5 Hidden Costs Indian Car Buyers Always Forget

1) Insurance renewal — comprehensive insurance from year two onwards is rarely budgeted. 2) Service costs at authorised centres rise sharply after the third year. 3) Tyres typically need replacement at 40-50k km and cost Rs 20-40k for a set. 4) Battery replacement around year 4-5: Rs 6-12k for ICE, Rs 1-2 lakh range for EVs (though batteries are improving fast). 5) Resale depreciation — Indian cars lose 35-50% value in five years. Always look at five-year total cost of ownership, not just the showroom price.