The Ultimate Guide: Tuk Tuk Rental in Sri Lanka and Driving Tips

The Ultimate Guide: Tuk Tuk Rental in Sri Lanka and Driving Tips

Are you looking for tuk tuk rental and driving tips for your next adventure in Sri Lanka? Rent a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka and explore the beautiful country at your own pace.

Getting around in Sri Lanka by tuk tuk may seem dangerous or impossible. But in this post, you’ll find everything you need to know about renting and driving a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka.

We spent two weeks in Sri Lanka and enjoyed an unforgettable journey in our rental tuk tuk. Use our tuk tuk rental guide to make the most of your Sri Lanka trip.

Disclosure: This post contains a few affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through our link. This is a free way to support us and allow us to continue to create inspiring travel guides.

Where Can I Rent a Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka?

Tuktuk Rental is a social business (since 2016) that supports local tuk tuk owners by matching their three-wheeled vehicles with adventurous travelers who want to explore Sri Lanka on a self-driving adventure.

We recommend you choose the Tuktuk Rental company as they are trustworthy, there are no hidden costs, and they are happy to help you with everything like train transfers or getting a local driving license.

You can pick up or drop off your tuk tuk anywhere in Sri Lanka, such as Colombo, Negombo, Sigiriya, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Mirissa, etc.

Is it Worth Renting a Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka?

Absolutely! We did our 14-day Sri Lanka Itinerary by a rental tuk tuk and enjoyed exploring the country at our own pace.

It was an unforgettable experience to pass elephants with our tuk tuk.

Is it Safe to Rent a Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka?

Yes! You can easily and safely rent a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka through the Tuktuk Rental website. Your booking includes a reliable tuktuk, which will be fully inspected and test driven before rental.

The tuk tuk rental price includes unlimited km’s, comprehensive driving lesson, insurance for all parties, spare tire, basic toolset, lockable storage box, phone holder & USB charging point, etc., and 24/7 support.

Why Should You Rent a Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka?

The best way to explore Sri Lanka is by renting a tuk tuk. Although public transport is cheap, travel time is long, and some places are not accessible by bus or train.

So, if you want to explore the country’s hidden gems and hard-to-reach waterfalls, tea plantations, or beaches, rent a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka and have an unforgettable experience.

Renting a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka provides the freedom and flexibility to explore the country at your own pace and get off the beaten path.

See also → Things to Do in Unawatuna

Getting Around Sri Lanka by Public Transport

The cheapest way to get around Sri Lanka is by public transport. The trains and buses connect all major cities, and local buses can also take you to smaller villages. If you have limited time in Sri Lanka, we don’t recommend using public transport to travel around the country.

There is no official bus schedule, trains and buses are often delayed or overcrowded, and most buses are not air-conditioned. Always keep an eye on your valuables and beware of pickpockets! Although you can save money by using public transport when traveling in Sri Lanka, the costs can quickly add up if you have to use a taxi or hire a tuk tuk driver to reach the beaches and waterfalls.

So, Iif you have limited time to explore Sri Lanka, save time and get the most out of your experience with a rental tuk tuk.

Tuk Tuk Rental in Sri Lanka

There are only a few requirements for tuk tuk rental in Sri Lanka. You will need your driver’s license or International Driving Permit (IDP), bank card, travel insurance (recommended), valid passport, and Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) visa.

Get a Sri Lanka Visa.

In Sri Lanka, a local driving license is required to drive a tuk tuk! You can pre-order this local permit from Tuktuk Rental and receive it when it arrives.

Alternatively, you can go to the Automobile Association of Ceylon (ACC) in Colombo and get your license on your own (approximately 4 hours). But we recommend you save time and buy your license from Tuktuk Rental.

They rent the tuk-tuks from local drivers to help them earn extra income. So, you can support local people in Sri Lanka by booking through the Tuk Tuk Rental website.

Tuktuk Rental Train Service

Are you planning to rent a tuk tuk but don’t want to skip the famous train ride from Kandy to Ella? Tuktuk Rental offers a train transfer service, which means that your tuk tuk will be delivered to your next destination (Kandy/Hatton/Nanu Oya/Ella), while you enjoy a scenic train ride through the tea plantations. This is a great way to experience a different mode of transport in Sri Lanka.

Check Kandy train ticket rates and availability HERE.

The train transfer service can easily be added to your booking for just 49 USD (excluding fuel costs). So, in this way, you can support local tuk tuk drivers in the Nuwara Eliya and Ella areas.

TIP
Save money, use our coupon code dittusandmate and get a 5% discount on tuktukrental.com.

Read the full post → Kandy to Ella Train

Arrive at Tuk Tuk Rental Office in Sri Lanka

We arrived in Sri Lanka from India at Bandaranaike International Airport (airport code CMB). After collecting our luggage, we bought a SIM card with internet and took an Uber to the Tuktuk Rental office. The Tuktuk Rental office is only 4 km away from the airport.

We were then welcomed by a friendly staff with coffee and water, talked about our first impressions of Sri Lanka, and were shown the different colors and types of tuk-tuks. After that, we got our local driver’s license, which the Tuktuk Rental company arranged for us.

Then, we were educated with several tourists about tuk tuk rental and driving in Sri Lanka. At the end of the education, we discussed the issues. Afterward, the instructor asked everyone how long they would like to stay in the country, which places they would like to visit, and what they would like to see. Raveen gave great tips and advice to everyone and showed the hidden sights on the map.

After that, the instructor showed us our tuk tuk. We checked the brake, tires, and lights to make sure they were working, then the basic equipment, such as spare tire, small clutch cable, etc.

Everyone was also given lots of tips and advice on what mistakes not to make while driving. Then we got a comprehensive 1-hour driving lesson from a qualified tuk tuk driver, where we had the opportunity to drive the tuk tuk and learn how to start, stop, brake, etc. Then we started exploring Sri Lanka by tuk tuk.

TIP
Plan to spend at least 2-3 hours at Tuktuk Rental’s office, which will be enough time for education, a driving lesson, and to get great Sri Lanka tips from the helpful staff.

Recommended post → Best Waterfalls in Sri Lanka

Tuk Tuk Rental in Sri Lanka: Our Experience

It was only stressful to drive the tuk tuk for the first two days because a three-wheeled vehicle is completely different from a car or a motorbike. But it has many similarities and is easy to drive with a little practice.

The only downside to getting around by tuk tuk (no better by public transport) is that traffic within cities is chaotic, with frequent traffic jams, especially at weekends or on holidays.

If you are traveling by tuk-tuk, you can stop anywhere and enjoy the beautiful landscape, meet friendly locals, or see wildlife. Sri Lankan people are very friendly and are happy to take pictures with tourists. We loved our self-drive adventure in Sri Lanka, being able to go wherever we wanted. No matter if we wanted to visit a beach at sunset or arrive at a popular attraction at sunrise.

It was a fantastic experience when we passed elephants on the B35 Road towards Yala National Park. We also explored the best beaches in Sri Lanka, passed stunning waterfalls, and visited beautiful tea plantations that would have been impossible to reach by public transport.

One of our best travel decisions was to rent a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka. We can’t wait to return to India and explore Kerala with our own tuk tuk.

Keep reading → Guide to Yala National Park

Sri Lanka Tuk Tuk Rental Coupon Code 2025

When you book your tuk tuk for your next adventure in Sri Lanka, you can simply enter our tuk tuk rental coupon code dittusandmate in the “I have a coupon code” box.

Is it Safe to Drive a Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka?

Driving in Sri Lanka by tuk tuk can be a challenge, especially for first-time visitors. If you’ve driven a motorbike in Vietnam or Bali, you have probably experienced that traffic in Asian countries is often chaotic and rules are not always followed. Therefore, if you are going to drive a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka, you should always pay extra attention while driving.

It is a bit more stressful for everyone to drive a tuk tuk. But the roads are good and well maintained in the country. We suggest defensive driving, planning your route, not driving at night, obeying speed limits, avoiding distractions while driving, and always setting off with a full tank!

The tuk-tuks are the slowest in traffic (maximum speed 40 km/h), and buses are very dangerous as they think they own the road and usually honk to get everyone out of the way. Don’t be scared! Just slow down and let the bus pass as quickly as possible!

Sri Lanka has a lot of impatient drivers, and there can be animals on the roads. So drive carefully, and obey speed limits and rules! Before you travel, make sure you have your own travel insurance.

Don’t forget to buy travel insurance! We always choose SafetyWing for our travels.

We spent 2-weeks in Sri Lanka and enjoyed an unforgettable journey in our rental tuk tuk.

Keep reading → What to Do in Sigiriya

Tuk Tuk Rental: Driving Tips for Sri Lanka

• Get a local SIM card with internet access! We recommend using a Dialog SIM card.
• Always have Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR) with you.
• Google Maps and Waze are the best navigation apps in Sri Lanka.
• There are some toll roads on which tuk-tuks are not allowed. Turn off tolls road on your phone!
• Always check the engine oil, tires, and accessories daily.
• The speed limit for a tuk tuk is 40 km/h.
• Don’t underestimate the distances and allow more time for travel.

• As police check drivers routinely, always keep your documents (passport, license) with you.
• In Sri Lanka, we only met friendly police officers. But there are some corrupt police officers, so ask for a receipt and take a photo of the police officer’s badge and number.
• Don’t drive drunk!
• Avoid driving at night with a tuk tuk!
• If it’s raining, drive carefully and use the tuk tuk rain cover.
• Animals are often on the roads. Especially when driving towards Yala National Park, you may see wild elephants on the roads. Just drive carefully past the elephant, do not try to feed them, and keep your distance.
• After every 1000 km or ten days, take the tuk tuk to a local mechanic and have the vehicle greased. This costs about 1500 LKR (4.50 USD) and takes only 15-20 minutes.

Tuk Tuk Rental Price in Sri Lanka

The price will vary depending on whether you are hiring a tuk tuk for the short or long term, where you pick up and drop off the tuk tuk in Sri Lanka, and the tuk tuk type (cabriotuk, regulartuk, or electric tuk tuk).

A tuk tuk rental in Sri Lanka costs 22-24 USD per day. Affordable, isn’t it? Especially as tuk tuk can carry up to 3 people, making it an ideal mode of transport for families and couples. If you rent a tuk tuk for several weeks, you can get a cheaper price.

You’ll also need to pay a deposit of 150 USD, which will be refunded at the end of your trip.

Use our 5% dittusandmate Discount Code on tuktukrental.com.

FAQ about Tuk Tuk Rental in Sri Lanka

Which side of the road do you drive on?

In Sri Lanka, you should drive on the left side of the road.

Where can I park my tuk tuk in Sri Lanka?

You can leave your tuk tuk practically anywhere in Sri Lanka, but to avoid theft and to park safely, always stay near your accommodation, local vendors, or restaurants. In major cities, it is usually difficult to find a parking space.

At night, the safest place to park is at your accommodation! During the day, you can park your vehicle in the designated parking areas at the attractions/beaches. Alternatively, you can buy coconuts or fruit from local vendors and ask them to keep an eye on your tuk tuk.

What should I do if I have an accident in Sri Lanka?

First, keep calm and make sure everyone is ok! Ask locals for help. Call the tourist police and Tuktuk Rental company and report the accident.

Get a police report! After that, contact your travel insurer as soon as possible.

TIP
To avoid problems, write down and give all information and take photos and videos!

Local Emergency Contacts:

• Police: 119
• Fire & Ambulance: 011-2422222
• Tourist Police (can speak English): 1912 / 011 238 2209

How many people can fit in a tuk tuk?

3 people can comfortably travel in a tuk tuk, including the driver.

Can I put a baby seat in the tuk tuk?

You can rent a baby seat from Tuktuk Rental for a daily fee of 1 USD. In addition, if you are traveling with young children, you can rent a tuk tuk with a seat belt.

Where can I store my luggage in the tuk tuk?

There’s space behind the seats for your bags. But you can also store your stuff on the seat. We traveled with two large backpacks and two small bags.

It is good to know that monkeys regularly go into the tuk-tuks. So never leave food in there, and always close your tuk tuk with the rain cover.

Take care of your valuables! We recommend keeping your belongings in your hotel room during the sightseeing and never leaving valuables in your tuk tuk.

Fuel and Petrol stations in Sri Lanka

There are plenty of petrol stations all over the island. You’ll always find one every 20 kilometers, but we recommend you head out with a full tank.

The tuk tuk has a total tank of 9 litres. 95 Octane petrol is recommended for the tuk tuk, but 92 petrol is also good. A litre of 95 Octane petrol costs 365 LKR (1 USD).

You cannot pump your gas in Sri Lanka, and there is no self-service at petrol stations. That’s why one possible common scam in the country is to pay for more petrol than they pumped out. You can avoid this if you check that it is set to zero before filling up!

More Travel Guides about Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka Itinerary for 14 Days
• 1 Week Sri Lanka Itinerary
• How to Visit Ambuluwawa Tower
• 9 Best Things to Do in Ella
• 7 Epic Things to Do in Kandy
• Best National Parks in Sri Lanka
• 9 Best Things to Do in Mirissa

We hope our tuk tuk rental guide will help you plan your next trip to Sri Lanka. If you have any questions or thoughts about renting a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka, let us know in the comment below.

Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
eSIM – Airalo
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Train/Transfer – Bookaway

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