Your own car and driver for 3 to 30 days
Car with driver in Sri Lanka — price per day
The way most visitors see Sri Lanka: one car and one driver for the whole trip, your route and your pace. The daily price covers the car, the driver, his room and meals, fuel, tolls and parking.
Every trip is driven by a vetted local partner in Sri Lanka. Your confirmation names the driver, the car and its plate; on chauffeur-guide bookings also the SLTDA licence number.
Daily rates per car
| Car | Per day | 7 days | 10 days | 14 days | Extra km |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan up to 3 Toyota Axio / Prius / Premio | $79 | $555 | $765 | $1,050 | $0.45 |
| Minivan (KDH) up to 6 Toyota HiAce KDH, high roof | $99 | $695 | $960 | $1,315 | $0.55 |
| SUV up to 4 Prado / Montero class, leather, more legroom | $145 | $1,015 | $1,405 | $1,930 | $0.80 |
| Coach up to 20 Toyota Coaster, up to 20 seats | $230 | $1,610 | $2,230 | $3,060 | $1.20 |
- From 3 days. For 1–2 days use a transfer or day trip from the price list.
- Up to 150 km per day on average over the trip (a 7-day hire includes 1,050 km); extra km is charged at the rate in the table. Typical 7–14 day loops stay well within it.
- Hire of 10–13 days is 3% cheaper per day, 14 days or more 5% cheaper — the same rule as our ready routes.
- A driving day is up to about 10 hours; the driver needs a rest night after very long days.
- Not included: hotels, entrance tickets, safari jeeps, your meals, tips.
- Deposit 20% by payment link after we confirm the car; the rest to the driver during the trip, in rupees or US dollars.
- Free cancellation up to 7 days before the start; after that the deposit is kept.
Driver or chauffeur-guide?
A standard driver speaks English, knows the roads and the good lunch stops, and will tell you plenty along the way — but he is not a licensed guide. If you want proper commentary at sites, choose an SLTDA-licensed chauffeur-guide (+$15/day): the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority licenses chauffeur tourist guides who have passed the SLITHM course, and only licensed guides may guide inside sites. Your confirmation will show the licence number.
Where does the driver sleep?
Most hotels in Sri Lanka have driver accommodation and provide a room and meals free or at a small rate; where they do not, the driver finds a room nearby. Either way it is included in our price — you never pay extra for it.
Hotels
Hotels are not part of our service. You book them yourself or we suggest options matching your budget, which you book directly with the hotel. Please choose hotels along the route — tell us your list and we check the driving times.
Russian- or German-speaking driver
There are a few, and they are booked early in December–March. Choose the language in the calculator: we confirm availability before any payment, and the price is +$30 a day.
Ready routes
Questions
How much does a private driver cost in Sri Lanka per day?
Published 2026 rates run from about $50–75 a day for a sedan and $70–120 for a van; quotes under $40 usually rely on shop commissions. Ours: $79 for a sedan, $99 for a KDH minivan — the upper middle of the market, with the driver's room, fuel and tolls included and no shopping stops. 10+ days: −3%, 14+ days: −5%.
Do I pay the driver's accommodation separately?
No. It is included in the daily price.
Should I tip the driver?
Tips are customary but voluntary — many travellers give around $10 a day at the end of a trip if they were happy.
Can we change the route during the trip?
Yes. Tell the driver; if the total distance goes over the included kilometres, the extra is charged at the per-km rate.