Scooter Rental in Sri Lanka

Questions about scooter 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 scooter in Sri Lanka?

Scooter rental in Sri Lanka costs USD 8 to USD 11 a day with NOHA. The rate is tiered by length: USD 11 a day for 2–4 days, USD 10 for 5–10 days, USD 9 for 11–15 days, and USD 8 a day for 16 days or more. A refundable USD 100 deposit is taken on collection, and full insurance, unlimited kilometres and two helmets are included in every rate.

Do you need a licence to rent a scooter 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.

Is it safe to rent a scooter in Sri Lanka?

Ridden with care, yes. The main coast highway is the busiest and least predictable road; the quieter back roads are straightforward. If you have not ridden on the left before, give yourself a first morning on small roads before a main route. Every NOHA scooter comes with full insurance, two helmets, a driving introduction lesson before you set off, and 365-day WhatsApp support.

What is the shortest scooter rental in Sri Lanka?

Two days. NOHA's shortest rate band is 2–4 days at USD 11 a day, and the daily rate falls the longer you keep the scooter, down to USD 8 a day at 16 days or more. The longest single rate band runs to 45 days.

Are NOHA's scooters automatic?

Yes. Every NOHA scooter is a 125cc automatic — twist the throttle and go, with no gears to change and nothing to stall. It is the easiest of the four vehicles to ride if you have only ever driven a car.

Can I ride with a passenger?

Yes. Both rider and passenger need a helmet, and two are provided with every scooter.

Is this the same as 'bike rental' or 'scooter hire' in Sri Lanka?

Yes. 'Bike rent', 'bike hire' and 'scooter hire' are all common ways of saying the same thing in Sri Lanka — a self-drive automatic scooter on a daily rate, with insurance and the necessary paperwork handled. Motorbike rental is the separate, geared 150cc option for experienced riders.

Which permit is cheaper for a scooter, 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.

Can you move our luggage while we ride?

Yes. We move bags between towns so you do not have to carry them on the scooter, which is useful on one-way trips. See how luggage transfer works for the detail.

What if the scooter has a problem on the road?

Message us on WhatsApp with your location. Support runs every day of the year; for a small mechanical fault we send a local mechanic, and for anything bigger we swap the scooter.

What scooter does NOHA rent?

The TVS Ntorq 125 or the Honda Grazia 125 — both 125cc twist-and-go automatics (CVT) with a front disc brake, an underseat locker, and a tank good for roughly 250 km. You get whichever is free on your dates; the two ride almost identically. Both come with two helmets, and every scooter is checked over between rentals.

What does the insurance cover?

Full insurance is included on every scooter 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 scooter, and report the accident to the nearest police station as Sri Lankan law requires.