Driving in Sri Lanka: where and how to get your driving permit
Please note: We do not issue or assist with driving permits. This guide is for informational purposes only, based on our experience driving in Sri Lanka. For official documentation, please contact the Automobile Association of Ceylon or the Department of Motor Traffic.
If you're looking for up-to-date information to plan your dream trip to Sri Lanka, you're in the right place.
I'm Alice, a tropical entrepreneur with a deep love for Asia. Read more about my story.
I've been living in Sri Lanka since 2021, when Stefano and I left everything behind to go in search of our island. Today, I can finally say we've found it. I live in Ahangama, a small village on Sri Lanka’s South Coast, where monkeys swing through the garden and peacocks fly from rooftop to rooftop. Yes, peacocks really do fly — all the way up to the top of the tallest palm trees, where they spend the night. You didn’t know that? Neither did I — and I hope it’s just the first of many curious things you'll discover as you scroll through these pages.
Driving in Sri Lanka
Remember all those traffic rules you studied for your driving theory test — right of way at intersections and who yields to whom?
Yeah… forget all that. In Sri Lanka, right of way basically doesn’t exist. Or at least, after three years of living here, I’ve never seen it respected.
Here, the rule is simple: the bigger you are, the more power you have on the road. At the top of the hierarchy are the buses — they do whatever they want. No speed limits, no hesitation in overtaking anyone, even if it means driving head-on in the opposite lane. Overtaking is complete chaos. Sometimes you’ll see a tuk tuk overtaking another tuk tuk that’s overtaking a scooter. And then there are the dogs — possibly the only ones that truly have the right of way over everything and everyone.
So yes, driving in Sri Lanka isn’t something I’d recommend to everyone. But if you’ve got nerves of steel, some experience driving on the left, and renting a car in Sri Lanka sounds like your ultimate dream… then hey, go for it!
Back in 2021, Stefano and I rented a ‘90s Mitsubishi Jeep and went all over the island — from Trincomalee to Jaffna, Mannar to Kalpitiya, then Ella, Kandy, and the entire south coast. We loved it so much we eventually bought a similar one — now officially the Casa Tikiri vehicle.
In Sri Lanka, driving is on the left-hand side, like in the UK. The driver’s seat is on the right. Helmets and seatbelts are mandatory, and the maximum legal blood alcohol level is 0.05%.
An international driving permit is not enough
To legally drive in Sri Lanka, you need to obtain a local driving permit. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka is one of the few countries where an international or foreign driving licence alone is not valid — driving with it is considered illegal.
So, how do you get the permit?
There are two official authorities that issue driving permits in Sri Lanka:
the Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC)
the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT)
Which one to go to depends on the type of licence you hold:
if you have an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued in your home country:
You must apply through the Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC) in Colombo.
Address: 40, Sir Mohamed Macan Markar Mawatha, P.O. Box 338, Colombo 03
Phone: +94 11 2421528
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Cost: 8,000 LKR
What to bring:
Passport
International Driving Permit
One passport-size photo
If you have a national driving licence from your home country (not an IDP):
You need to apply for a temporary driving permit at the Department of Motor Traffic in Colombo.
Address: Department of Motor Traffic (RMV), Werahera Branch, Horana Road, Boralesgamuwa
Phone: +94 112 518 926 / +94 112 518 950
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Cost: 1,000 LKR per month
What to bring:
Original and photocopy of your passport
Original and photocopy of your visa
Original and photocopy of your national driving licence
Two passport-size photos
If you can’t (or don’t want to) go to the Colombo offices in person to get your driving permit, there are agencies that can handle the process for you for an additional fee. In most cases, rental companies — whether for cars or tuk tuks — also assist in issuing the required permit.
You don’t need a driving permit to ride scooters under 49cc, as no licence is required to operate them in Sri Lanka, and they don’t have number plates. That said, these low-powered scooters are rarely available for rent to foreigners, so this exception usually won’t apply.
While the driving permit is technically mandatory, many tourists (if not most) end up driving — especially two-wheelers — without it. Still, it’s important to remember that in the event of an accident, your insurance may not cover medical costs if you were driving without the proper permit.
Speaking of insurance, Chapka offers a 10% discount for our guests and readers on their CAP Assistance travel policy. Use the code CASATIKIRI10 at checkout to apply the discount.
A “fake” news alert: from April 15, 2024, foreigners can supposedly get a driving licence at the airport.
Although Transport Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna officially announced that foreigners would soon be able to apply for a driving permit directly at the airport starting April 15, 2024 — the truth is, it’s not actually possible yet.
In theory, tourists should be able to get their permit quickly upon arrival, with fees based on the permit’s validity:
$25 for one month,
$50 for three months,
$75 for six months,
$200 for one year or more.
But for now, there’s no clarity — and airport staff seem to have no idea when or if this system will actually be implemented.
If and when there are updates, you’ll definitely find them right here.
