The Road Ahead: Is Launching an EV Self-Drive Car Rental in Delhi a Smart Move in 2026?

Author : Veekay Cabs | Published On : 09 Jul 2026

For city driving, short trips, and economical month-long rental – yes, EV self-drive car rentals Delhi are truly worth their while in 2026 in Delhi. However, for distant road trips into the hills, it would make more sense to go for a petrol/diesel car for the time being.

In any case, our task is to help you choose the perfect vehicle – whether it’s an electric one or not – for your self-drive adventure in Delhi!

Would you like a customized quote for your next self-drive rental in Delhi? Feel free to contact us!

Is the Veekay Cabs Self-Drive Car Rental in Delhi Airport-Friendly? The Trends for 2026

For quite some time now, renting a self-drive car in Delhi entailed visiting one of the stores located away from airports such as those in Saket, Gurugram, or Connaught Place.

However, 2026 is proving to be the year that will mark the beginning of change as airport-based self-drive car rental services have been increasing more rapidly than regular rentals.

The Recent Market Share: Off-Airport Still Leads but Airport Slowly Closing the Gap

Off-airport car hire sites are still at the helm of car rental industry in India. 3">Off-airport car hire has approximately 76% share in Indian car rental market and it happens to be largely because of lower prices and flexibility with respect to the location of operations. The situation has not changed with regards to operations in Delhi where most firms rent out cars from local premises rather than airport counters simply because of expensive and stringent regulations at IGI airport premises.

But the growth trend tells a different story. The growth of airport counter rentals is poised to outpace that of off-airport rentals through 2031, mainly due to the recovering international travel. This means, even though off-airport has more overall volume, being the biggest segment remains the key focus for both rental companies and customers in terms of future growth.

Why is airport pickup so popular?

1. Revival of International Travel

Because more and more international flights are arriving at India’s IGI Airport, new travelers need a car service as soon as they arrive—whether for business trips to Gurugram or for visiting places in Delhi or going on a trip to the Golden Triangle cities like Agra and Jaipur right after landing.

2. Enhanced Vehicle Transfer System

The issues faced by the road transport services in airports have been associated with the long queues which delay the process of automobile hand-over. The introduction of Automated kiosks and lockers will help speed up the process of automobile rental as they can reduce the vehicle hand-over time from 30 minutes to less than 5 minutes.

3. Direct Highway Connection from Airport

The investment in infrastructure has been important in this regard. Highway corridors which are backed by the government have opened up new highways with the number of lanes reaching up to six and these roads can be used to reach new tourist destinations and places of interest from the airport. In the case of Delhi, for instance, it is possible to reach places like Agra and Jaipur from the airport without wasting a lot of time in traffic congestions in the city.

4. Doorstep and Radius-Specific Delivery Models

Operators are meeting airport demand by not opening full airport counters (which are costly) but by providing doorstep delivery over a radius of only a few kilometers. By using a hybrid delivery model, travelers benefit from the experience of getting their vehicle picked up at the airport without incurring the capital investment of a in-store shop located in the terminal — a practice cropping up among a few self-drive car operators in Delhi NCR.