Sri Lanka car rentals
Cheap car hire in Sri Lanka
| Economy | AED 37/day |
| Compact | AED 50/day |
| Intermediate | AED 52/day |
| Standard | AED 82/day |
| Full-size | AED 108/day |
| Full-size SUV | AED 141/day |
| Mini | AED 31/day |
| Passenger van | AED 83/day |
| Luxury | AED 257/day |
| Premium SUV | AED 177/day |
| Intermediate estate car | AED 51/day |
| Commercial | AED 85/day |
| Standard SUV | AED 108/day |
| Intermediate SUV | AED 108/day |
| Compact SUV | AED 189/day |
Car rental directory
SR RENT A CAR car rental locations in Sri Lanka
21 Locations
Casons Rent A Car car rental locations in Sri Lanka
8 Locations
Sixt car rental locations in Sri Lanka
3 Locations
Kings Rental Corfu car rental locations in Sri Lanka
2 Locations
keddy by Europcar car rental locations in Sri Lanka
2 Locations
Dollar car rental locations in Sri Lanka
1 Location
Hertz car rental locations in Sri Lanka
1 Location
Sri Lanka Rent a Car car rental locations in Sri Lanka
1 Location
Sunnycars car rental locations in Sri Lanka
1 Location
Thrifty car rental locations in Sri Lanka
1 Location
Top tips for renting a car in Sri Lanka
- Because Sri Lankan roads tend to be narrow, it is advised to rent a compact car; plus, the island is small enough for you to navigate in one day. If you plan to explore the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you may want to upgrade your rental car to a four-wheel drive, as the roads are more rugged and hilly.
- Renting a car in Sri Lanka will provide you with the most freedom and save you much more time than if you used the time-consuming train service. Often, public transport cannot take you to certain areas like a car can. To navigate around the country, it is recommended that you rent a GPS device from your car hire company, which you can get for around 2,121 LKR (12 USD) per day.
- You will find several new highways in Sri Lanka that provide great driving conditions for your rental car. The Colombo-Katunayake Expressway connects the Bandaranaike International Airport to Kelani Bridge on the coast, a route you can drive in 30m. The Southern Expressway is 161 km (100 mi) long and extends from the south in Kottawa to Matara, while the Outer Circular Expressway links the Southern Expressway to the Katunayake Expressway.
- To make the most of driving around Sri Lanka, it is important to know the rush hours on the roads, particularly in major cities. It is advised to drive in cities and large towns like Colombo only between 8:30 am and 2:30 pm, or after 8:00 pm in the evening.
FAQs about renting a car in Sri Lanka
On average a car hire in Sri Lanka costs AED 256 per day.
Economy (Chevrolet Spark or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Sri Lanka.
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest car hires were found at Sixt (AED 79/day), SR RENT A CAR (AED 115/day) and Sri Lanka Rent a Car (AED 158/day).
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
On average hiring a car in Sri Lanka costs AED 848 per week (AED 121 per day).
On average a car hire in Sri Lanka costs AED 3,633 per month (AED 121 per day).
When you rent a car in Sri Lanka, you will need to drive on the left side and overtake on the right side of the road. Unless otherwise signposted, you need to give way to cars on the right. On newer highways, you will find tolls that are priced depending on the distance traveled and the car category, with prices starting at 100 LKR (0.57 USD). Road rules that must be adhered to are the prohibition of mobile phone use while driving and the requirement to wear seatbelts at all times.
If you plan to rent a car in Sri Lanka, the minimum age for drivers is 23 years old, and they must have had a valid driver’s license for two years previously. Any drivers under 25 years old will incur a young driver surcharge. You will need to get your driver’s license validated by the Automobile Association in Sri Lanka, which can be obtained by your car hire agency for an additional fee.
You will find that the average price of petrol is 164 LKR (0.93 USD) per liter, or the equivalent of 3.52 USD per gallon, when you rent a car in Sri Lanka. Because petrol is regulated by the government, petrol prices are the same at various petrol stations, so you do not have to shop around. Many of the island’s petrol stations are open 24h and offer self-service.
When driving on Sri Lankan roads, you will need to follow the national speed limits. In residential areas, the speed limit is 56 km/h (34 mph), and on national roads, you can travel up to 72 km/h (44 mph). On highways, the maximum speed limit is 120 km/h (74 mph).