TTR-Information
About Us
We believe the best way to travel anywhere in the world is like a local, and, that the best and most fulfilling memories start with you choosing your own adventure.
We are a social business that measures its success on the way we impact the lives of local Sri Lankan three wheel owners. We match tuktuks from local owners with avid travellers (like you) who want a self-driving adventure like no other. We work hard behind the scenes to make renting a tuktuk as simple as ordering a meal and finding the best destinations as easy as eating it.
Social Business
We don’t own any tuktuks! We are a social business that uses vehicles from local Sri Lankan families to help boost their income. Over 70% of three-wheelers are owned by people with low incomes. Studies indicate that tuktuks play an important role in helping these people climb out of poverty. A tuktuk is not as cheap as you would think, in Sri Lanka they cost approx USD $5000 new. Comparing relative incomes, a Sri Lankan owning a tuktuk is equivalent to someone in the USA owning half of a house!
Impact
600+
Families supported
$ 1,458,411 USD
Income for local tuktuk owners
Offset our carbon emissions
Female driver empowerment
Help low-income families with education aid.
193 water connections installed
Converting fleet to electric
Impact Stories
Impact Story: Asanka
Asanka has been working with tukukrental.com for three years now. He lives with his wife, Dinali, and their daughter. Thanks to tukukrental.com, he was able to transform his humble one-bedroom home into a comfortable and nurturing environment for his family. The income from renting his tuk-tuk not only funded these essential renovations but also allowed Asanka to invest in a small business.
With Dinali’s passion for cooking, they opened a cozy café just outside their home, serving a delightful variety of pre-ordered meals and cakes. This café has become a cherished part of their community, with Dinali’s delicious creations contributing significantly to the family’s income.
The joy and gratitude Asanka’s family feels toward tukukrental.com is immense. They deeply appreciate the company’s ethics and management and encourage others to trust and join this supportive community. The extra passive income from TukTukRental.com has not only improved their financial stability but also enabled them to dream bigger and invest in new ventures.
For Asanka and his family, tukukrental.com has been a beacon of hope and opportunity, changing their lives in ways they never imagined.
Impact Story: Piyal
Piyal has been working with TukTukRental.com for just over a year. As an officer in a government position, he earned only 30,000 rupees per month, struggling to support his wife, daughter, and grandchild. Despite his relentless hard work, Piyal often had to take on multiple small jobs just to make ends meet. It was a tough life, where dedicating oneself to countless jobs meant sacrificing precious time with family.
But then, everything changed.Rupika, his wife, gleefully shared their joy and gratitude for partnering with TukTukRental.com. Thanks to this collaboration, they now earn a substantial additional income each month from renting out their tuktuk. These extra earnings have allowed them to renovate and expand their family home, a dream they once thought impossible.
Rupika and Piyal are overwhelmed with happiness and thankfulness for this opportunity. It has not only eased their financial burdens but also brought hope and a better future for their family. Their story is a testament to how TukTukRental.com’s social business model transforms lives, enabling families like theirs to thrive and find renewed joy and stability.
Impact Story: Shalitha
Shalitha has been with tukukrental.com since its inception, watching it grow from 10 to 150 vehicles. Initially working part-time to support his family, he joined full-time in 2019. Within a year, his hard work led to a promotion to Fleet Manager, while he continued renting his tuktuk through the company.
Living with his wife, son, and in-laws in a small rented place, Shalitha is now building a new home, a dream made possible by his steady income and tukukrental.com’s support. For Shalitha, this is more than a job—it’s being part of a family that has profoundly transformed his life.
Shalitha’s story is a testament to the power of a compassionate business model. tukukrental.com has not only provided him with financial stability but also instilled a sense of purpose and community. His journey reflects the core values of the company—uplifting local lives while creating unforgettable travel experiences.
Quality Vehicles
100 point mechanical inspection
Driver
Maintained service records
We pay for all repairs*
All tourists covered
24/7 support
Passengers
3rd parties
Insurance
This is a comprehensive motor insurance policy If you hit a vehicle, you’re covered. If another vehicle hits you, you’re covered, and, you’re even covered if an Elephant tramples your tuk. We* pay 3rd party damage claims upto 100,000 LKR !
More information can be found here.
On The Road Support
On call 24/7
100+ Mechanic network
Translation services
Connect with other customers
Disaster notifications
Mobile app & attractions map
The Love Machine!
Since we started in late 2016, we’ve had over 15 successful marriage proposals in a tuktuk!!
Rental Inclusions
We repay for all repairs you did.
Supporting local families
On call 24/7
Comprehensive Motor insurance
Driving lesson with qualified instructor
Digital Payments & Refund
Dedicated mobile app with Attractions map
Free Itinerary planning session
Unlimited kilometers
Spare tyre & other parts
Lockable storage box
Phone holder and charger
tuktukrental.com Attractions Map
Over 3 years of ongoing work, knowledge, and traveller contributions we’ve compiled THE ULTIMATE MAP of the best touristic and non-touristic attractions in Sri Lanka! INCLUDED IN OUR OWN APP!
Pricing
Our prices depend on your rental duration and include; 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 AND we cover all damage to your vehicle that is a result of “fair wear and tears”. That means that if something breaks while you are driving the vehicle unless you were involved in an accident/incident, we cover the cost. When you rent with us, there really are no hidden charges. Checkout our pricing table here
Optional Extras
Surf racks
We have specially designed tuktuk surf-racks for rent for $1 per day, so you will have no problems taking your board with you! We also often have pick-ups and drop-offs in the South and in Arugam Bay, so you can leave your surf board at our office and we can bring it your hotel when you are around the surf spots (so you don’t need to drive it around the whole island!)
Baby seat
We have tuktuks with seatbelts in which a baby-seat can be placed for extra safety. You can take your own or rent them from us for $1 per day. This seat is suitable from 0 right up to 7 years old. Both the padded seat and adjustable head support, promise a comfy journey.
Please see the list of baby seat list here
Seatbelts
The key thing is to take your journey slow as possible, enjoy the atmosphere around you and make sure that you travel mainly on the main roads and to the main cities. When making a booking with us, you can choose the option to have seat belts (free of charge) to add to your tuktuk for additional safety.
Big bluetooth speakers
We rent out Bluetooth speakers to enhance your adventures! This 40W wireless speaker not only delivers exceptional sound quality but also elevates the mood with its vibrant RGB lights. Perfect for on-the-go entertainment, it’s a must-have for everyone seeking to add rhythm to their journeys.
Detailed itinerary planning
You can easily reserve your spot for one of our trip planning sessions by clicking on this link.
We’ll guide you through the best routes, hidden gems, and insider tips, ensuring you have an unforgettable journey.
Cooler/ Esky
We’ve got Esky’s / Coolers / Coolboxes for rent $1 per day! We give you a ice-pack with it as well. Get ready to take your cool drinks with you while you explore paradise and when you’re settled down, take cold beers to the beach! (*don’t drink and drive!)
Train Transfer
We will get a driver to pick up the vehicle at your required train station and take it to your final destination ($49).
Read More about our train transfer service here…
Pickup Dropoff Locations
Travel Times Map of Sri Lanka
Local Driving Licence
If you’ve got a car licence, you can drive a tuktuk. However, in Sri Lanka a special endorsement is required before you can be fully street legal.
Option 1 – We do it for you
Select this option when you book and we’ll handle everything for you. Your licence will be ready when you arrive and you can hit the ground running.
$40
Option 2 – You do it
Take your car license to the Automobile Association of Ceylon (in Colombo) and get your own temporary permit. This can take from 2 – 4 hours.
$30
Luggage Storage
Explore More about luggage space in a tuktuk
Don’t miss out on the adventure of a lifetime!
Book far in advance to lock in your tuktuk.
We are often sold out…!
Q&A
How much traffic is there?
The main areas for traffic are Colombo and Kandy. The traffic here gets to stand-still on a daily basis around peak hours. Outside of these two cities the traffic is rather tame and the roads are quite good – especially for a country in SEA. We recommend you don’t drive the road from Colombo to Kandy on your first day. The bus drivers are notoriously bad drivers.
Where should I start?
We recommend you start in Colombo – Katunayake (our HQ) or Negombo. If you want extra hand-on assistance and itinerary assistance, it’s best that you come to Colombo where our office staff and managers can assist you better. If you are heading South, you should come to the office in Colombo. If you are heading North/East, it’s better if you start in Negombo. Depending on the “loop” you travel on we recommend you don’t drive through the traffic of Colombo… unless you want to do our UberTUK challenge!
Is it fast?
In a tuktuk, getting from A-B takes a bit more time than in a car. The speed limit for tuktuks is 40 km/hr in Sri Lanka.
Is it good all the time?
That comes down to how you like to travel. If you want luxury and comfort, the vehicle doesn’t compare to other options. If you want to get a little out of your comfort zone and experience life like a local – the tuktuk is the only vehicle to do this. As you are driving there will be honking, pedestrians, cows, dogs and even elephants on the road.
Is it comfortable?
It’s more comfortable than public transport, but it’s less comfortable than an air-conditioned private vehicle. Tom (the founder) is 6”5’ and drives a tuktuk – but – if you are bigger than him it can be too uncomfortable to drive for your whole trip.
Will I have any mechanical issues?
Some people do and some people don’t. The majority do not have any issues – however – we can’t guarantee that you will not face minor problems. We give each vehicle a 100 point check before we rent it out and make sure it’s in the best condition possible. We do the best we can but this still doesn’t guarantee 0% mechanical issues. Even with cars – things can breakdown that you don’t expect. With tuktuks, they are made cheaply in India for working class people. Everything is out in the open. Sometimes falling into a pothole at speed can mean an electrical connection comes loose – and all of a sudden your speedometer doesn’t work. No matter what happens we have a dedicated team that looks at mechanical and technical support and they are available 24×7
