These mini roller coasters come fully loaded with a roof, a hand horn and if your lucky a banging sound-system. While not for the faint at heart -  they are definitely easy on the wallet provided you are not afraid of a little negotiating.

7 STEPS TO A GOOD AUTORICKSHAW FARE

Following these steps kay and I were able to get pretty much anywhere we needed for 50-90 rupee’s.

1. Ask a waiter, hotel clerk or a local friend  exactly how much it should cost you from point a to b.
2. Tell (don’t ask)  the driver where you want to go and how much you want to spend.
3. Low ball the driver 20 rupee’s less then the price you have been advised (give in at the price you were advised)
4. Don’t be afraid to walk away and move on to another driver.
5. If you can walk in to a pit of drivers -  speak loudly so other drivers  can  hear you -  this puts pressure on a driver to act quickly.
6. Once your have agreed on a price – repeat it – ask them to confirm it. This is very important as they may try to say another price when you arrive at your destination.
7. Once you arrive – have exact fare and hand it to him quickly and walk away – this avoids the last minute pitch for more money.

At night it is more difficult to negotiate as fares increase 50% -  100%  after 10pm – you should still try to negotiate but know that you will end up paying more than you normally would during the daytime.

If  you are offered  a  fare that sounds to good to be true- for example – 10-20 rupees for a trip that should be 50-60 rupees.  Avoid it - You will most likely be taken to a local shop and be pressured into buying something.  Drivers get a commission for customers they bring in.

After 2 months Kay became a professional autorickshaw haggler. She could walk in to a pit of drivers and start a bidding war and  end up with a fare that just covers the cost of gas.

The ride to Charminar was an unforgettable one – one of those I’m so happy to be alive and experiencing THIS sorta moments.  Our driver sped through the city into small streets allowing us to soak up Hyderabad at work – The best part of the ride was the sound track  -  this tricycle with a roof boasted an impressive  sound system.  Check out the video.

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