Izinto onokuzonwabela ezinento yokwenza nezothutho e-New Delhi
These information pages can help you get started in learning about some of the laws and registration requirements that may apply to your Trips or Experiences on Airbnb. These pages include summaries of some of the rules that may apply to different sorts of activities, and contain links to government resources that you may find helpful.
Please understand that these information pages are not comprehensive, and are not legal advice. If you are unsure about how local laws or this information may apply to you or your Experience, we encourage you to check with your city or an attorney.
Please note that we don’t update this information in real time, so you should confirm that the law has not changed recently.*
I’m planning to drive my guests to and from my Experience which is based in Delhi. Do I need a license or registration to allow me to do this?
If you are driving your personal vehicle in a public place in the National Capital Territory of Delhi (referred to as Delhi on this page), then the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Delhi Motor Vehicle Rules, 1993 will apply. Under these laws, you are required to obtain:
- A valid driver’s license (which needs to be renewed on a timely basis)
- A registration certificate for your vehicle
- A Pollution Under Control certificate
- An insurance certificate insuring your vehicle against third party risks
You should take note of the legal driving age before you can start driving vehicles. The permissible legal age for license varies for different types of vehicles. For 4 wheeler motor vehicles it is 18 years and above. For some types of motorcycles it is 16 years and above.
You may face consequences (for instance financial penalties) if you do not obtain relevant registrations / licenses or are non-compliant with these laws.
You should note that if you charge your guests a fee for such travel, your vehicle may be considered a public service vehicle (i.e a vehicle that is used to carry people for hire or money). There are different permits and compliances for operating a public service vehicle. Please see below for guidance.
Do I need a special license or permit to drive my guests to and from my experience if I don’t charge them?
You don’t need a special license or permit to drive your guests as long as you are not charging them for the ride. In order to drive guests without getting an extra license or permit, you:
- cannot charge them for the transportation you provide (either directly or by adding the cost of transportation to your Experience Fee), and
- should clearly mention in your Listing that transportation will be provided “at no charge.”
If you want to charge your guests for the ride, you need to get special licenses.
Example: Rakesh takes his guests on a meditative walk through Lodi Gardens and wants to give them a free ride to/from the experience. Rakesh’s listing makes it clear he will pick up guests who need a ride to get to his experience at no charge to the guest. Rakesh does not need special licenses (aside from his regular driver’s license) to do this.
If I want to charge for the ride, do I need a special license or permit to drive guests to and from my experience?
Yes. If you are charging your guests a fee for driving them to and from your Experience, then, in addition to the requirements set out above, it is likely that your vehicle will be considered a public service vehicle and you will need the following:
- the driving license you obtain should specially state that you can drive a public service vehicle; and
- you need a permit issued by transport authorities to use the public service vehicle in a public place.
The type of permit you require depends on a number of factors such as:
- the type of vehicle and the number of passengers it can transport;
- whether you are charging your guests individual fares or a fixed collective fee;
- whether you will be making multiple stops during your journey to pick up different passengers; and/or
- whether you are transporting your guests out of, or within, the state of Delhi.
A description of the types of permits you can apply for is accessible here. There are other conditions for operating a public service vehicle as well. You can refer to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Delhi Motor Vehicle Rules, 1993 for details.
You should note that if you plan to drive your guests to a place outside of New Delhi, you may need additional licenses or registration. Please see below for guidance.
In addition, if you plan to charge for the transportation, you may be considered a tourist transport operator and be required to obtain a travel agent / travel agency licence from the Tourism Department of the State of NCT Delhi. Please refer to our section on guiding tours for more information.
If I want to charge for the ride and I plan to drive my guests to and from my Experience which takes place outside of New Delhi in places like Gurugram and Noida, do I need a special license or registration to allow me to do this?
It depends on several factors:
- If the start point and end point of your Trip or Experience is within the same state (e.g., Delhi), but you travel less than 16km in another state (e.g., Haryana), the permit obtained in your home state could be valid in a neighboring state as well and you will not need a separate license.
- If the start point and end point of your Trip or Experience are in different states (e.g., start in Delhi and end in UP), and/or if the leg of your journey that traverses another state exceeds 16km, you may need to have your permit countersigned by the other State Transport Authority or Regional Transport Authority.
- If you conduct a Trip or Experience that involves travel across multiple states (e.g., Delhi to Agra), you may apply for an “all India permit” that is valid throughout India.
In addition, if you plan to charge for the transportation, you may be considered a tourist transport operator and be required to obtain a travel agent / travel agency licence from the Tourism Department of the State of NCT Delhi. Please refer to our section on guiding tours for more information.
My experience involves going to a couple of separate venues, which are not walking distance from each other. I want to provide transportation between the two venues. I plan to order an Ola! Cab or licensed taxi or other licensed form of transportation. I do not plan to charge anything for the transportation. Do I need a specific licence to allow me to do this?
It is unlikely you will need a license for this. However, we recommend that you ensure that you only make bookings with licensed transport providers, and that you make it clear to your guests which transport provider the booking has been made with.
If you plan to charge for the transportation, you may be considered a tourist transport operator and be required to obtain a travel agent / travel agency licence from the Tourism Department of the State of NCT Delhi. Please refer to our section on guiding tours for more information.
Is there anything else I should keep in mind?
Under the Delhi Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1962 every registered owner of a motor vehicle has to declare and pay taxes on his vehicle. You should ensure that you make the requisite declarations and pay the tax rates prescribed under this Act. If you are traveling across states and your vehicle is a public service vehicle, you may also need to pay applicable taxes as you travel across other states.
*Airbnb is not responsible for the reliability or correctness of the information contained in any links to third party sites (including any links to legislation and regulations).