These Terms and Conditions govern your use of the services provided by Palanquin Ecotales Private Limited, operating as The PalanQuin, and your use of our website at thepalanquin.co.in. By booking any service with us, you agree to these terms.
If you have any questions about these terms before booking, please contact us at info@thepalanquin.co.in or WhatsApp +91 600 37 47 123.
The PalanQuin provides the following services:
All our vehicles are chauffeur-driven. We do not offer self-drive rental services.
Bookings can be made via WhatsApp (+91 600 37 47 123), phone, email, or through our website contact form. A booking is confirmed only when you receive an explicit confirmation from a member of our team — not on submission of an enquiry form.
You must provide accurate information at the time of booking including pick-up location, destination, date, time, and number of passengers. The PalanQuin is not responsible for delays or issues arising from inaccurate information provided by the guest.
All fares are agreed at the time of booking. Our quoted fares include:
The following are not included in the base fare unless explicitly agreed:
We confirm vehicle availability at the time of booking. In the rare event that the confirmed vehicle becomes unavailable due to mechanical issues, accident, or force majeure, we will arrange an equivalent or superior substitute vehicle at no additional cost, or offer a full refund if no suitable alternative is available.
Guests are responsible for:
Our drivers are trained professionals. If you have any concern about your driver's conduct during a trip, please contact us immediately on +91 600 37 47 123. We take all feedback seriously and act on it promptly.
Guests are requested to treat our drivers with respect. The PalanQuin reserves the right to terminate a trip without refund if a driver is subjected to abusive, threatening, or disrespectful behaviour.
We track flights in real time for airport transfers and accommodate delays at no extra charge. For non-airport pick-ups, a standard grace period of 15 minutes is included. Waiting time beyond 15 minutes may be charged at the prevailing rate communicated at the time of booking.
The PalanQuin is covered by standard commercial vehicle insurance. Our liability for any loss, damage, injury, or delay is limited to the extent provided by applicable Indian law and our insurance coverage. We are not liable for:
We strongly recommend guests carry appropriate travel insurance for international or high-value trips.
These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of India. Any dispute arising from these terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Guwahati, Assam.
We reserve the right to update these Terms and Conditions at any time. The current version will always be available at thepalanquin.co.in/terms-and-conditions.html. Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.
The following terms apply specifically to all self-drive car rentals booked with The PalanQuin in addition to the General Terms above.
The renter must be above the age of 24 years. Certain vehicles (including larger SUVs and AWD models) require a minimum age of 25 years. Age will be verified against the documents provided at delivery.
A refundable security deposit is collected at the start of the trip:
The deposit is refunded after the vehicle is returned in good condition, subject to any deductions for damage, excess fuel shortfall, or penalties.
The full rental amount plus the security deposit must be paid at the start of the trip. No vehicle will be handed over until full payment is received.
All self-drive vehicles are equipped with FASTag. The renter is responsible for maintaining sufficient FASTag balance during the rental period. Recharge is available via PhonePe, GPay, or Paytm (no OTP required). Any unused FASTag balance at the end of the rental is non-refundable.
Fuel costs are entirely at the renter's expense. The vehicle is handed over with a specific fuel level and must be returned at the same level. If the vehicle is returned with less fuel, the shortfall cost will be deducted from the security deposit at current market rates. If returned with excess fuel, a refund of up to ₹1,000 may be credited based on average mileage calculations.
The standard allowance is 250 km per day on average. For a 4-day rental, the total allowed is 1,000 km. Kilometres beyond the allowed limit are charged as follows:
| Vehicle Type | Extra KM Charge |
|---|---|
| Small Hatchback (Santro, Alto, Wagon R etc.) | ₹6 / km |
| Medium Hatchback / Sedan (i20, Baleno, Dzire etc.) | ₹7 / km |
| Sub 4m SUVs (Brezza, Venue, Nexon etc.) | ₹8 / km |
| Compact SUVs (Creta, Seltos, Carens etc.) | ₹11 / km |
| 4×4 SUVs (Thar etc.) | ₹15 / km |
Standard Liability (no protection plan):
| Vehicle Type | Maximum Liability |
|---|---|
| Hatchbacks / Sedans | ₹30,000 |
| SUVs | ₹35,000 |
Full damage cost (irrespective of insurance cover) applies if any of the following occur:
Optional Accident Protection Plan: Available at an additional premium shown at the time of booking. With this plan, the renter's maximum liability is capped at ₹2,000 regardless of damage amount.
The vehicle must be returned to the agreed pickup point unless a different return location has been specifically arranged and confirmed in writing prior to the start of the rental.
Rental is calculated on a strict 24-hour basis (time-to-time). For example, if the vehicle is collected at 10:00 AM, it must be returned by 10:00 AM the following day for a 1-day rental. The rental period does not follow calendar days.
Extra hours beyond the agreed rental period are charged at the rate of (Daily Rental ÷ 12) per hour. If the extra time exceeds 6 hours, a full additional day's rental charge applies instead of the hourly rate.
To extend a rental, contact The PalanQuin team in advance. Extensions are subject to vehicle availability and cannot be guaranteed. Rental charges will apply for the extended period.
In the event of a mechanical failure not caused by the renter, a replacement vehicle will be provided subject to availability. We will make all reasonable efforts to minimise disruption to your trip.
Vehicles are delivered cleaned. The renter must not:
Non-compliance will result in a ₹500 interior cleaning charge. Damage to interior components will be charged at actuals.
An advance booking amount of ₹999 is charged to confirm self-drive bookings. This advance is fully refunded if the booking is cancelled 96 or more hours before the scheduled trip start time. If cancelled within 96 hours of the trip start, the advance is non-refundable. Please refer to our Cancellation Policy for full details.
| Violation | Charge |
|---|---|
| Over-speeding (above 110 km/h, tracked by GPS) | ₹1,000 fine |
| Returning vehicle under the influence of alcohol | Full damage repair cost |
| Smoking or consuming alcohol inside the vehicle | ₹1,000 fine |
| Traffic challans incurred during rental period | Fully borne by renter |
For questions about these Terms and Conditions: