Sri Lanka self drive car rental - is it realistic for foreigners?
3 Answers from travellers
Realistic but frustrating. Requirements: valid home license + International Driving Permit + AAC (Automobile Association Ceylon) recognition permit (get on arrival at AAC office in Colombo, ~2000 LKR + IDP). Rental agencies: Malkey Rent A Car, Casons, Airport Car Rental. Costs USD 40-70/day for a small car. Reality: left-side driving, chaotic traffic, buses that intimidate, tuk-tuks changing lanes randomly, poor road markings, night driving especially dicey. Chauffeur ($70-90/day) removes all this pain for a marginal cost premium.
Financially: self-drive saves ~$300 over 2 weeks. Chauffeur saves your sanity and your dinner-time energy after long drives. Also chauffeur knows shortcuts and roadside food gems. Not really a hard choice - chauffeur wins.
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