On-road price explained: every line in your car's final bill

The price on the brochure is rarely the price you pay. The on-road price is a stack of distinct components — and understanding each one is the difference between a fair deal and a padded invoice.

The components, line by line

• Ex-showroom — the manufacturer's price for the car itself.
• Road tax — a state levy, usually a percentage of ex-showroom; it varies widely by state.
• RTO registration — the government fee to register the vehicle.
• Insurance — at least third-party is mandatory; comprehensive is strongly advised in year one.
• FASTag + HSRP — the toll tag and high-security number plates.
• TCS — 1% tax collected at source on cars with ex-showroom above ₹10 lakh.
• Dealer handling — a charge that is often negotiable, and sometimes contestable.

Where you can push back

Statutory components (road tax, RTO, TCS) are fixed. But dealer handling, accessories and extended-warranty bundling are where the margin hides — and where a calm question often saves you thousands.

Hide a number before you mislead a buyer. If a price can't be trusted for a city, QLOCar shows 'on request' — never a fabricated total.