Ex-showroom vs on-road price in Mumbai: every charge added to a new car
By Arjun Ramanarayanan, IndiCar · Published 10 October 2026 · Tips
On a Tata Safari Smart Petrol Manual in Mumbai, Rs 2,43,009 sits between the ex-showroom and on-road price. Road tax, insurance, TCS and FASTag make up that gap.
The on-road price is what you actually pay to drive a new car out of a Mumbai showroom. It is always well above the ex-showroom price. On the cheapest Tata Safari, the Smart Petrol Manual 7-seater, the ex-showroom price is Rs 13,39,990 and the on-road price is Rs 15,82,999. The difference is Rs 2,43,009. It comes from road tax and registration, insurance, TCS and FASTag. These figures are from IndiCar's price list dated 1 September 2026, for individual registration. Below is what each charge is and why it is there.
The Rs 2,43,009 gap, line by line
The largest single add-on is road tax and registration. Here is the IndiCar breakup for the Safari Smart Petrol Manual 7-seater in Mumbai, registered to an individual:
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Ex-showroom price | Rs 13,39,990 |
| RTO registration and road tax (Mumbai, individual) | Rs 1,66,565 |
| Insurance (first-year comprehensive) | Rs 62,194 |
| TCS | Rs 13,400 |
| FASTag | Rs 850 |
| On-road price | Rs 15,82,999 |
Across the range the spread is wide. IndiCar prices 72 Safari variant and powertrain combinations, in petrol and diesel, with manual and automatic gearboxes. The most expensive is the Accomplished UL STH AT6 Diesel Automatic 7-seater at Rs 32,58,744 on-road, against an ex-showroom price of Rs 26,90,990. The gap between the cheapest and costliest on-road Safari is Rs 16,75,745. You can see every variant on the Tata Safari price page.
What the ex-showroom price already contains: GST
The ex-showroom price already includes GST. It covers the factory cost plus GST and any cess. You do not pay GST again on top of it.
The GST rate depends on size and engine. From 22 September 2025, these cars attract 18% GST if they are no longer than 4 metres:
- petrol, CNG and LPG cars with engines up to 1200cc
- diesel cars with engines up to 1500cc
Large cars and SUVs above those limits pay a flat 40%, with no cess. This matters for the next step, because Maharashtra road tax is charged on the ex-showroom price. That price already has GST built into it.
Maharashtra road tax: the biggest add-on
Road tax in Maharashtra is a percentage of the ex-showroom price. The rate depends on fuel type and price band. The Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Tax (Amendment) Act, 2025 took effect from 1 July 2025 and raised the rates as follows:
| Ex-showroom price | Petrol | Diesel | CNG/LPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below Rs 10 lakh | 11% | 13% | 8% |
| Rs 10-20 lakh | 12% | 14% | 9% |
| Above Rs 20 lakh | 13% | 15% | 10% |
A few more rules apply:
- One guide lists a 2% road safety cess charged on the tax.
- Imported or company-registered vehicles pay 20%.
- Electric vehicles keep their tax and registration benefits in Maharashtra. A proposed 6% tax on EVs priced above Rs 30 lakh was dropped.
For the Safari, this explains much of the price spread. The Smart Petrol Manual, at Rs 13,39,990 ex-showroom, falls in the petrol Rs 10-20 lakh band at 12%. The top Accomplished UL diesel, at Rs 26,90,990, falls in the diesel band above Rs 20 lakh at 15%. That is the highest rate for a privately registered car. Diesel and a higher price both push you into a steeper slab.
Registration itself is a smaller cost. One guide puts the registration charge at Rs 600. If you buy on a loan, Maharashtra adds Rs 1,500, according to an RTO guide.
Insurance: three years of third party is compulsory
Every new private car must have a three-year third party insurance policy. IRDAI made it mandatory for all general insurers to issue this cover for new cars.
Most buyers take a bundled policy. It gives three years of third party cover but only one year of own-damage cover, which you renew every year. The IndiCar figure of Rs 62,194 for the Safari is the first-year comprehensive premium. Expect a fresh own-damage premium each year after that.
TCS: 1% that you get back
TCS is collected by the dealer, but it is not a cost in the way road tax is. The seller must collect 1% from you on any motor vehicle valued above Rs 10 lakh. Some points to know:
- The 1% applies to the full value, not just the amount above Rs 10 lakh.
- It applies to each sale separately, not to your total purchases in a year.
- Under the Income-tax Act, 2025, it falls under Section 394(1), Table Sl. No. 6.
On the cheapest Safari, TCS is Rs 13,400. The amount shows up in your Form 26AS. You can adjust it against your tax liability or claim it as a refund in your income tax return.
Our view: if you file returns, treat TCS as money you will recover. Do not treat it as a price you are paying for the car.
FASTag and the extras dealers may add
FASTag has been mandatory for getting new third party insurance since 1 April 2021. On the Safari it costs Rs 850.
Beyond the statutory charges, a lender's definition of on-road price can also include:
- extended warranty
- a service package or annual maintenance contract
- accessories
None of these appear in the IndiCar breakup above. If a dealer quote is higher than the statutory total, ask for each of these items to be listed separately. That way you can see what is a tax and what is optional. Our on-road price calculator shows the Mumbai breakup for any car before you visit. You can also browse all new cars with Mumbai on-road prices.
Sources
- CarDekho: GST cut and small car prices after 22 September
- TaxGarden: GST rates on cars and vehicles
- TaxClue: GST on cars 2025-26
- Autocar India: Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Tax Act amendments
- Team-BHP: Maharashtra motor vehicle tax hike from July 2025
- PB Partners: state-wise RTO charges for new cars
- ICICI Lombard: RTO registration charges guide
- RTO Office: car registration charges in Maharashtra
- IRDAI: long-term third party cover for new private cars
- CarDekho: IRDAI ruling on three-year comprehensive policies
- NHAI: FASTag FAQ
- ABCAUS: CBDT FAQ on TCS on motor vehicle sales
- Tax India Updates: TCS clarification for vehicles above Rs 10 lakh
- TaxGarden: TCS under Section 206C(1F)
- CAclubindia: TCS on sale of a car
- TDSMAN: TCS on motor vehicles and luxury goods
- Zee Business: SBI car loan features and on-road price definition
Frequently asked questions
How much more than ex-showroom is the on-road price of a Tata Safari in Mumbai?
For the Smart Petrol Manual 7-seater, the on-road price is Rs 15,82,999 against an ex-showroom price of Rs 13,39,990, a gap of Rs 2,43,009, according to IndiCar's price list dated 1 September 2026.
What is the road tax on a petrol car in Maharashtra?
From 1 July 2025, petrol cars below Rs 10 lakh pay 11%, those between Rs 10-20 lakh pay 12%, and those above Rs 20 lakh pay 13%, calculated on the ex-showroom price.
Is GST added on top of the ex-showroom price?
No. The ex-showroom price already includes factory cost, GST and any cess.
Can I get the TCS on my car back?
Yes. The 1% TCS on a car above Rs 10 lakh appears in Form 26AS and can be adjusted against your tax liability or claimed as a refund in your income tax return.
Do electric cars pay road tax in Maharashtra?
Electric vehicles continue to get tax and registration benefits in Maharashtra. A proposed 6% tax on EVs priced above Rs 30 lakh was dropped.
Tags: on road price, mumbai, road tax, maharashtra, tata safari, tcs