Motorbike Rental in Sri Lanka
150cc, for riders who already ride. Handles the hill country properly.
As low as
$10/day
On 16+ day rentals. From $16/day on shorter stays. Up to 25% off, the longer you keep it.
Refundable deposit
USD 100
Paperwork
AAC or DMT
Every rental includes
Motorbike rental in Sri Lanka is self-drive hire of a 150cc manual bike, for travellers who already ride.
- USD 16 a day for a 2–4 day trip, dropping to USD 10 a day once you pass 16 days.
- Refundable USD 100 deposit, paid on collection — nothing is charged in advance.
- Every rental includes full insurance, unlimited kilometres, a driving introduction lesson and a helmet, at no extra charge.
- Minimum rider age is 18, with a valid home licence.
- You also need local paperwork: the AAC permit (USD 45 with a booking, valid six months, needs an International Driving Permit) or the DMT permit from the airport counter, open 24 hours with no IDP. NOHA handles the application before you arrive.
- The 150cc suits the hill country around Ella and Nuwara Eliya, where a loaded scooter runs out of pull; ride a scooter first if you have never ridden on the left.
- 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.
The motorbike: Yamaha FZ
The 150cc in the NOHA fleet is the Yamaha FZ — a fuel-injected naked street bike that pulls up the hill roads better than a scooter and stays lighter to handle than a full tourer. Each bike is checked over between rentals and serviced on longer hires.
- Engine
- 149 cc, air-cooled single-cylinder, fuel injection
- Transmission
- 5-speed manual, chain drive
- Fuel
- Petrol, 92 octane unleaded
- Brakes
- Front and rear disc
- Seat height
- 790 mm
- Fuel tank
- About 13 litres, roughly 400 km touring
- Kerb weight
- About 135 kg
Motorbike rental prices in Sri Lanka, by rental length
A motorbike is USD 16 a day for a 2–4 day trip, USD 14 for 5–10 days, USD 12 for 11–15 days, and USD 10 a day from 16 days on. The shortest tier is the price you see quoted; nothing higher is charged for a longer rental, and every day is unlimited kilometres.
| Rental length | Price per day |
|---|---|
| 2–4 days | $16 |
| 5–10 daysWe recommend | $14 |
| 11–15 days | $12 |
| 16–45 days | $10 |
Yamaha FZ, 149 cc, 5-speed manual. Minimum rider age 18, with a valid home licence and local paperwork (AAC or DMT).
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 150 or more
15% off
USD 300 or more
USD 25 off
USD 150 or more
Valid through 31 October 2026
Renting something else? See discount codes for every vehicle.
Full insurance, free on every motorbike rental
Insurance
Free
Included at no extra charge on every rental — not an add-on you opt into or pay for.
When a rider had the FZ cut out on the hill road above Ella, they sent a location pin and a photo and a mechanic reached them the same afternoon. The WhatsApp line is answered 365 days a year and reaches the yard that services the bikes, not a call centre.
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 motorbike. Sri Lankan law (Motor Traffic Act s.161) also requires you to report any road accident to the nearest police station. Moving the motorbike 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 motorbike. 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 and needs no IDP. NOHA files the paperwork with your booking, so it is done before you land.
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 motorbike goes out with a helmet, a phone holder, a first-aid kit and a full tool kit, plus the driving introduction lesson and 365-day WhatsApp support, at no extra charge. Only the paperwork fee and the refundable USD 100 deposit are billed separately.
Full insurance
Driving introduction lesson
Unlimited kilometres
Full tool kit
Phone holder
First aid kit
WhatsApp support, 365 days
Tour plan assistance
Helmets
How to rent a motorbike in Sri Lanka
- 01
Send your dates
Message WhatsApp or use the form with your dates, your stay, and a line on your riding experience. Nothing is charged now.
- 02
We handle the paperwork
Either the AAC or the DMT permit covers a motorbike. Minimum rider age is 18 with a valid home licence — send that and your IDP, and we handle the application before you land.
- 03
Collect or take delivery
Pick up from our base, or we deliver to where you're staying. You get a driving introduction lesson and a helmet before you set off.
- 04
Drop it where you finish
Back to base, or on to the next town — we collect island-wide, and move your luggage separately so you ride light.
When a motorbike isn’t the right choice
Worth being honest about this before you book.
Who the 150cc suits, and why the paperwork matters
Built for the climb inland
The motorbike is a 150cc manual, and it is the one vehicle here that asks for real riding experience. Minimum rider age is 18, with a valid licence and the local paperwork. Where it earns its place is the road up to Ella and the tea country above Nuwara Eliya, where a scooter carrying two people and luggage runs out of pull. From the Galle yard it is roughly 40 km east to Mirissa, 78 km to Tangalle, and 145 km inland to Ella; most riders spread that over two or three days and take the FZ over a scooter for the climbs above Ella and Haputale. If you have never ridden on the left, or never ridden much at all, this is not the bike to learn on — a scooter is the easier start.
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 motorbike, and NOHA files it for you ahead of arrival. No customer has been turned away at that stage in 3+ years of operation.
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 motorbikes hands you the keys.
- Family-run by Dumi, 3+ years of rentals out of Galle
- 5.0 on Google, 42 reviews
- TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice, multiple years, 11 reviews
- Verified Riderly rental partner
- 150cc motorbikes kept for riders who already ride, minimum age 18 with a home licence and local paperwork
- We handle the AAC or DMT application before you arrive
- Full insurance and unlimited kilometres on every rental
- Roadside help arranged wherever you are, including the hill roads to Ella, Haputale and Nuwara Eliya
- Delivered to your door, island-wide collection after a one-way run
- WhatsApp support 365 days a year, and pay on collection with no card fees
Reviews from NOHA motorbike rentals
“Rented a motor bike for 5 days. Excellent service. The bike was in superb condition and pick up and drop service was provide the hotel we were staying in. Staff was very polite and courteous. Overall they were flexible about the requirements of the client as well.”
Capt Cheri JacobMotorbike, 5 days
See it up close
Collect it, or we deliver
Pick the motorbike up loaded for the hills, and hand it back at the far end of the ride.
Our base
Collect the motorbike from the Galle yard, or we ride it out to your hotel or guesthouse.
Your hotel or guesthouse
Delivered to youHelmet, handover, a look over the 5-speed box and the controls, and you're set for the hill roads.
Wherever you finish
One-way collectionTake it up into the hill country and leave it at the end of the ride. We collect one-way, anywhere on the island.
Airport and train-station transfers on request. On a one-way run your luggage travels separately, so the bike stays light on the climbs.
The deposit
USD 100
USD 100 on the 150cc, refundable, and settled when you collect the motorbike. It matches the scooter figure; the bigger engine changes the daily rate, not the deposit.
Nothing is charged in advance. You settle the deposit at collection, by cash, card, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or a payment link over WhatsApp, in USD, EUR, GBP, or LKR. A card deposit is charged rather than held as a pre-authorisation, then refunded within two weeks of the motorbike coming back.
If your card is issued in EUR or GBP, your bank converts twice between the charge and the refund, and the amount back can be slightly under what you paid. Paying the USD 100 in cash avoids this.
How to pay
The 150cc runs USD 10 to USD 16 a day, and the whole amount is paid when you pick the motorbike up, not before. 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 motorbike 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 motorbike in Sri Lanka?
- Motorbike rental in Sri Lanka costs USD 10 to USD 16 a day with NOHA. The rate is tiered by length: USD 16 a day for 2–4 days, USD 14 for 5–10 days, USD 12 for 11–15 days, and USD 10 a day for 16 days or more. A refundable USD 100 deposit is taken on collection, and full insurance, unlimited kilometres and a helmet are included in every rate.
- Do you need a licence to rent a motorbike in Sri Lanka?
- Yes. You need a valid driving licence from your home country plus local paperwork — either the AAC or the DMT permit — and the minimum rider age is 18. 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.
- Is it safe to rent a motorbike in Sri Lanka?
- For an experienced rider, yes. The 150cc is a manual bike suited to people who already ride, especially on the hill roads to Ella and Nuwara Eliya. The main coast highway is the busiest and least predictable road; quieter routes are straightforward. Every NOHA motorbike comes with full insurance, a helmet, a driving introduction lesson before you set off, and 365-day WhatsApp support. If you have not ridden much, or not on the left, a scooter is the safer place to start.
- Which permit is cheaper for a motorbike, AAC or DMT?
- The AAC permit. It is USD 45 with a vehicle booking, covers six months, and covers every vehicle. The DMT permit starts at LKR 15,000 for one month. If you arrived without an International Driving Permit, use the DMT counter at the airport instead — it is open 24 hours and needs no IDP.
- Can I ride with a passenger?
- Yes. Both rider and passenger need a helmet, included with the rental.
- Is the motorbike too much for a first-time rider?
- Usually, yes. It is a 149cc manual with a 5-speed gearbox and a 790 mm seat — a bike for riders with real hill-road experience. Anyone new to riding, or new to riding on the left, does better starting on the automatic 125cc scooter.
- What if the motorbike has trouble on a hill road?
- Message us on WhatsApp with your location. Support runs every day of the year, and we arrange roadside help or a replacement bike wherever you are — the climbs to Ella, Haputale and Nuwara Eliya included.
- What motorbike does NOHA rent?
- The Yamaha FZ, a 149cc air-cooled street bike with a 5-speed manual gearbox and fuel injection. It is a naked commuter-style bike — upright riding position, disc brakes, around 135 kg — that handles the hill roads better than a scooter and is lighter to manage than a full touring motorcycle. Every bike is checked over between rentals.
- What does the insurance cover?
- Full insurance is included on every motorbike rental at no extra charge. It covers accidental and malicious damage, fire, theft, and natural perils, plus third-party bodily injury (unlimited) and third-party property damage up to LKR 30,000. To keep the cover valid you must call the NOHA hotline from the accident location and send photos before moving the bike, and report the accident to the nearest police station as Sri Lankan law requires.
Ready when you are
Nothing is charged in advance. Message us your dates on WhatsApp, or book online with the form.