Home/FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Booking, paperwork, insurance, payment and choosing a vehicle. Anything else, message WhatsApp — someone answers the same day.
Reviewed for accuracy by Dumi, NOHA’s owner. Answers last checked 8 September 2026.
Booking
How do I book?
Send your dates on WhatsApp or through the online booking form. Nothing is charged when you enquire — payment and the refundable deposit are taken when you collect the vehicle. Check availability →
What's included in the price?
Full insurance, unlimited kilometres and a driving introduction lesson, on all four vehicles at no extra charge. Also the tool kit, phone holder, first aid kit, tour plan assistance and 365-day WhatsApp support. Scooters and motorbikes come with helmets, two with a scooter; the tuk tuk carries a spare wheel. Only the paperwork fee and the refundable deposit are billed separately.
Can I change my plans after booking?
Nothing is charged when you book, so there is nothing to refund if your dates move before collection. Message us on WhatsApp and we will adjust the booking. Full terms are on our refund policy page. Read the refund policy →
Do you deliver?
Yes. We deliver to your hotel and collect island-wide — message us your dates and hotel and we'll sort the logistics.
Which towns do you deliver to?
Pickup and return are island-wide, arranged on WhatsApp — collect from our Galle base, or we deliver to your hotel or guesthouse. We also run airport and train-station transfers, and move luggage between towns.
Can I collect a vehicle at the airport?
We're based in Galle, not at the airport — roughly 160 km, about two hours by road. Most guests take a taxi or train down and start the rental there; we handle the necessary paperwork before you arrive, so there's nothing to sort out on the day. Galle vs Negombo as a starting point →
Can I drop the vehicle off in a different town?
Yes. Plenty of people pick up in Galle 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.
Is luggage transfer available with the rental?
Yes. We move your bags between towns if you'd rather not bring them with you, which is useful for one-way trips or if you're covering a lot of ground. See luggage transfer routes →
What if something goes wrong on the road?
Message us. WhatsApp support runs 365 days a year and we arrange roadside help. We have driven out with a spare wheel more than once.
Licence & paperwork
Do I need paperwork to drive in Sri Lanka?
Yes. Your home licence is not enough on its own, and neither is an International Driving Permit. We handle the application for you before you arrive. It is charged separately: USD 45 with a vehicle booking, USD 55 on its own. Compare the AAC and DMT permits →
Which permit do I need, AAC or DMT?
If you have an International Driving Permit, the AAC permit is the better choice. It costs less, lasts six months instead of one, and covers every vehicle including tuk tuks. If you arrived without an IDP, use the DMT counter at the airport. It is open 24 hours and you can collect it on the way out. Find out which permit you need →
Can I use a DMT permit for a tuk tuk?
No. The DMT permit does not cover three-wheelers. You need the AAC permit, which requires an International Driving Permit from your home country.
Do I need an International Driving Permit?
Only for the AAC route, which needs a valid IDP from home, obtained before you travel. The DMT permit at the airport does not — your home licence, in English or translated, is enough. How the IDP fits in →
Is an International Driving Permit enough on its own?
No. An IDP is only a translation of your home licence and is not valid to drive on here by itself — Sri Lanka recognises it once a local AAC or DMT permit is issued on top. What an IDP is, and isn't →
Which countries' driving licences are valid in Sri Lanka?
The DMT airport route has no country list — any valid foreign licence works, in English or with a certified English translation. The AAC route runs off an International Driving Permit, so it covers the 100-plus countries that issue one. Full detail on the permit hub →
What if my licence isn't in English?
For the DMT route, bring a certified English translation alongside it. The AAC route sidesteps the translation by using your International Driving Permit instead. Licence requirements in full →
Is there an age limit to drive in Sri Lanka?
The motorbike has a firm minimum rider age of 18; scooters and cars follow the class on your home licence. There is no upper age limit on a visitor's AAC or DMT permit. Driving in Sri Lanka as a foreigner →
How do I get the permit — at the airport or before I arrive?
Either. Collect a DMT temporary licence at the airport counter (open 24 hours, no IDP), or apply for the six-month AAC permit ahead of time — the only route that covers a tuk tuk. We handle the application for either before you arrive. Both routes, step by step →
What does the permit cost?
The DMT permit starts at LKR 15,000 for one month, up to LKR 45,000 for six to twelve. The AAC permit is USD 45 with a vehicle booking, USD 55 on its own, and lasts six months. Fee tables for both permits →
What's the fine for driving without the permit?
Driving on a foreign licence or IDP alone counts as driving unlicensed: fines of LKR 25,000 to 50,000, the vehicle can be held, and your rental insurance does not apply. The rules in full →
Insurance
Is insurance included?
Yes. Full insurance coverage is included on every tuk tuk, scooter, motorbike and car rental, at no extra charge.
What does the insurance cover?
Accidental and malicious damage, fire, theft and natural perils, plus third-party injury and property damage. To keep the cover valid you must call the NOHA hotline from the scene, photograph the damage before moving the vehicle, and file a report at the nearest police station.
Am I covered if I have an accident?
Yes, on every rental. The cover does not apply while you are driving without the local permit, which is the main reason the paperwork matters.
Payment & deposit
Is anything charged when I book?
No. Nothing is charged in advance. Payment and the refundable deposit are both taken when you collect the vehicle.
What deposit do you take?
USD 100 for a scooter or motorbike, USD 120 for a tuk tuk, and USD 200 to USD 500 for a car depending on the model. Nothing is charged in advance. The refundable deposit is taken when you collect the vehicle and returned when you bring it back. Card deposits are charged rather than held, and refunded within two weeks.
How do I pay?
Payment is taken on collection by cash, card, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or a payment link we send on WhatsApp. Nothing is charged in advance and there are no card fees. We accept USD, EUR, GBP and LKR.
Choosing a vehicle
Which vehicle should I choose?
It depends on the trip. Tuk tuk from USD 18/day — the classic way to do the south coast, with room for bags and no two-wheel experience required, since it's driven more like a small car. Scooter from USD 8/day — the cheapest option, and the easiest thing to park in Galle Fort, but only for riders who already ride. Motorbike from USD 10/day — 150cc, for riders who already ride and want to handle the hill country properly. Car from USD 22/day — air conditioning and a locked boot, sensible when it rains or the family comes. One permit difference matters here: a tuk tuk needs the AAC permit specifically, since the DMT permit doesn't cover three-wheelers, while a scooter, motorbike or car can use either. Deposits scale with the vehicle too — USD 100 for a scooter or motorbike, USD 120 for a tuk tuk, and USD 200 to USD 500 for a car depending on the model.
How old do I need to be, and what licence do I need?
The motorbike has a minimum rider age of 18. For any vehicle you need a valid licence from home plus the local paperwork, and we handle the application before you arrive, using your home licence and IDP.
Can I ride with a passenger?
Yes, on the scooter or motorbike. Both rider and passenger need a helmet — two are provided with every scooter, and a helmet is included with every motorbike rental too.
Is this the same as a tuk tuk hire in Sri Lanka?
Yes — hire and rental mean the same thing here. You get a self-drive tuk tuk on a daily rate, with full insurance, unlimited kilometres, and the necessary paperwork handled before you arrive.
Do I need riding experience for a scooter or motorbike?
Yes — you need to already ride at home, with a licence for that class. The included driving introduction lesson covers Sri Lankan roads and habits, not how to ride. A tuk tuk needs no two-wheel experience. Scooter rental requirements →
On the road
Which side of the road do I drive on?
The left — the same as the UK, Japan and India. Your driving introduction lesson covers it before you set off.
Is it safe to drive yourself in Sri Lanka?
Driven with care, yes. The main coast highway is the busiest road; quieter routes are straightforward. Every rental comes with full insurance, a driving introduction lesson and 365-day support. Is renting a tuk tuk safe? →
Is a tuk tuk hard to drive?
Not for most people. It doesn't lean like a motorbike and is capped at 40 km/h, so a car driver usually adapts within the first hour. A driving introduction lesson comes before you set off. What driving one is actually like →
Can I take a tuk tuk on the expressway?
No. Three-wheelers are barred from every expressway in Sri Lanka. Stick to the A-class and coastal roads, which is where a tuk tuk trip usually goes anyway. Tuk tuk driving laws →
What's the speed limit for a tuk tuk?
40 km/h, whatever the road — and a tuk tuk isn't built to go much faster. The full rules →
What happens if the vehicle breaks down?
Message us on WhatsApp with your location. Support and roadside help run every day of the year, and a flat tyre often means we drive out with the spare ourselves rather than send you to a garage.
Should I drive after dark?
Better not to. Animals — mostly dogs, the occasional cow — cross without warning outside the towns and are much harder to see once the light has gone. More on road conditions →
Hiring a driver
Can I hire a car with a driver instead of driving myself?
Yes. Every car model is available with an experienced local driver. With a driver there's no licence and no paperwork on your side; pricing depends on the route and dates. Transfers and driver hire →
Do you run airport transfers?
Yes — airport and train-station transfers, and one-way transfers between towns, across the island. Tell us your pickup, drop-off and dates and we'll quote it before you commit. Airport transfers →
What's a chauffeur-driven tour?
The same driver and car staying with you across the whole trip, for days at a time, stopping wherever you want along the way — as opposed to a transfer, which covers a single leg. Chauffeur-driven tours →
Do I need a licence if I have a NOHA driver?
No. Licence and paperwork only apply to self-drive rentals. With a NOHA driver there is nothing to arrange. Chauffeur-driven tours →
Can you move my luggage between towns?
Yes, as part of a NOHA rental — useful for one-way trips or a lot of ground. Message your pickup and drop-off towns and we'll quote it. Luggage transfer routes →
Still have a question?
Nothing is charged in advance. Message us your dates on WhatsApp.