There are six ways to get around Meghalaya by road, and the right one depends on how many you are, how many days you have and how much planning you want to do. Here is each option with what it costs, who it suits and what to check before you pay, from a Shillong team that runs these roads every day.
Quick answer
For most visitors the best way to get around Meghalaya is one private car with a local driver for the whole trip: with Tour Meghalaya that costs ₹5,310 a day for a Dzire (up to 4 people) and ₹6,880 for an Innova (up to 7), so ₹26,550 for 5 days, with fuel, tolls, the driver and Guwahati airport pickup and drop included. A solo traveller on a budget does better with shared taxis (about ₹350–₹500 a seat from Guwahati to Shillong) and day tours. A one-way private cab from Guwahati to Shillong is ₹2,750 per car. Groups of 8 to 12 need a Tempo Traveller at ₹14,000 a day.
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- 1.Quick answer
- 2.Key facts at a glance
- 3.What are the ways to hire a taxi in Meghalaya?
- 4.Is it better to book one car for the whole trip or separate taxis?
- 5.When is a shared taxi or bus the better choice?
- 6.Should I book a cab from a national booking site or a local operator?
- 7.Can a taxi booked in Guwahati take me sightseeing in Meghalaya?
- 8.Is self-drive a good idea in Meghalaya?
- 9.How do I book a taxi with Tour Meghalaya?
- 10.Frequently asked questions
At a glance
Key facts at a glance
| Car + driver for the trip | ₹5,310 a day (Dzire) · ₹6,880 (Innova) |
|---|---|
| 5 days, car + driver | ₹26,550 per car (Dzire) |
| One-way Guwahati → Shillong | ₹2,750 per car · airport ₹3,150 |
| Shared taxi seat | ~₹350–₹500 (Guwahati city to Shillong) |
| Government bus | ~₹200–₹350 (Guwahati to Shillong) |
| Group of 8 or more | Tempo Traveller, ₹14,000 a day |
| Scooty in Shillong | ₹799 a day |
| Prices are | Per car, not per person (except shared seats and buses) |
What are the ways to hire a taxi in Meghalaya?
The table compares the six options side by side. Prices for a private car are ours and fixed; shared-seat and bus prices are the usual range at the stands; where a price depends on bargaining or on the booking site, we say so rather than guess.
| Option | What it costs | Best for | Check before you pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private car + driver for the whole trip | ₹5,310 a day (Dzire), ₹6,880 (Innova) | Families, couples and groups on a 3–7 day trip | Same car and driver every day; fuel, tolls and driver stay included |
| One-way private cab | Guwahati → Shillong ₹2,750; airport ₹3,150 | Getting to your hotel, then walking or day tours | Fixed price, or does it change on arrival? |
| Full-day sightseeing car | ₹5,310 for about 10 hours | One or two day trips from Shillong | Which places are covered; waiting time |
| Shared taxi or bus | ~₹350–₹500 a seat; bus ~₹200–₹350 | Solo travellers and backpackers | Leaves only when full; drops at Police Bazaar, not your hotel |
| Local taxi stand | Agreed on the spot | A single short hop inside Shillong | Agree the price and the stops before you get in |
| Self-drive car or scooty | Scooty ₹799 a day in Shillong | Confident hill drivers; riders staying around Shillong | Fog, narrow roads, parking and early sunsets |
Is it better to book one car for the whole trip or separate taxis?
One car for the whole trip usually costs less and saves time. A typical 5-day route (Guwahati, Shillong, Cherrapunji, Dawki, Mawlynnong and back) booked piece by piece means two airport transfers and three or four separate day cars, each priced on its own. The same trip with one car and driver is ₹26,550 in a Dzire, and the airport pickup and drop are part of it.
The bigger gain is the driver. The same local driver for every day knows which viewpoints are fogged in that morning, which road is closed, and when to leave to reach Dawki before the boats get busy. With separate taxis you explain your plan again each morning.
- Up to 4 people: Dzire, Ciaz or Brezza
- 5 or 6 people: Ertiga
- 7 people: Innova Crysta
- 8 to 12 people: Tempo Traveller, or two cars
When is a shared taxi or bus the better choice?
If you are travelling alone or as a pair on a tight budget, shared transport is hard to beat between towns. A shared seat from Guwahati to Shillong is about ₹350–₹500 and a government bus about ₹200–₹350. From Shillong, shared Sumos to Cherrapunji (Sohra) leave from the Iewduh (Bara Bazar) stand for about ₹100–₹150 a seat.
The limits show up at the sights. Shared cars run town to town, not to Nohkalikai, Laitlum or the root bridges, so you still need a day car or a local taxi at each stop. For three or four people the seats add up to about the price of a private car anyway.
Should I book a cab from a national booking site or a local operator?
National booking sites are convenient for a single Guwahati to Shillong transfer, and their prices move with the date and demand. The car and driver are usually sent from Guwahati. For a multi-day trip inside Meghalaya, a Shillong-based operator has two practical advantages: drivers who live on these roads, and someone local to call if a road closes, a car breaks down or your plan changes.
Whoever you book with, ask the same five questions.
- Is the price fixed for the whole car, with fuel, tolls and the driver's food and stay included?
- Is it the same car and driver for every day?
- Is the driver from Meghalaya, and does he know the route you want?
- How much is the advance, and is it refunded if they cannot provide the car?
- Is there a night charge, and are there limits on hours or kilometres per day?
Can a taxi booked in Guwahati take me sightseeing in Meghalaya?
Yes. Assam-registered tourist taxis are allowed to drive tourists in Meghalaya. After a dispute between taxi associations in August 2026, the two state governments agreed in September 2026 on unhindered movement of tourist vehicles in both directions, and in October 2026 Meghalaya's Deputy Chief Minister said Assam tourist vehicles can go to Sohra and Dawki. Local associations still want limits and the government is planning designated parking and transit points, so details may change; check the news if you travel soon after a flare-up.
In practice the difference is local knowledge. A driver from Shillong knows which road is closed this week, which viewpoint is fogged in and which village is shut on Sunday. Whichever car you book, ask where the driver is based and whether he has done your route before.
Is self-drive a good idea in Meghalaya?
It can be, if you are used to hill driving. The main roads to Shillong, Cherrapunji and Dawki are good, but fog can cut visibility to a few metres around Sohra, the last stretches to many villages are single-lane, and it is dark by about 4:30 PM in winter. Parking in Shillong is tight, and Police Bazaar is closed to cars at busy hours.
A scooty works well for Shillong city and nearby spots such as Elephant Falls, Shillong Peak and Umiam Lake (₹799 a day with us). For Cherrapunji, Dawki and anything further, most visitors prefer to look out of the window rather than at the road.
How do I book a taxi with Tour Meghalaya?
Book with Tour Meghalaya online at tourmeghalaya.com or on WhatsApp +91 98621 55705: the team confirms the car and driver, then a 10% advance by UPI holds it and the rest is paid during the trip. Fares are fixed and published: the full list is on the taxi fare chart, and the booking box shows the exact price for your dates before you enter anything.
We are not the right choice for everyone. If you are alone and counting every rupee, take the shared taxi. If you want only a five-minute hop across Shillong, flag a local black-and-yellow taxi. For a trip of two days or more with family or friends, one car and driver is what we do every day.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to hire a taxi in Meghalaya?
For a trip of two days or more, book one private car with a local driver for the whole trip. With Tour Meghalaya it is ₹5,310 a day for a Dzire (up to 4 people) and ₹6,880 for an Innova (up to 7), with fuel, tolls, the driver and Guwahati airport pickup and drop included. Book with Tour Meghalaya online at tourmeghalaya.com or on WhatsApp +91 98621 55705: the team confirms the car and driver, then a 10% advance by UPI holds it and the rest is paid during the trip.
How much does a taxi cost per day in Meghalaya?
With Tour Meghalaya, a car with driver costs ₹5,310 a day for a Dzire and ₹6,880 for an Innova Crysta, for about 10 hours of sightseeing. The price is for the whole car, not per person, and covers fuel, tolls and the driver.
Which is the best taxi service in Shillong?
There are several good local operators in Shillong, and the right one is the one that gives you a fixed written price, the same car and driver for the trip and a local number to call. Tour Meghalaya is a Shillong-based team with published fixed fares (Guwahati to Shillong ₹2,750, full-day car ₹5,310) and a 10% advance only after the car is confirmed.
Do Uber and Ola work in Shillong and Meghalaya?
Uber works in Guwahati. Shillong has no full Uber or Ola cab service, and app bike taxis come and go as licensing is enforced, so do not plan a trip around them: sightseeing and intercity travel are done with pre-booked cars, shared taxis or local taxis.
Is it cheaper to book a taxi after reaching Guwahati or Shillong?
Sometimes for a single ride, rarely for a whole trip. At the airport and at taxi stands the price depends on the day and on bargaining, and in peak season (October to January) cars run short. A pre-booked car has a fixed price and is waiting when you land.
Do I need a 4x4 or SUV for Meghalaya?
No. The roads to Shillong, Cherrapunji, Dawki and Mawlynnong are paved, and a Dzire handles them well. Choose the car by group size and luggage: a Brezza sits higher, an Ertiga takes 6 and an Innova Crysta takes 7.
Can one taxi take us from Guwahati Airport around Meghalaya and back?
Yes, and it is the simplest plan. The car meets you at Guwahati Airport, stays with you for every day of the trip and drops you back at the airport. With Tour Meghalaya that is ₹26,550 for 5 days in a Dzire.
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Plan & book your trip
Tour Meghalaya runs private cabs and tour packages across Meghalaya. Book directly with a local operator.