Use Uber or Ola when
1) Distances over 4km — the fixed-price app is cheaper than the auto's meter-averse haggling. Amritsar station to hotel: $2.50 Uber, $4–5 auto after negotiation. 2) Rain or cold — obvious. 3) With luggage — autos technically fit two people plus small bags, not families. 4) At night after 10pm — auto prices double and safety records drop.
Chandigarh has the deepest Uber supply, Amritsar next, Ludhiana thin. Jalandhar and Patiala are Ola-dominant. Anandpur Sahib and smaller towns have neither — auto only.
Use autos when
1) Sub-2km hops around the Golden Temple or Chandigarh Sector 17 — Uber pickup times exceed the ride length. Auto is 60 cents versus $2. 2) In the old walled cities where roads are too narrow for cars — Amritsar's Katras, Patiala's inner city. 3) Peak traffic 6–8pm — autos weave through jams the cars cannot.
Always ask for meter first. If refused, negotiate before starting. Fair rate is roughly $0.40 per km. Never pay more than $1.50 for anything under 3km.
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