Scooter/car rental on Langkawi

The most convenient and cheapest way to explore and get around Langkawi is to rent a motorbike or a car. In this article we answer the questions: how, where, and at what price can you rent a scooter/car on Langkawi?

First, a few words about the alternative to having your own transport on Langkawi: taxis. Taxis here are not known for good prices, and here is why:

Taxis on Langkawi

There are no metered taxis on Langkawi. All fares from point A to point B are fixed, known to everyone, and not open to bargaining at all. Here, for example, is a recent price list for taxis from the airport to various places on the island:

Renting a scooter on Langkawi

Langkawi is a small island, and you won't find a lot of scooter rental places here. One of the main spots where many rental shops are located is the ferry terminal in the town of Kuah. Here, after some hard bargaining, you can get a scooter rental price of 30 ringgit a day. In general, there are a dozen shops at the ferry terminal in Kuah on Langkawi offering scooters for rent, but they are all a monopoly and with one voice quote a rental price of 35 ringgit a day; they are reluctant to bargain and do it very discreetly so the other stalls don't see. It should be noted that all bike rental shops require you to have the appropriate license. (Most likely, a Russian car license will be accepted, so if not at the first shop, then at the next one you will become the owner of an iron horse.)

Renting a scooter at Langkawi Airport

For extra convenience, you can rent a scooter right at the island's airport. To do this, go to any car rental kiosk (they are at the airport exit) and ask them about renting a bike. As a rule, these are the same companies that also operate at the ferry terminal. But the price here will be a little lower. We rented a scooter for 30 days at Langkawi Airport for 17 ringgit a day.

When renting a scooter on Langkawi, be sure to pay attention to the following:

On the technical side:

• Take photos of all the flaws on the bike (chips, scuffs, damage, etc.) — this will protect you from possible financial claims against you by the owner when you return the scooter. As everyone knows, a big share of bike rental owners' profit comes precisely from accusing customers of damaging their property and scamming them out of money. If you really are to blame for the damage, find out the real cost of the damage (from mechanics at repair shops) and go by that, and if you are asked to pay much larger sums, threaten to call the police, and do call them.
• Take a test drive. There should be no jerking, shaking, or unhealthy noises. Look at the wheels: the tires should be in good condition, not worn — worn tires are a danger to life. With your hands off the handlebars, the motorbike should go straight ahead without veering to either side.
• Choose a comfortable helmet; don't settle for the first one you're handed if it isn't comfortable for you. You're the one riding in it. Keep in mind that a helmet with a brim protects your forehead and nose from the sun and prevents sunburn. Also choose a helmet with a visor (a clear face shield) that will protect your face from the wind; at night it is a must, since you can't wear sunglasses at night.

Otherwise:

• Check that you have all the documents for the bike on hand. On Langkawi, that is 1 document: the bike's insurance. The police may ask for this document.
• As mentioned above, rental shops ask for a license. We had Thai motorcycle licenses, and there were no problems. Formally, Langkawi does not recognize either our Russian licenses or an international driving permit for a car, only an international permit for a motorcycle (category A/A1). But in practice, it turns out that the police are satisfied with leafing through the curious little booklet of our international permits. Keep in mind that category B is a car license, not a motorcycle one: for a motorbike you need category A/A1.
• Take a business card with the address of the rental shop and contact numbers. If anything happens, call and let the owner know.
• If, when you return the scooter, the owner asks you to pay an amount (for anything at all: lost documents, scratches, damage) that seems unreasonable to you, call the police: their presence will quickly establish the average market prices.

Renting a car on Langkawi

Car rental on Langkawi is available at prices starting from 90 ringgit a day. The cost of renting depends on the rental period and goes down to 80 ringgit a day for a weekly rental and to 70 ringgit for a monthly rental. On Langkawi you can also rent a car for 12 hours; most often, the rental price will be the same as the daily price on a monthly rental.

As a rule, you can rent a car on Langkawi in 2 places: at the ferry terminal, in one of the many stalls, or directly at the airport on the island.

Emergency phone numbers on Langkawi

We hope you will never need these contacts, but it is still better to know where to call in case of any incident:

• Police and ambulance, single number: 999
• Langkawi police station: 04 966 6222
• Langkawi hospital: 04 966 3333
• Taxis on Langkawi: 04 955 1800