car rental in sri lanka
Local rental companies, live prices, book in minutes.
Sri Lanka
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Prices and availability for Sri Lanka come through our partner network, Localrent. Your booking completes on the partner's secure checkout.
Sri Lanka rewards slow travel, from the coast road south of Colombo to the tea-country switchbacks around Ella and Nuwara Eliya, and the traffic mix of tuk-tuks, buses and cattle means the pace is set for you. Driving is on the left and many visitors choose a car with a driver, though self-drive is available and the permit requirements vary, so check the conditions shown per car before you book. The default pick-up is Colombo, with Negombo near the airport selectable, and the cars listed here are from local Sri Lankan companies with live prices.
How it works here
Search here
Pick your dates and see live cars and prices from local rental companies.
Book on the partner’s secure checkout
Confirm the car and your details on our partner network’s checkout and receive your voucher.
Pick up at the desk
Show the voucher and your licence at the desk, settle anything due locally, take the keys.
Renting a car in Sri Lanka: common questions
Should I pick up in Colombo or Negombo?
Negombo is the beach town next to the airport, so it is the easier choice if you arrive late and want to skip the city on day one. Colombo suits travellers who plan to see the capital first or who are heading straight down the southern expressway. Both are selectable in the search, so pick whichever matches your first night.
Self-drive or car with driver?
Self-drive gives you freedom on the quieter southern and hill-country roads, but city traffic and mountain switchbacks can be tiring for a first visit. A car with a driver is common and often affordable for longer trips. If you do self-drive, expect to need an International Driving Permit alongside your home licence and a local recognition permit issued in Sri Lanka; some rental companies arrange the local permit for you, so read the licence and permit conditions listed on each car before you book.
What licence do I need?
A full driving licence held for at least a year is the usual requirement, and each company sets its own minimum age and young-driver conditions. If your licence is not in the Latin alphabet, bring an International Driving Permit alongside it. The exact conditions for every car are shown before you book.
Is there a deposit, and what about insurance?
Deposit and insurance terms differ between companies in Sri Lanka, so they are shown per car before you book. You will see what is included, what the excess is, and whether a deposit is held on your card at the desk.
Where does the booking actually happen?
You search here and see live cars and prices from local rental companies. When you choose one, the booking completes on our partner network’s secure checkout, where you confirm the details and receive your voucher. Show the voucher at the desk on pick-up.
Run a rental company in Sri Lanka?
If you rent cars in Sri Lanka and want travellers to book you directly on GetCar, you can list your fleet here. Commission only, no listing fees, you confirm every booking yourself.