Key Takeaways
- Share your flight number when booking so we track delays automatically.
- Our team meets you outside the arrivals hall with your car — no shuttle bus or counter queues.
- The handover takes about 15 minutes: documents, a walk-around check and a quick car demo.
- The Katunayake Expressway takes you from the airport to Colombo in around 30 minutes.
Before you land
Book your car and share your flight number, arrival time and a WhatsApp number that works abroad. Send copies of your passport, licence and IDP so your paperwork is ready before you arrive.
Pro tip: Buy a local SIM at the arrivals hall (Dialog, Mobitel or Hutch) so you can reach us and use maps immediately.
Arrival at CMB
- Clear immigration and collect your bags.
- Pass through customs and exit the arrivals hall.
- Message us on WhatsApp — our team will be waiting outside with a name board.
The 15-minute handover
| Step | What happens | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Documents | Check passport, licence and permit; sign the agreement | 5 min |
| Walk-around | Photos of the car together, fuel level noted | 5 min |
| Car demo | AC, lights, reverse camera, hybrid controls | 5 min |
Deposit
A refundable deposit is collected at handover and returned when the car comes back in the same condition.
Leaving the airport
Follow signs to the Colombo – Katunayake Expressway (E03). It is the fastest way into Colombo and connects to the Outer Circular and Southern Expressways.
- Keep small change or a card ready for tolls.
- Stay in the left lane unless overtaking.
- Large groups or lots of luggage? A Toyota KDH van seats 10 comfortably.
Recommended Self-Drive Cars for This Guide
Toyota Premio 2015
Rs. 11,000/day · 100 km
Monthly: Rs. 250,000 · 3,000 km
Toyota Raize 2025
Rs. 15,000/day · 100 km
Monthly: Rs. 350,000 · 3,000 km
Toyota KDH 2015
Rs. 15,000/day · 100 km
Monthly: Rs. 350,000 · 3,000 km
Frequently Asked Questions
MP
Manoj Nishantha Pathirana
Founder & Managing Director · 15+ Years Experience
Founder of Highway Rent A Car in Pannipitiya, Colombo. With over 15 years of hands-on experience helping thousands of international tourists and Sri Lankan locals navigate the island safely in spotless, unbranded self-drive vehicles.
