Colombo car rentals

Driving in Colombo traffic involves almost constant vying for space on the road, which is why a compact vehicle might be the best choice for getting around the inner city. That being said, those travelling in larger groups or with plans on exploring the rural areas would be better suited to a bigger vehicle, such as an SUV.

For your car hire in Colombo, it is important to be aware of the speed limits imposed across Sri Lanka. For urban areas, this is 60km/h (roughly 40mph) for cars and light vehicles, which rises to 70km/h (roughly 45mph) outside the city. Of course, going at such speed will only be possible when the traffic permits it and it is always wise to reduce your speed while getting used to Colombo’s roads.

Much of the car parking in Colombo is operated by Tenaga, which not only provides private multi-storey car parks, but also operates the smart parking meters that can be found at the side of the road. A Touch Parking Card can be bought for about Rs.200 (roughly £1.97) and can be used throughout the network, you simply need to top up your balance to ensure you always have money on your card. Parking can also be found in commercial areas, but be aware that use is usually limited to customers only.

On average a rental car in Colombo costs $42 per day. But prices differ between operators and you can save money through a price comparison of car rental deals from different agencies. The cheapest price for a car rental in Colombo found in the last 2 weeks is $30.

In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at SR RENT A CAR ($43/day), Hertz ($65/day) and Sri Lanka Rent a Car ($90/day). In the last 72 hours the cheapest rental car price was found at Hertz Lvl 1 130 Nawala Rd 00500 (3 miles from city center).

Yes, automatic cars are available in most car renting companies in Colombo. As cars with manual transmission are more common in many countries, you might have to pay an additional charge for renting an automatic car.

The average gas price in Colombo is $5.25 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between $63 and $84, depending on the car size.

Compact (Perodua Axia or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Colombo.

Car rental companies onsite at Bandaranaike Intl airport include SR RENT A CAR and Sri Lanka Rent a Car.

Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Bandaranaike Intl airport to off-airport locations include Casons Rent A Car, Budget, Europcar, Kings Rental Corfu, and Sixt.

Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.

A Compact car rental in Colombo costs $36 per day, on average.

An Economy car rental in Colombo costs $40 per day, on average.

A Mini car rental in Colombo costs $47 per day, on average.

In Colombo, cars are most frequently rented at Hertz Lvl 1 130 Nawala Rd (3 miles from city center).

On average a rental car in Colombo costs $295 per week ($42 per day).

On average a rental car in Colombo costs $1,265 per month ($42 per day).

Most car rental providers in Colombo offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car rental in Colombo, check out KAYAK's car rental insurance guide.

KAYAK has deals for you to compare from 11 car rental agencies in Colombo.

Some car rental companies in Colombo which have updated their car rental health and safety policies due to COVID-19 to make sure vehicles are clean and disinfected include Hertz, Budget and Dollar

Finding the right price, understanding the add-ons and staying up to date with policy changes can be a challenge. That’s why KAYAK has produced the ultimate guide to renting a car to help you cut though the jargon and make the right choice for your rental car. Find tips and insights for how to book your rental, what car rental insurance you’ll need, how to deal with a car rental agency and what extra fees to expect (and avoid!).

KAYAK searches thousands of car rental agencies to provide you with offers from all car rental agencies operating in Colombo so that you can compare car rental rates, reviews and pick-up and drop-off locations to find the best deal for you.