All you need to know about renting a tuktuk in Sri Lanka!

Renting a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka is super easy! All you have to do is head over to our online reservations system on tuktukrental.com, select your booking dates, extra’s and enter your details. Continue to the payment section, and afterwards, you will receive a confirmation email containing everything you need to know about our social business model and comprehensive info on renting and driving a tuktuk in Sri Lanka. In the email, you will find a link to our licence form, where you can upload your licence documents for us to get your local Sri Lankan driving permit. We will get everything ready before you arrive. Once you are here, we will provide you with an (online) briefing going through some final details, your itinerary, the basics of travelling in a tuktuk in Sri Lanka and things to take into account. Then finally, a comprehensive driving lesson before you explore paradise in your own tuktuk!

tuktukrental.com is a social business that doesn’t own any tuktuks. Instead, we source our tuktuks from the local tuktuk community, which has some of the lowest salaries in Asia. We ensure everything is arranged from arrival to departure, so you only have to worry about enjoying yourself.

How much does tuk tuk cost in Sri Lanka?

Renting a tuk tuk costs anywhere between $14 and $25 per day, depending on the rental duration and includes; unlimited km’s, full insurance for all parties, comprehensive driving lessons, phone holder and charger, beach bag, lockboxes, spare parts and tyre, toolset, adventure platform (digital map with 1000+ off-the-beaten-track locations), social group chat with all other customers on the road. We cover all damages to your vehicle resulting from “fair wear and tears”. That means we cover the cost if something breaks while you are driving the vehicle unless you were involved in an accident/incident. When you rent with us, there are no hidden charges. We offer 24/7 extensive on-the-road support and have discount deals with hotels, hostels and tours islandwide. More information about tuktuk rental pricing can be found here!

Is it legal to drive a tuktuk in Sri Lanka?

In order to drive legally, there are a number of things to take into consideration. You need to drive a tuktuk which is officially registered with the Department of Motor Traffic; the tuk tuk should have the correct rental insurance that covers tourists driving it, and the driver at all times must have a valid Sri Lankan Recognition Permit (special local licence), the company you rent from must be officially registered with the Registrar of Companies and as per the Tourism Act of Sri Lanka, also with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority. All the above is applicable for tuktukrental.com / Tuktuk Rental (Pvt) Ltd.

Do you need a licence to drive a tuktuk in Sri Lanka?

Driving a tuktuk in Sri Lanka requires a special recognition permit, and there are two ways to get this. Either with your “International Driving Permit / IDP” or your “Regular National Country Licence” with B/C endorsement (depending on your country where B/C is representing car) on it. We can obtain your recognition permit from the AAC (Automobile Association of Ceylon) with any of the two. You will receive an email with the licence form where you can upload the documents, and we will have it ready before your arrival! Alternatively, you can go to the Automobile Association of Ceylon in Colombo and get the licence. More information about the Sri Lankan Recognition Permit is here.

Can I take the famous Kandy to Ella train ride while renting a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka?

We have a train transfer service if you want to take the train and rent a tuktuk. One of our drivers will drive your tuktuk (incl. your luggage) anywhere between Kandy, Hatton, Nanu Oya, Haputale, Ella or Badulla while you take the famous hill-country train.

Where can I pick up the tuk tuk?

We have pick-up and drop-off points all around the island! One of our driving instructors will then drive the tuktuk with your locally approved permit (licence) and the necessary documentation to your hotel, provide you with a comprehensive driving lesson and off you go, explore paradise!

Know about tuk tuk insurance when renting in Sri Lanka

All our tuktuks come with comprehensive insurance covering damage to your tuktuk and other vehicles. It also covers personal injury to you, your passengers, and 3rd parties. Read more about the insurance coverage here!

Is it safe to self-drive in Sri Lanka?

Absolutely! As of October 2022, we have had over 8000 customers on the road with no major accidents involving other vehicles. Some customers drove too fast in corners or left the tuktuk parked on a hill without the handbrake! None of our customers has ever ended up in intensive care at a hospital. We provide a detailed briefing beforehand and a comprehensive driving lesson, making sure you hit the road comfortably and confidently. More information about road safety in Sri Lanka can be found here.

How to keep my luggage safe?

We suggest taking your valuable belongings like money, credit cards, and passport while riding a tuktuk. Generally, your luggage can be kept safely in the back of the vehicle. Locals respect and protect tourists as tourism is essential to Sri Lanka’s economy. However, for extra security, we advise bringing a small lock and chain to secure your bag onto the metal features inside the tuktuk.

Furthermore, when stopping to explore, we recommend finding a local fruit, vegetable, or coconut seller and purchasing some goods from them in exchange for watching over your tuktuk. Lastly, we suggest lowering the rain curtains to make accessing the vehicle more difficult. For more detailed information, please refer to the link provided here.

How much luggage can a tuktuk transport?

There is plenty of room behind the backseat for luggage/backpacks. The dimensions are 60 cm high, 110 cm in length, and 30 cm in width. More detailed information can be found here.

Is it easy to get fuel in Sri Lanka for your tuktuk?

Finding petrol in Sri Lanka is now much easier than before, thanks to the stable current situation and the National Fuel Pass System (QR code) introduction, which has reduced long queues at petrol stations. It’s important to note that this system does not affect tourists driving in tourism-registered vehicles. The Tourist Fuel Pass Card has also been introduced, making it even more convenient to find petrol.

As the fuel crisis in Sri Lanka has been a significant concern, we have compiled this article to provide updates on recent developments. We have collected information from our on-the-road customers, driving instructors who travel all over the island, and our friends in the tourism industry to give you the best advice on finding petrol easily, getting priority at fuel stations, and saving fuel while on the road.

Please keep in mind that all the information provided is community-sourced, tested, and recommended by trustworthy sources. Despite the challenges, Sri Lanka remains a paradise with friendly people who will welcome you warmly.

More detailed information on finding fuel in Sri Lanka can be found here.

The tuktukrental.com value proposition:

  • Quality tuktuks rented from the local community.
  • Comprehensive rental insurance covering ALL parties. More information can be found here.
  • Locally & Internationally approved licenses are ready for your arrival.
  • Comprehensive Driving Lessons from professional driving instructors.
  • On-the-road travel kit.
  • 100% Carbon Neutral (we offset all km’s).
  • Repair costs are covered while you’re on the road.
  • Unlimited km’s.
  • Pick-up and drop-off locations ALL across the island.
  • Easy online payment options and digital deposit refunds (PayPal or credit card).
  • Extras and add-ons to make your trip more comfortable.
  • Access to an adventure platform (digital map with 1000+ off-the-beaten-track locations).
  • Social Group Chat with all other customers on the road.

Get in touch with tuktukrental.com

Convinced? Shoot us a message through our webchat or email us here. Ask us anything else you need to know to make travelling to Sri Lanka in a tuktuk hassle-free while supporting the local economy a reality!

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6 Comments

  • Posted December 13, 2023 4:09 am
    by Rob

    hello. I arrive in colombo on the 21st December and will stay 1 night at a hotel. I would like to rent a lovely tuk tuk for 20 days, returning it on the 10th January before returning home. but I would like to still take the train from kandy to Ella.
    I will collect the IDP here in the UK on Friday. can you tell me what I will need to do? I would like to have the sri lanka permit taken to the hotel for me to collect if possible!
    I can wait to hear from you with a price for all this included please?!

    • Posted December 14, 2023 5:35 pm
      by Wietse

      Hi Rob! All very easy, just head over to our website http://www.tuktukrental.com, fill in the pick-up/drop-off location and date, next page choose your tuktuk and extra’s like the Sri Lankan Driving Permit, next page enter your personal details, last page make the payment and you are all locked in! You’ll receive a confirmation email with all details you need, including a link to our licence form where you upload the necessary documents and we’ll have your local permit ready before you arrive. Will send you an email with more details!

  • Posted January 10, 2024 7:51 pm
    by Maarten

    Hi! I would like to rent a tuktuk for my 3 week travel to Sri Lanka, but I was wondering whether it was possible to have the Sri Lanka drivers licence and local permit also delivered with the tuktuk at Weligama if I choose this as pick-up location?

    • Posted January 14, 2024 4:23 pm
      by Wietse

      Hi Maarten, most definitely. That’s the way it works. Once you book, you submit your documents digitally. We bring you the tuktuk and permits anywhere on the island 🙂 Cheers, Wietse

  • Posted January 17, 2024 5:33 am
    by Lyn E

    Can you please advise the cc (cubic capacity) rating of your tuk tuk.

    • Posted January 17, 2024 11:41 am
      by Wietse

      We rent out the Bajaj Re 198.88CC. So its under 200cc 🙂

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