There is no better place to drive your own Tuk Tuk than in Sri Lanka. And there is no better way to explore Sri Lanka than by Tuk Tuk. In this post we’ll describe our experience of renting a Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka and explain everything you need to know about it.
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5% discount code for Tuktukrental.com: generationnomads
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How did we decide to drive a Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka
We arrived in Sri Lanka at the beginning of March without any specific plan. The only thing we knew is that we wanted to see elephants and nice beaches.
In our hostel, we stumbled upon a poster of Tuktuk Rental in our hostel in Colombo and we instantly got intrigued. We phoned up Tuktuk Rental early in the morning to check whether it’s possible to rent a Tuk Tuk in the same day.
It was possible if we arranged the local driving license permit ourselves and came to their office to pick up the Tuk Tuk. And so started our 29 days Tuk Tuk journey through Sri Lanka, which turned out to be one of the best decisions we have made on our world trip so far!
Why driving a Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka is the best way to see the country
- You get to see the whole beauty of this island. The landscapes never get old! Even after 4 weeks of driving around. From tropical palm trees surrounding a lagoon at the side of the road to incredible mountain views, Sri Lanka has it all! Driving 40km/h with the Tuktuk ensures you take your time to take it all in with all your senses.
- The flexibility! Being able to go wherever you want, whenever you want makes the experience in Sri Lanka so much better! Spending as much or as little at any place you go allows you to maximize your experience in the time you have.
- Getting off the beaten track. There are so many things to do and see, which you won’t be able to easily go to without your own vehicle. Stopping for a dip by a waterfall on the way or visiting some off the beaten track temples.
- Mingling with the locals! Locals are always amused when they see you driving a Tuktuk. It instantly sparks up a conversation! Also for any issues you have along the way, they are more than happy to help you out.
- You have a unique story to tell! How many of your friends can say they explored an entire country in a local 3 wheel vehicle? It is an experience you can never forget and others will always want to hear about.
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Who are Tuktuk Rental?
Tuktuk Rental is a social enterprise, helping local tuktuk owners earn extra income by matching them with adventurous travelers looking to see Sri Lanka from a unique perspective. They take care of the entire process, from preparing the Tuktuk for the renters to returning a clean Tuktuk to the owners.
Tuktuk rental is a professional organization, which makes you feel safe embarking on the adventure of driving a 3 wheeled vehicle in a foreign country. Lastly, they form a community of like-minded travellers who get to know and help each other on the trip in Sri Lanka.
The processes of getting a Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka – what to expect:
1. Getting your documents in order
The first step was to get a local Sri Lankan drivers license. We were advised by Tuktuk Rental that the fastest option would be to go to the Autombile Association of Ceylon office in Colombo.
The office is located near the Galle Face Boulevard, which was close to our hostel. We got there just after opening time, and the whole process went smoothly. We were able to get the Sri Lanka driving license with a normal Dutch driving license (no international license needed).
The local license is valid for 1 month and allows you to drive a 3 wheeler, a.k.a Tuk Tuk. The cost of the license was 4000 Sri Lankan Rupees (±€20).
Tuktuk Rental can also arrange the documents for you if you book everything in advance and want to start tuktuking out of the airport.
2. Picking up the Tuk Tuk from the Tuktuk Rental office
The Tuktuk Rental office is located about a 30 minutes ride from Colombo center in Mount Lavina neighborhood. We took a tuk tuk taxi from the AAC office directly there, which cost us 550 SLR with Uber and took about 40 minutes.
On arrival at the office we were welcomed with a nice cup of coffee and watched a 30-minute intro video to driving a Tuktuk and the Sri Lankan driving culture. The video was well made and has all essential information needed to start driving.
If you book in advance, you can watch the video ahead online to save time when picking up the Tuk Tuk.
3. Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka – learning to drive again
Once we finished the video, we had the practical driving test. First Tuktuk Rental’s driver explained all the in’s and out’s of the Tuktuk (some thing are very different than a car!). After that, he drove around explaining shifting of gears mainly, which is similar to when driving a car, but just not using your feet.
After about 15 minutes of explanation, it was my time to try it out. Hopping in the tuktuk driver’s seat for the first time and having to prove my ability to drive felt a bit like going through my driving license test again.
I quickly managed to get the hang of it (it may have turned off once… J) and could drive the tuktuk around the block. After showing I was able to drive the tuktuk, we returned to the office to finalize the handover of the keys.
4. Handover of the keys
We went through damages of the tuktuk. Everything was recorded with pictures in an online document. I verified that I understand how to drive the tuk tuk in Sri Lanka and how to maintain it.
Tuktuk Rental have a map with approximate timing of driving to the main spots in Sri Lanka with the tuk tuk and they can help you think of the best route for you.
After about 2 hours, we got our keys and were ready to hit the road.
Get 5% off renting a Tuktuk with Tuktuk Rental using our promo code!
5% discount code for Tuktukrental.com: generationnomads
What is it like to drive a Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka?
Driving a Tuktuk in Sri Lanka is easier than you might think. Being the 2nd smallest vehicle on the road (before a scooter), it might seem frightening at first, but then again there are so many Tuk Tuks on the road.
If you are an experienced car driver, you will get used to driving the Tuk Tuk quite quickly. If you just got your drivers license, we would recommend you take it for a good amount of spins around a quiet block before hitting the big roads.
Tuk Tuk Sri Lanka Driving Culture
The driving culture is more similar to what we are used to in Europe (Netherlands / Germany) than other Asian countries that we have visited. There seems to be a sense of law and order on the road, which definitely makes you feel safe in your 3-wheeler!
Most roads are well-maintained and easy to drive on, with the exception of some B roads that lead to smaller villages, etc. The mountain area between Kandy and Ella can be a bit more challenging, since the motor of the Tuk tuk is small and you have to drive in 1st or 2nd gear to get up the steep parts.
There is police patrolling the roads everywhere in Sri Lanka. The police stopped us twice just out of curiosity. They checked our license and registration, but besides that they just wanted to chat with us about our trip and how we like Sri Lanka 🙂
How do you drive a Tuk Tuk?
The Tuk Tuk is a bit different than a car, but also similar in many ways. The right handlebar is for gas and where you control the speed of the Tuk Tuk.
The left handlebar is for changing the gears and goes from 1-4 gears and neutral. The breaks are controlled by a paddle on the right side (with your right leg). To reverse you have to pull up a handle bar on the right to change in to reverse gear.
Tuktuk Rental walk you through all the ins and outs of the Tuktuk to make sure you can drive safely on your road-trip through Sri Lanka.
Things to keep in mind when driving a Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka
Driving on the left side of the road
If you are from a country where you drive on right, getting used to driving on the left might take you a day or two.
Especially you need to mind roundabouts (traffic circle) as there you will need to go left instead of right, and look for cars coming from the right instead of left. Nonetheless, the Tuk tuk’s steer is in the middle, so no confusion there 🙂
Driving in the evening or night
It is more challenging and is also not advised by Tuktuk Rental. That is because the windscreen of the Tuktuk is vertical and therefore lights of other cars shining on it makes it difficult to see through.
Also, in some regions (near national parks) there are wild animals that may cross the roads, which can be hazardous to a Tuktuk driver.
The busses think they own the road!
There local public busses seem to always be in a hurry, and they take over cars and Tuktuks in any situation while honking for everyone to move out of the way.
Driving the small Tuktuk and seeing a bus approaching you on your lane with little room to go back to their lane is frightening. However, they always seem to make it back to their lane, with us having to slow down a bit.
Being taken over
The maximum speed limit for a Tuktuk in Sri Lanka is 40km / h, which means that everyone else can drive faster than you. When a car or a bus approaches behind you they normally honk to let you know they are taking over.
This can be a bit stressful and annoying as back at home we use honking for emergencies and not for taking over cars. Nonetheless, you get used to this after a few days. You just keep driving as you were and they will take over when they can.
Running into wild animals
Nearby national parks, especially on the road going through Yala National Park – B35, it is not rare to find a wild elephant standing on the road. While this is a very cool experience, it should also be treated with cautious.
We have heard many stories from locals about people getting hurt by getting to close to the animals and trying to take cool pics. Just drive by the elephant as you were and make sure you are driving in front of it, and not behind it (not to scare it).
Avoid getting cheated while fueling
The Tuktuk fuel tank is about 8 litters with an additional 1 litter for emergency. When you are tanking, make sure to look that the teller is reset properly before they start fueling and that the total liters do not exceed 9 liters if you are fueling full tank.
We have always watched out for this, and once in Hikkadura, the guys did not reset it and started fueling. We spotted them and informed them about it. They tried to give all kinds of explanation, but we eventually agreed on a reasonable price.
Maintaining your Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka
Like any other vehicle the Tuktuk requires some maintenance when you are on the road. In a short trip, you would probably not have to worry about it too much. However when you are driving for more than 1000 km over the course of 4 weeks, you will have to take some maintenance measures.
After 1000 km you need to grease your Tuk Tuk. This means taking it to a garage to get all the spinning and moving parts greased, which costs 500 SLR (2.5 Euros). Besides that, Tuktuk Rental suggests to check your motor oil and breaks oil every day before driving.
This is a small tasks you do before setting off on a long journey in the morning to make sure the Tuktuk will keep you going. Lastly, checking the tire pressure once in a while is also important to have a smooth ride through this beautiful island.
Fuel / patrol stations in Sri Lanka
There are plenty of patrol stations scattered all over the island. Usually you will find one every 20-30km, in cities and crowded areas more frequently. Sri Lankans call them patrol stations, they will not understand if you ask about a gas station or fuel station.
We have only once almost run into a problem with patrol in our Tuktuk, which was in Sigiriya. There are longer stretches of road there without patrol stations, however it was also slacking on our side as we should have fuelled sooner.
Parking your Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka
In the majority of places parking is widely available and is free. Nonetheless, in some of the major cities, it can be a bit busier and more difficult to find a parking spot. There is usually somewhere to park for free.
In some cities there are paid parking spots available (usually not more than 50 SLR for an hour). There should be sign somewhere stating some times and prices in Sri Lankan. There will usually be a person with a receipt book. Make sure to ask and check the receipt.
Near some tourists sites, beaches, waterfalls, and other points of interest there might be some parking lots that have a sign for parking with a price. This is locals trying to make some bucks off of tourists. You can choose to park there or usually a bit further away for free.
Be cautious of where you park. There are many Tuktuks parking around, sometimes at the side of the road where it is not allowed. Always double check with a local if it is ok to park where you choose to park. They will also inform you ahead if you need to pay for the parking.
Get 5% off renting a Tuktuk with Tuktuk Rental using our promo code!
5% discount code for Tuktukrental.com: generationnomads
Frequently asked question about renting a Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka
Can you rent and drive a Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka?
Yes, it is possible to rent a Tuk Tuk and drive around the island. We have done it and consider it one of the best experiences of our world trip. You can use our discount code to get a 5% discount with Tuktuk Rental. Our 5% DISCOUNT CODE is: generationnomads
Is it safe to drive your own Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka?
Yes it is safe. Of course you stand the same risks of driving a small vehicle as anywhere else in the world. However, there are no specific risks for Sri Lanka that would make it less safe.
On which side of the road do Tuk Tuks drive in Sri Lanka?
In Sri Lanka all vehicles drive on the left side of the road. Tuk Tuks are no exception and therefore also drive on the left side of the road.
How much does it cost to rent a Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka?
Depending on your rental duration the price will change. We have a 5% discount code with Tuktuk Rental. Discount code is: generationnomads
How many people fit in a Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka?
3 adults can comfortably fit in one Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka. 1 person as the driver in the front, and 2 people in the back. While some locals drive with more than this capacity, we do not recommend it. Over-filled the Tuk Tuk is dangerous and against the law.
Can I put a baby seat in my Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka?
Yes, there is an option to put a baby seat in the Tuk Tuk. The sit is available for rental with the Tuktuk Rental Company. You can get a 5% discount on your rental sum with our discount code: generationnomads
Is driving a Tuk Tuk in Sri Lanka a fun experience?
In our ongoing world trip of more than 1 year, this is by far the best experience we have had. It is a very special way to explore a country, and Sri Lanka is the perfect place to do it. It’s safe, easy to drive, and the landscapes are incredible.
If you’re not convinced about renting a Tuk Tuk yet, Check out our 4-weeks itinerary for all the hidden gems, and we are sure you’ll want the Tuk Tuk 🙂
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