Car Rental in Sri Lanka
Air conditioning and a locked boot — sensible when it rains, or when the family comes.
As low as
$22/day
On 16+ day rentals. From $29/day on shorter stays.
Refundable deposit
USD 200–500
Paperwork
AAC or DMT
Every rental includes
Car rental in Sri Lanka is self-drive hire of an air-conditioned car with a locked boot, in four models from the Suzuki Alto K10 to the Toyota Prius.
- USD 22 a day for the Alto K10 on a 16+ day rental, rising to USD 59 a day for a Prius on a short trip — each model has its own tiered rate.
- Refundable deposit of USD 200 to USD 500 depending on the model, paid on collection — nothing is charged in advance.
- Every car includes full insurance, unlimited kilometres and a driving introduction lesson, at no extra charge.
- A self-drive car takes the AAC permit (USD 45 with a booking, six months, needs an IDP) or the DMT permit from the airport counter, open 24 hours. NOHA handles it before you arrive.
- Every model comes with a chauffeur option instead of self-drive, quoted per trip on WhatsApp.
- Pickup and return are available island-wide.
- NOHA is a family firm, run from Galle for 3+ years, rated 5.0 on Google.
Reviewed for accuracy by Dumi, NOHA’s owner. Prices, deposits and paperwork fees last checked September 2026.
Choose your car
Same paperwork, same inclusions, same deposit terms — each model has its own price, deposit, and full spec sheet on its own page.
Suzuki Alto K10
$29/day
5 seats · Petrol
See specs and pricing
Suzuki Wagon R
$39/day
5 seats · Petrol / Hybrid (depending on variant)
See specs and pricing
Toyota Aqua
$49/day
5 seats · Hybrid (Petrol + Electric)
See specs and pricing
Toyota Prius
$59/day
5 seats · Hybrid (Petrol + Electric)
See specs and pricingCar rental prices in Sri Lanka, by rental length
A car is from USD 22 a day on the Suzuki Alto K10, the cheapest of the four models. Each model has its own rate — the table below shows every tier, and each model page carries its own deposit and spec sheet. Every day is unlimited kilometres.
| Rental length | Suzuki Alto K10 | Suzuki Wagon R | Toyota Aqua | Toyota Prius |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2–4 days | $29 | $39 | $49 | $59 |
| 5–10 daysWe recommend | $27 | $37 | $47 | $57 |
| 11–15 days | $25 | $35 | $45 | $55 |
| 16–45 days | $22 | $29 | $37 | $44 |
A chauffeur option is available on all four models. Rates are quoted per trip on WhatsApp.
Prices, deposits and paperwork fees checked September 2026.
Staying a while? Say so.
Rates already fall as the rental gets longer. A code comes off the tier rate on top of that.
10% off
USD 300 or more
15% off
USD 600 or more
USD 25 off
USD 300 or more
Valid through 31 October 2026
Renting something else? See discount codes for every vehicle.
Full insurance, free on every car rental
Insurance
Free
Included at no extra charge on every rental — not an add-on you opt into or pay for.
If a fault turns up mid-trip, message the WhatsApp line. It runs every day of the year and we arrange a repair or another car directly.
What the policy covers
- Accidental damage from any external cause
- Malicious damage and vandalism
- Fire, external explosion, self-ignition and lightning
- Burglary and theft
- Natural perils — flood, storm, cyclone, earthquake
- Towing after an accident, up to LKR 5,000
- 24/7 claim assistance
If you have an accident
If you have an accident: stop, call the NOHA hotline from the spot, and send clear photos through the link our team sends back — before you move the car. Sri Lankan law (Motor Traffic Act s.161) also requires you to report any road accident to the nearest police station. Moving the car or settling privately before you have called can reduce or void what the policy pays.
Third-party property damage is covered up to LKR 30,000; third-party bodily injury is unlimited.
The paperwork you’ll need
Either the AAC or the DMT permit covers a self-drive car. The AAC permit costs less and lasts six months but needs your International Driving Permit; the DMT counter at the airport is open 24 hours. We handle the application before you arrive. If you would rather not drive, every model comes with a chauffeur option, quoted per trip on WhatsApp.
AAC permit
$45
with a vehicle booking · 6 months · every vehicle, tuk tuks included
Automobile Association of CeylonDMT permit
From LKR 15,000
From 1 month · airport counter, open 24 hours · no IDP needed
Department of Motor TrafficA 5-day south coast route, Galle to Ella →Starting from Galle vs Negombo →
What comes with it
Every car rental includes full insurance and the same support as the other vehicles, at no extra charge. The paperwork fee and the deposit are billed separately, and the deposit differs by model.
Full insurance
Driving introduction lesson
Unlimited kilometres
Full tool kit
Phone holder
First aid kit
WhatsApp support, 365 days
Tour plan assistance
How to rent a car in Sri Lanka
- 01
Send your dates
Message WhatsApp or use the form with your dates, your stay, and whether you want to drive or want a chauffeur. Nothing is charged now.
- 02
We handle the paperwork
A self-drive car takes either the AAC or the DMT permit. Send your home licence and IDP and we handle the application before you arrive. On the chauffeur option the permit is the driver's, not yours.
- 03
Collect or take delivery
Pick up from our base, or we deliver to your hotel or villa. A short handover covers the car before you leave.
- 04
Drop it where you finish
Back to base, or leave it in another town and we collect island-wide. Say so when you book.
When a car isn’t the right choice
Worth being honest about this before you book.
Pick a tuk tuk instead for open-air south-coast trips at a lower daily rate, or a scooter or motorbike if you are travelling solo and want the cheapest way to cover ground. A car earns its place in the monsoon months, and when you are travelling as a family with cases rather than backpacks.
| Car | Tuk tuk | Scooter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From / day | USD 22 | USD 18 | USD 8 |
| Carries | 5, plus a locked boot | 3, plus bags | 1–2, daypacks |
| Weather cover | Air conditioning | Roof | None |
| Permit | AAC or DMT | AAC only | AAC or DMT |
| Experience needed | Comfortable driving on the left | None — capped at 40 km/h | Some — automatic |
| Best for | Rain, families, highway distances | South-coast pottering, groups, luggage | Cheap distance, tight lanes, solo |
Why rent a car in Sri Lanka, and why the paperwork matters
Air conditioning, a locked boot, and four models
A car gives you the two things the tuk tuk, scooter and motorbike cannot: air conditioning, and a boot that locks. That matters in the monsoon months, and when you are travelling as a family or with cases rather than backpacks. There are four models — the Suzuki Alto K10, Suzuki Wagon R, Toyota Aqua and Toyota Prius — each with its own page, daily rate and deposit, from USD 200 on the Alto to USD 500 on the Prius. Every model can be driven by you or by a NOHA chauffeur, with chauffeur rates quoted per trip on WhatsApp.
You still need the local paperwork
A home licence on its own is not enough, and neither is an International Driving Permit. Either the AAC or the DMT permit covers a self-drive car, and we handle the application before you arrive. If you take the chauffeur option instead, the permit is on the driver, not you.
Why travellers choose NOHA
NOHA is run by Dumi and family from their own yard in Galle, trading as NOHA Tuk Tuk (Pvt) Ltd. Dumi answers the WhatsApp himself, and the same team that services the cars hands you the keys.
- Family-run by Dumi, 3+ years hiring vehicles from Galle
- 5.0 on Google, 42 reviews
- TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice, multiple years, 11 reviews
- Verified Riderly rental partner
- Four models, Alto K10 to Prius, each with its own rate, deposit and spec sheet
- Drive it yourself, or take the chauffeur option, quoted per trip on WhatsApp
- We handle the AAC or DMT application before you arrive; on the chauffeur option the permit is the driver's
- Full insurance and unlimited kilometres on every model
- Delivered to your hotel or villa, collected island-wide
- WhatsApp support 365 days a year, and pay on collection with no card fees
Reviews from NOHA car rentals
“I just wanted to give a big shout-out for the exceptional service I received! The customer service was amazing — super friendly, fast, and totally hassle-free. Really appreciate the smooth and efficient experience. Highly recommend!!”
Andrea MoscaCustomer service
See it up close
Collect it, or we deliver to your door
The car comes to where you're staying, with room for the family and the cases in the boot.
Our base
Collect the car here, or we deliver it to your hotel, guesthouse or villa.
Your hotel or guesthouse
Delivered to youA short handover covers the car, the papers and the boot before you drive off.
Wherever you finish
One-way collectionEnd the trip in another town and leave the car there. We collect one-way, island-wide.
Airport and train-station transfers on request. The boot carries your luggage, so there's nothing to send separately.
The deposit
A car deposit runs from USD 200 on the Suzuki Alto K10 to USD 500 on the Toyota Prius, set by the model. Pick yours below for the exact figure, and bring it in full on the day: a Prius means USD 500 to hand over at the counter.
Nothing is charged in advance. The deposit for your model is taken when you collect the car, by cash, card, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or a payment link we send on WhatsApp, in USD, EUR, GBP, or LKR. Card deposits are charged rather than held as a pre-authorisation, and refunded within two weeks of the car being returned.
On a USD 200 to 500 deposit the currency maths matters more. A EUR or GBP card is charged and refunded in USD, your bank converts each way, and the refund can come back a little short. Paying in cash avoids it.
How to pay
Car rates run from USD 22 a day on the Alto K10 up to USD 59 on the Prius, and the chauffeur option is quoted per trip on WhatsApp. Either way, nothing is charged in advance. Payment is taken on collection in USD, EUR, GBP, or LKR, with no card fees.
Cash
Card, Google Pay, or Apple Pay
WhatsApp payment link
Questions about car rental
- Can I drop the vehicle off in a different town?
- Yes. Plenty of people pick up at our base and finish in Ella or Hikkaduwa. Tell us where you expect to end up and we will arrange collection. We can move your luggage separately too, if you'd rather not bring it with you.
- How much does it cost to rent a car in Sri Lanka?
- Car rental in Sri Lanka costs USD 22 to USD 59 a day with NOHA, depending on the model and how long you keep it. The Suzuki Alto K10 is the cheapest at USD 29 a day for 2–4 days, dropping to USD 22 a day for 16 days or more; the Toyota Prius runs from USD 59 a day down to USD 44. The Suzuki Wagon R and Toyota Aqua sit in between. A refundable deposit of USD 200 to USD 500 is taken on collection depending on the model, and full insurance and unlimited kilometres are included in every rate.
- Do you need a licence to rent a car in Sri Lanka?
- Yes. You need a valid driving licence from your home country plus local paperwork — either the AAC or the DMT permit. Your home licence alone is not enough, and neither is an International Driving Permit on its own. NOHA handles the application before you arrive, using your home licence and IDP. On the chauffeur option the permit is the driver's, not yours.
- Is it worth renting a car in Sri Lanka?
- A car is the right choice when you are travelling as a family, carrying suitcases rather than backpacks, or driving in the monsoon months — it is the only NOHA vehicle with air conditioning and a boot that locks. For a solo traveller on a budget, or short hops along the south coast, a scooter or tuk tuk is cheaper and easier to park. Every NOHA car can be self-driven once the paperwork is sorted, or taken with a chauffeur if you would rather not drive on the left.
- Can NOHA provide a driver instead?
- Yes. All four car models come with a chauffeur option. Rates are not fixed — we quote per trip on WhatsApp once we know the route and dates.
- What deposit does a car need?
- It depends on the model: USD 200 for the Suzuki Alto K10, USD 300 for the Wagon R, USD 400 for the Toyota Aqua, and USD 500 for the Toyota Prius. Nothing is charged in advance; the refundable deposit is taken when you collect the car.
- Which car model should I choose?
- The Alto K10 is the cheapest and fine for two people with light bags. The Wagon R and Aqua add boot space and seats for a small family. The Prius is the largest, with room for three big suitcases. Each model has its own page with the full spec and tier pricing.
- What is it like to drive a car in Sri Lanka?
- Sri Lanka drives on the left, and the main coast highway is the busiest and least predictable road — quieter routes are straightforward. Every NOHA car comes with full insurance, a driving introduction lesson before you set off, and 365-day WhatsApp support. Automatic models are available across the range if you would rather not shift gears, and if you would rather not drive at all, every model comes with a chauffeur option.
- What if the car develops a fault mid-trip?
- Message us on WhatsApp with your location. Support runs every day of the year, and we arrange a repair or a replacement car directly.
Ready when you are
Nothing is charged in advance. Message us your dates on WhatsApp, or book online with the form.