Difference Between On-Road vs. Ex-Showroom Prices

On-road and ex-showroom costs are part of the entire cost of owning a vehicle. However, customers should be aware of some salient differences between on-road and ex-showroom costs. Incomplete information could lead to the customer spending more than what is required, and that is not an ideal situation.
Ex-showroom cost
Ex-showroom cost is the cost of the vehicle excluding three factors – registration fee, road tax, and insurance premium. In addition, this cost includes goods and services tax, ex-factory cost, and the dealer's profit margin.

Photo Credit: pixabay.com
On-road cost
Simply put, this is the cost paid between the interval of bringing the car from the showroom to one's home. It includes – registration charges, road tax, insurance, accessories, and any additional costs applied to the car.

Photo Credit: pixabay.com
Differences
By undertaking a basic comparison, one cannot fail to realize that the on-road cost is much more than the ex-showroom cost on any occasion. This is pretty obvious since the parameters of ex-showroom cost are fixed and can be anticipated because that is the price listed by dealers. On the other hand, on-road costs include a lot of factors that may vary across states. In other words, the on-road cost is the final purchase price of the car.

Photo Credit: pixabay.com
Additional factors in On-road cost
- Registration Charge: The Regional Transport Office needs to be notified, and the registration charge needs to be paid. Without paying this charge, the car cannot leave the showroom.
- Road Tax: The tax that the customer pays for using the roads comes under on-road costs.
- TCS: Tax collected at the source is a charge that the dealership takes from the customer. This does not come under ex-showroom cost.
- Green Cess: This majorly depends on government norms and the current policy that the government is using.
- Extended Warranty: The car manufacturers provide a certain amount of time as the warranty for the car. Customers have an option to extend this warranty period if they think it's useful.
- Annual Maintenance Package: This depends on how the customer plans to go ahead with servicing the car. If the user chooses to go to a third-party dealership, this package makes no sense. But, if the customer plans to stick with the dealership, then this package could be a money saver.
- Handling Charges: The dealership can also charge the customer for the money it took to bring the car from the factory to the dealership.
- Accessories: Accessories include stuff like floor mats, extra cushions, etc., anything to the customer's liking to enhance the driving experience.
- Insurance: This is mandatory and a safety net for the customer in case anything bad happens to the car.
Owning a car can be a costly affair. The maintenance itself can cost a lot if the servicing isn't regular and the parts malfunction.
Latest News
car&bike Team | Apr 22, 2026Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z Launched With 350 cc EnginePrices for the Pulsar NS400Z remain unchanged at Rs. 1,93,900 (Ex-showroom).1 min read
Jaiveer Mehra | Apr 22, 2026Tesla Model Y L Launched In India At Rs 61.99 LakhLong-wheelbase derivative of Tesla’s SUV offers seating for up to six and sits on a 150 mm longer wheelbase.2 mins read
Jaiveer Mehra | Apr 21, 2026Hyundai Ioniq 3 Electric Hatchback Revealed; Smallest Ioniq EV Offers Up To 496 km RangeProduction-ready electric hatchback is offered with a pair of battery packs and the first Hyundai model for Europe to get the Android-based Pleos infotainment system.1 min read
Jaiveer Mehra | Apr 21, 20262026 Kia Syros Drops ADAS; Features Also Deleted From Base VariantKia has also made changes to the feature list of the Syros with the model year update, with top variants dropping some kit.1 min read
Bilal Firfiray | Apr 20, 2026Electric Mercedes-Benz C-Class Revealed; Claims Up To 762km Of RangeMercedes-Benz has revealed the all-new electric C-Class, which shares its underpinnings with the new GLC EV and offers 762km of claimed range, 480bhp and 10-minute fast charging.2 mins read
Jafar Rizvi | Apr 20, 2026MG Windsor EV Commute Variant Launched At Rs 13.49 Lakh: Check Out Features, ImagesThe Commute variant sits below the Excite trim of the Windsor EV and is essentially for fleet buyers.2 mins read
Preetam Bora | Apr 20, 2026Hero Destini 110 Vs TVS Jupiter 110 Comparison ReviewThe Hero Destini 110 and the TVS Jupiter 110 both sit in the same price bracket and target the same buyer. But they take different approaches. Which 110 cc scooter should you buy?9 mins read
Amaan Ahmed | Apr 15, 2026Kinetic DX+ Review: Pure Nostalgia Can Only Take You So FarNo smoke, no two-stroke – the reborn Kinetic relies heavily on the charm of the original’s design to sway buyers, but can it offer genuine substance to go with the style?12 mins read
Janak Sorap | Apr 10, 2026Triumph 350 Range First Ride Review: More Affordable, More Refined, Still Fun?Triumph’s shift to 350cc aims to cut costs, but does it affect the ride experience?5 mins read
car&bike Team | Apr 7, 2026Flying Flea C6 Review: Royal Enfield’s Electric Gamble?The C6 is the beginning of Royal Enfield's EV journey under the Flying Flea brand. Does it make a strong impression? Read on.8 mins read
Janak Sorap | Mar 31, 20262026 Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Apex – First Ride Review: The Update That Changes EverythingAfter riding the updated 2026 Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 for a round trip of over 140 km from Guwahati to Shillong, the new Apex variant feels like the version of the Guerrilla 450 that should have existed from day one.6 mins read


















































































































