DiscoverSri
Car and Driver Hire in Sri Lanka
Last reviewed: 2026-10-31
With Discover Sri Lanka you hire a private car, SUV or van with a licensed, English-speaking driver from USD 58 per day (Suzuki Alto) up to USD 115 per day (Toyota Prado). The day rate includes the vehicle, the driver, air-conditioning and fuel for a daily kilometre allowance of 100–150 km. On multi-day trips, most vehicle pages also include the driver’s meals and accommodation. We do not offer self-drive. Every booking comes with a local driver who knows Sri Lanka’s roads, which are slow and winding in the hills. Colombo to Kandy takes about 3 hours, and Kandy to Ella about 5 hours by road.
Hiring a car with driver suits travellers who want to set their own route, stops and pace. Pick a vehicle for your group and luggage, send your dates, and we confirm availability, usually within a day.
All vehicles are automatic with A/C. “Guests” is the passenger limit shown on each page. For comfort, plan for fewer people when everyone has a large suitcase.
Which vehicle should I choose?
One or two people, light bags: Suzuki Alto or Wagon R. These are our lowest rates and handle city traffic easily.
Two people on a 7–14 day loop: Toyota Prius, Aqua or Honda Fit / Jazz. You get more boot space and a smoother ride on long hill-country days.
Three or four people: Honda Fit Shuttle (4 guests, 4 bags) or Toyota C-HR (3 guests).
Families and groups of 5–9: Toyota Prado (best for 4–5 with several medium bags) or Toyota KDH Van (up to 9 guests and 6 bags).
What’s included in the day rate
According to the vehicle pages, the daily rate covers:
The vehicle: air-conditioned and automatic, matched to your group size
A licensed, English-speaking driver (chauffeur-guide) for every day of the hire
Fuel for the included daily kilometres (100 or 150 km, depending on the vehicle)
The driver’s meals and accommodation on multi-day trips. Most vehicle pages state this. [verify: the Toyota KDH Van page says driver overnight costs, parking and expressway tolls are not included unless stated in the quote]
Extra costs to plan for: extra kilometres at the per-km rate in the table, entrance tickets, and your own meals and hotels. Parking and expressway tolls may also apply on some vehicles [verify]. Each vehicle also has a refundable deposit (USD 50–200, shown on its page).
How the km allowance works: the Honda Fit / Jazz page says the 150 km/day allowance is cumulative over your trip. A 10-day hire therefore gives 1,500 km, which usually covers a full island loop. [verify that the cumulative rule applies to every vehicle]
Example: a 10-day hire of a Toyota Prius is 10 × USD 75 = USD 750 for the vehicle and driver. Hotels, tickets and any kilometres over the allowance are extra. Your written quote shows the final figure.
How car and driver hire works
Choose a vehicle and open its “Request booking” page, for example Book Suzuki Wagon R.
Send your details: name, email, phone/WhatsApp, pickup point, drop-off point, start and end dates, and any notes (route ideas, flight number, child seats [verify availability]).
We confirm availability, usually within a day, with a trusted local driver.
You receive a written quote by email or WhatsApp and approve it in writing.
Pay a deposit (typically 10% of the quoted total) through a secure external payment link. Your driver is then confirmed.
Meet your driver at the airport, your hotel or the agreed pickup point.
Advance-fee refunds follow our booking policy: 100% with 30+ days’ notice, 80% from 14 days, 40% from 7 days, and no refund inside 7 days. Date changes are possible.
Typical routes and drive times
Sri Lankan roads are slow, so plan by hours rather than kilometres. These times come from our destination guides:
| Route | Typical drive time |
|---|---|
| Colombo → Kandy | about 3 hours |
| Kandy → Ella | about 5 hours by road (or about 4 hours on the scenic train while your driver takes the bags) |
| Colombo → Sigiriya | 3–4 hours |
| Sigiriya ↔ Dambulla | about 30 minutes |
| Colombo → Galle (about 120 km) | about 2 hours on the Southern Expressway |
| Colombo → Kithulgala | about 3 hours (2.5–3 hours from Kandy) |
| Colombo or the airport → Arugam Bay | 8–10 hours (3–4 hours from Ella) |
| Colombo → Jaffna | most of a day via the A9 |
A classic 10–14 day self-planned loop: airport → Sigiriya and Dambulla → Kandy → tea country and Ella → Yala → Mirissa → Galle → Colombo. If you would rather have hotels and tickets arranged too, see our Sri Lanka tour packages.
Airport transfers: every vehicle can be booked for a one-way transfer from Bandaranaike International Airport to Colombo, Negombo, Kandy or the south coast. The Premio and KDH Van pages mention airport transfers specifically.
Car with driver in Sri Lanka: FAQ
How much does it cost to hire a car with driver in Sri Lanka? Our rates run from USD 58 per day (Suzuki Alto) to USD 115 per day (Toyota Prado). The rate is per vehicle, not per person, and includes the driver, A/C and fuel for 100–150 km per day.
Can I rent a car and drive myself? No. Discover Sri Lanka only offers vehicles with a licensed, English-speaking driver. This is safer and more relaxing on Sri Lanka’s busy, winding roads.
Who pays for the driver’s food and accommodation? On most vehicles, the driver’s meals and accommodation on multi-day trips are included in the day rate. Your quote confirms this for your vehicle. [verify KDH Van]
What happens if I drive more than the included kilometres? Extra distance is charged per km, from USD 0.30 to 0.45 depending on the vehicle. The exact rate is shown on each vehicle page and in your quote.
Which vehicle is best for a family of four? The Honda Fit Shuttle takes 4 guests and 4 bags. For more space, the Toyota Prado is recommended for 4–5 guests with several medium bags. Groups of up to 9 should book the Toyota KDH Van.
Is the driver also a guide? Your driver speaks English and acts as a chauffeur-guide who helps with routes, stops and local tips. For major heritage sites, licensed site guides may be arranged separately.
How far in advance should I book? Book as early as you can for December to April and for July and August, when demand peaks. Send your dates and we confirm availability, usually within a day.
Get a quote: choose a vehicle or message us on WhatsApp +94 77 772 8255.
Compare our vehicles with driver
| Vehicle | Guests | Bags | USD/day | Km/day | Driver stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki Alto | 2 (4 seats) | 2 | 58 | 150 | Included on multi-day hires |
| Suzuki Wagon R | 3 (4 seats) | 2 | 60 | 150 | Included on multi-day hires |
| Honda Fit / Jazz | 3 (5 seats) | 3 | 68 | 150 | Included on multi-day hires |
| Toyota Aqua (Hybrid) | 3 (5 seats) | 3 | 72 | 150 | Included on multi-day hires |
| Toyota Prius (Hybrid) | 3 (5 seats) | 3 | 75 | 150 | Included on multi-day hires |
| Honda Fit Shuttle | 4 (7 seats) | 4 | 78 | 150 | Included on multi-day hires |
| Toyota Premio | 3 (4 seats) | 2 | 85 | 100 | Included on multi-day hires |
| Toyota C-HR | 3 (5 seats) | 3 | 92 | 150 | Included on multi-day hires |
| Toyota KDH Van | 9 (10 seats) | 6 | 105 | 100 | Not included |
| Toyota Prado SUV with Driver | 6 (7 seats) | 4 | 115 | 100 | Included on multi-day hires |