When you hire a driver for your own car, you do not pay for a distance. You book a block of hours, and the driver is with you for that time. That makes the first question simple: how many hours do you need? Oray lists driver hire in three lengths, 4 hours, 8 hours and 10 hours for a full day, and you pick the car type that matches yours, from hatchback and sedan to SUV and luxury. This guide helps you choose the length in cities like Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, where traffic can stretch a short errand into a long one.
What the hours mean
The hours are the time the driver is at your service, not the number of kilometres you drive. A trip with a few stops and some waiting uses the hours in the same way as a trip with one long drive. Count from the time the driver reaches you to the time he leaves you at the end, and include the time you expect to spend waiting for him while you are inside a shop, an office or a hospital.
Because the fare is shown on the booking screen before you pay, you can try the three lengths for your date and car type and compare them. Do that first, and then decide, instead of guessing from memory.
When 4 hours is enough
A short block suits a single purpose with a clear end: a visit to a bank and a market, a hospital appointment close to home, a drop to a function and a return, or an evening out where you want to be driven to a restaurant and back. In a city like Chennai, remember that a short distance can take a long time at peak hours, so leave room for the traffic on the way to the first stop.
If your plan has three or more stops, or one stop where you do not know how long you will be, four hours can pass quickly. Think of it as a block for a defined errand, not for a day of open plans.
- One appointment and the way back
- A dinner or a function in the same city
- A drop to the airport or station with the car returning home
- A short shopping trip with two or three stops
When 8 hours fits a working day
Eight hours is the length for a working day of meetings, site visits or a day of calls across a city such as Bangalore or Hyderabad, where the places are spread out and the time between them is hard to guess. It also suits a family day out, with a late start, a long lunch and a drive home.
If you need the driver for a business day, give the booking the list of places in the order you will go. It helps the driver plan the route and warn you when two stops are in opposite directions.
When to book the full 10 hours
Ten hours is the full day. Choose it when the day is long and the end is uncertain: a wedding day with rituals and a reception, a day of visits to relatives on both sides of a city, a day of tours with a gap for lunch. A longer block takes away the worry of watching the clock, and it lets you go home when you are ready.
If you are unsure between 8 and 10, think about the last event of your day. If it is at a fixed time and you know the place, the shorter block is fine. If it depends on other people, the longer one is safer.
Tell the booking about your car
Choose the car type that matches the car the driver will drive: hatchback, sedan, SUV or luxury. Add the make, the model and whether the gearbox is manual or automatic in your notes. A driver who is comfortable with a small manual car may not be the right match for a large automatic one, and saying so at the start avoids a poor start to the day.
Share the pick-up address with a landmark, and a second phone number. If your car has a parking sticker or a gate pass for an office or apartment, say so.
If the day runs longer than planned
Plans change, so decide in advance what you will do if the day stretches. Read the terms and the cancellation policy shown at booking. If you are not sure whether a longer day is covered, call Oray support before the end of the booked time, rather than after it. A call early in the day is always easier than a disagreement at night.
Before you leave
Check the driver's name and details in the booking. In the Oray app you can share your trip so a family member can follow it. Take your valuables out of the car or keep them with you, and keep the car's papers in the car as the law requires. You can pay in full, pay part now, or pay later, depending on what the booking offers, so choose the option that suits you.
Questions
Which driver hire lengths can I book?
Driver hire is offered as 4 hours, 8 hours and a full day of 10 hours. You choose the length, the date and the car type when you search, and the fare is shown before you pay.
Is driver hire priced by distance?
No. A driver hire package is a block of hours for your own car, not a number of kilometres. The fare for the length you choose is shown before you book.
Which car types can I choose?
You can choose hatchback, sedan, SUV or luxury, to match the car you own. Add the make, model and gearbox in your notes.
What should I do if I need the driver for longer than I booked?
Call Oray support before the booked time ends and ask what applies to your booking. Doing it early avoids a disagreement later.