically lands 10-30% higher than ex-showroom — almost entirely driven by which state you register the car in.

Road Tax Is Progressive — and Set by Each State

Road tax (motor vehicle tax) is a state subject, so all 28 states and 8 UTs set their own rules — this calculator covers every one of them. The rate is almost always progressive by ex-showroom price slab, not a single flat figure: Karnataka, for example, charges 13% below ₹5 L, 14% up to ₹10 L, 17% up to ₹20 L and 18% above. Many states also vary the rate by fuel (diesel usually attracts a higher slab than petrol; CNG is often lower), and several add a cess or surcharge on top of the base tax — an 11% infrastructure cess in Karnataka, a flat ₹2,250 road-safety tax in Tamil Nadu, a 2% cess in Maharashtra. High-tax states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Kerala can reach 12-22% of ex-showroom; low-tax places like Dadra & Nagar Haveli (~2.5%), Chandigarh, Himachal, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat sit around 6-10%. Mizoram and Tripura charge a fixed amount by engine capacity rather than a percentage.

EVs Get the Biggest Break

Most states have waived road tax entirely on electric cars to push adoption — Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and many more charge zero. A few still levy it: Karnataka exempts EVs under ₹25 L but charges 10% above; Kerala, Haryana, Gujarat and Sikkim apply reduced EV rates. When a waiver applies, the calculator shows exactly how much you saved versus the petrol-equivalent road tax. These exemptions usually have an expiry date, so confirm the current policy.

The TCS Surprise

For cars with an ex-showroom above ₹10 lakh, the dealer collects an extra 1% Tax Collected at Source under §206C(1F) of the Income Tax Act. It is technically a prepaid credit — you claim it back as a refund or set it off against your tax liability when you file your ITR — but you do pay it up front. The ₹10 lakh threshold is on ex-showroom, not on-road.

Why the Number Is Indicative

State road-tax schedules change at budget time, EV-exemption windows expire, and a few states levy on the pre-GST invoice price (so the real tax is a little lower than an ex-showroom estimate). Insurance is seeded at ~3.5% of ex-showroom for a 1-year comprehensive + long-term TP bundle — edit it with your real quote, or use the Car Insurance Premium Calculator. Always cross-check the dealer's break-up against your state RTO / Parivahan portal before you sign.