Self Drive in Sri Lanka: The Ultimate Guide to Renting a Tuk Tuk

Guess what? We rented a tuk-tuk in Sri Lanka and went for a 10-day self-drive road trip. We made it out scratch free and we enjoyed every minute of it. Driving a tuk-tuk in Sri Lanka is the most exciting way to explore the island, offering freedom, adventure, and a truly local experience. Before you decide if renting a tuk-tuk in Sri Lanka is your cup of tea, there are a few key things to know – from licensing requirements and rental costs to safety tips and other useful hacks. In this ultimate guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to make your tuk-tuk adventure smooth and unforgettable.

Why rent a tuk-tuk?

If you plan to visit Sri Lanka and don’t want to depend on public transport or drivers who stay with you the entire vacation, driving a tuk-tuk is a perfect solution. It offers total freedom and flexibility to stop anytime and everywhere you want. Tuk-tuks can go where larger vehicles can’t – from narrow village roads and off-road trails to remote beaches. It is hard to imagine what a tuk-tuk can do, but I promise: it will get you everywhere. On top of that, it is cost-effective and cheaper than renting a car, a private driver, or using the Pick Me app.

How to rent a tuk-tuk in Sri Lanka?

We booked our tuk-tuk via Tuktuk rentals and the whole process was easy and transparent. While the thought itself seemed challenging at first, we were surprised at how smooth everything was in reality. To rent a tuk-tuk you need to enter your exact travel dates and optional add-ons. You can also include a train ride in your itinerary: a) simply add the cost of the tuk-tuk drop off/pickup at the desired train station, and they will arrange the transfer for you; or b) you can simply do it our way.

Driving licence

A special driving license is required to drive a tuk-tuk in Sri Lanka and to get that you’ll need to provide an Intl. Driving Permit Category B. You can let the agency do everything for you online (it costs 40 $) or visit the AAC office in Colombo or Kandy and pay 30$. But then again, you need to go there and back and don’t expect it to be processed in 10 minutes. I strongly suggest you arrange it with the agency and save 20 $ by drinking less beer, or something. 😉

Can anyone drive a tuk-tuk?

Even if you have a Category B driving license, driving a tuk-tuk for beginners is not a smooth sail. This is where the rental agency steps in. They will provide you with mandatory introduction and driving lessons, which take from 30 min. to one hour, depending on your experience. From what I could read on other blogs, anyone can drive a tuk-tuk, it just takes more time to be confident for some people. In our case, only my partner took the license, as it was easier, cheaper, and safer. 🙂

Driving and safety issues

Apart from driving on the left, which can be stressful, if you are not used to it, the road conditions in Lanka are not a walk in the park. The roads are narrow, curvy, and usually not well maintained. However, tuk-tuks are not a Ferrari and you are pretty safe with keeping your pace at 40 km/hour (tuk-tuk speed limit). The challenging part is the buses, which drive like idiots most of the time and don’t care if you are a tourist or the president of Sri Lanka. The sooner you accept that and “respect” that you are the weaker part, the better.

For safety (and some unknown) reasons, Sri Lankans honk a lot. Not as much as in India, but still A LOT. I suggest you do the same, to let the driver in front of you know that you are taking him over. Or just to be aware of your presence so that he doesn’t do anything stupid.

As far as the theft safety is concerned, we didn’t have any bad experience. Still, I recommend you only park in busy areas and carry valuable stuff (passport, money, and phone) with you all the time. We kept our luggage safe with a bike lock, which proved effective.

How much space is there in a tuk-tuk?

A typical Sri Lankan tuk-tuk has little but a practical amount of space. The driver sits in the front, while there is space for 2 passengers in the back. If you’re traveling with more than one backpack, one passenger in the back is optimal for a comfortable journey. The legroom is about 90-100 cm, which is only challenging if you are not very tall. There is very little space for luggage in the back. We didn’t want to travel as light as most backpackers, and we could fit 1 mid-size and 1 cabin suitcase next to my seat, and 2 mid-size backpacks in the back. We were fully packed, but I could still sit very comfortably.

The costs of renting a tuk-tuk in Sri Lanka

Rental fee: from 14-22 $ a day
Driving permit: 40 $ (or less if you do it yourself)
Damage deposit: 150 $ (refundable if no damage to the vehicle)
Fuel: around 1 $ per litre (fuel tank capacity is 6-8 litres). A full tank can last around 120-200 km, depending on road conditions.

Other useful tips for tuk-tuk drivers

Drive slowly and keep your eyes on the dogs, which sometimes lie on the road.
Avoid driving at night due to bad road conditions and animals.
Avoid highways, tuk-tuks are not allowed there.
Carry cash, as most petrol stations don’t accept cards.
Refuel before heading to remote areas.
Check oil level frequently.
Carry as little luggage as possible.
Bring a cable or bike lock, which you can attach to the tuk-tuk’s metal frame.
Wear a mask on the road, especially in the cities, because of pollution and smell.
Tip someone to take care of your tuk-tuk while you are gone (park in front of their stand or shop).

I believe I have covered all the information you need to decide whether renting a tuk-tuk in Sri Lanka is something you were made for. While it might seem hard and stressful, I promise you that it is also fun, exciting, and unforgettable.