Hire an Ertiga from Chennai to Bangalore, with a driver
| Distance | 350 km |
|---|---|
| Drive time | 5h 30m off-peak · up to 7h at busy times |
| One way, from | ₹7,770 incl. GST |
| Round trip, from | ₹14,490 incl. GST |
| Highway | NH48 via Ranipet, Vellore and Krishnagiri |
| Best departure | Leave by 5am, or overnight to arrive for a morning meeting |
How that fare is built
| Item | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|
| Chargeable distance | 350 km | 700 km |
| Rate per km | ₹20 | ₹19 |
| Distance cost | ₹7,000 | ₹13,300 |
| Driver bata | ₹400 | ₹500 |
| Toll and parking | At actuals, with receipts — quoted on the call | |
| Sub-total | ₹7,400 | ₹13,800 |
| GST at 5% | ₹370 | ₹690 |
| Total, from | ₹7,770 | ₹14,490 |
One way is charged for your direction plus the minimum distance. A round trip charges both legs with the daily minimum applied — which is why the one-way total is lower even at a higher per-km rate. Prefer a single agreed figure with toll and permit folded in? Ask for an all-inclusive quote.
The corridor, and why the middle is the easy part
Chennai to Bangalore is probably the most travelled intercity car route in South India, and the thing nobody tells you is that the 350 km of highway is not the problem. The road itself — out through Ranipet and Vellore, past Krishnagiri and over the border — is fast, four-laned and dull in the best way.
What decides your journey is the two cities at either end.
Leaving Chennai, you are working your way out through the western suburbs to pick up the highway. Arriving in Bangalore, you meet whatever the city is doing at that hour — and if your destination is Whitefield or Electronic City rather than the centre, that final stretch can take as long as the previous hundred kilometres.
So the useful question is not “how long is the drive” but “where in Bangalore are you going, and when do you need to be there”. That is what your driver plans backwards from.
What is at the far end
Bangalore needs no introduction, but the routing note is worth having: tell us the area, not just the city. Indiranagar, Whitefield, the airport and Electronic City are effectively four different destinations from this direction, and knowing which one changes both the timing and the last hour of the route.
The overnight option
This is one of the few routes where travelling overnight genuinely makes sense. The highway is good, the traffic thins out, and you arrive in Bangalore early enough for a morning meeting without spending a working day in the car. It is a common business booking rather than an unusual request. The driver’s rest is planned around it.
Why this route suits an Ertiga
A long, flat, fast highway run — which is exactly where an Ertiga is most economical relative to a bigger MPV. For four or five people with luggage it is comfortable for five and a half hours. For six adults it is a long stint, and on a run this length we would rather move you into something larger than have you regret the third row somewhere near Krishnagiri.
Still coming to this page: named toll plazas and amounts, named break stops. Those come from our own drivers rather than from a map, and we would rather leave them off than print a figure we have not checked. Ask on the call and we will tell you the toll for this route.
All bookings include a professional driver. We do not offer self-drive rentals.
Booking this route
We drive Bangalore to Chennai as well, at the same rate — the fare depends on the distance and the direction of travel, not on which end you start from. There is one page for both directions rather than two pages saying the same thing.
Related routes
Chennai to Bangalore — FAQs
How long does Chennai to Bangalore really take?
Five and a half hours of driving in good conditions, and the highway is not the variable. Getting out of Chennai and then into Bangalore is. Both cities can add an hour at the wrong time of day, which is why we set departure times rather than quoting a flat duration.
Is a permit needed?
Yes. You cross from Tamil Nadu into Karnataka, so an interstate permit applies. It is charged at actuals and quoted before you travel — we hold it already.
Should we travel overnight?
Many business travellers do, and it works well on this road: the highway is good, the traffic is light, and you arrive for a morning meeting without losing a working day. Tell us and we plan the driver's rest around it.
Is one way cheaper than a round trip?
Substantially, on a run this long. You pay for your direction plus the minimum instead of 700 km. If you are flying back, or staying on in Bangalore, take the drop.
Where does the car stop on the way?
There are good options around the Vellore and Krishnagiri stretch, and your driver will suggest one based on your departure time. We do not name a specific stop here yet because we would rather recommend one our own drivers use than one from a listing.