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Rent a scooter in Langkawi, and enjoy your trip to the fullest.
I have been to Langkawi a lot. It’s one of my favorite islands. If you’re planning a trip to Langkawi anytime soon, remember this one thing – rental scooter is the best mode of transportation for getting around in Langkawi. You’ll see a lot, at the same time spending very little. You’ll get to experience the real Langkawi not just a couple of most popular tourist attractions.
Where to rent a scooter in Langkawi? What are the best scooter rental locations in Langkawi? How much does it cost? Anything else you should know about driving in Langkawi? Answers to all these questions you’ll find in this article.
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Langkawi: How to Get Around?

Langkawi is an archipelago of 104 islands.
The main island, pulau Langkawi, is the largest of them all, and also the most popular one. It’s one of the most popular islands in all of Malaysia, attracting thousands of people both from other parts of Malaysia and from abroad.
There is no public transport in Langkawi.
That’s one of the most important things to keep in mind, when traveling to Langkawi island. Especially if you don’t drive yourself.
There are taxis – regular and Grab app.
But getting a taxi all the time is not really an option, especially if you are traveling on a budget. It’s also can be a big problem to get a taxi from some more distant places.
And you can rent a scooter, motorbike or a car.
But that’s about it.
Langkawi is a small island.
Its area is mere 184,7 square miles / 478,5 square kilometers.
But, obviously, it’s still too big to walk everywhere.
So, the most reasonable option is renting a scooter in Langkawi.
Opt for a rental car, if you don’t drive a scooter.
Why Rent a Scooter in Langkawi?
1. There Is No Public Transportation in Langkawi
Well, of course, you can get a taxi in Langkawi.
And now there you can also get a taxi using Grab app (loving it!).
But getting a taxi all the time may not be an option, especially if you are traveling on a budget.
Taxis is the only and also the most popular mode of transportation in Langkawi among tourists. Getting one usually is very easy. Unless you are outside the city; then you need to know a number of a taxi company. And their fares are also really reasonable.
We usually pay 30 MYR for a 12 mile / 20 km ride.
But that’s it. There is no other public transportation in Langkawi.
No public buses and trains. No shared taxis like in Thailand.

2. It’s the Only Way to Truly Experience the Island Life
You can go island hopping and visit nearby islands without having your own vehicle.
Especially if you, like most of the tourists, stay somewhere close either to Kuah (main town in Langkawi) or Pantai Cenang (most popular beach in Langkawi). Because from there you can easily walk to some travel agency, and they will provide you a transfer to the boat.
And also you can visit some of the most popular tourist sites in Langkawi by taxi.
But that way you will spend way more than you would pay for a scooter, at the same time still missing out a lot.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: For travelers to Malaysia we recommend World Nomads Explorer Package.
Rent a scooter to see as much as you want.
Not just the most popular tourist spots.
Ride on small village roads to see how the friendly locals live, go to the night markets in different places of the island, visit less popular and remote beaches of the island, go to Gunung Raya, the highest mountain on the island, visit island’s waterfalls, such as Seven Wells and Temurun Waterfall, and so on. Do the Gunung Mat Cincang Hike at your own pace.
Experience the real Langkawi like a local.

3. Renting a Scooter in Langkawi Is Very Easy
We have done it countless times.
While trying out different rental places in Langkawi, and everywhere the procedure has been about the same.
Langkawi Scooter Rental Tips
How to Rent a Scooter in Langkawi?
To rent a scooter in Lagkawi you need only your passport
Sometimes a copy of your passport will be enough. Maybe they will ask you to show your driver’s license.
Then they will make a rental agreement, and you will pay money in advance.
Deposit for the Scooter
If you rent a scooter only for a day or a few, mostly there is no deposit.
Things are different if you rent long term. Daily rate then usually is some 3-4 times lower than standard. And if you rent a scooter for a longer period, a couple of weeks or couple of months, you most likely will have to pay deposit.
We have always been asked for a deposit in these situations.
For us it usually was around 200 – 300 MYR.
And it is returned at the end if there is no damage to the scooter.
Returning Your Scooter Later Than Agreed
Just contact the company or person you rented your scooter from.
Mostly you’ll be allowed to return the bike also a few hours later at no extra cost.
It’s also possible to prolong the rental this way.
Drivers License
Some of the Langkawi scooter rental shops don’t ask you to show a drivers license.
And many tourists don’t even have one.
Theoretically you need an international driving permit, but we don’t have one, and we were never asked to provide it. We were stopped by police a couple of times and they were OK with our Latvian drivers license.
Where to Rent a Scooter in Langkawi?
There are a lot of scooter and bike rentals in Langkawi, both big and small.
Head to touristic places, such as Pantai Tengah and Pantain Cenang area, and you will have no problems to find one. Almost every guest house and many shops have scooters for rent. You will need to walk around and ask for prices.
Hoe Sin Motors in Kuah has the best rates when it comes to leasing scooters for at least a couple of weeks, a month or more. The prices are – 250 MYR for a semi-automatic scooter per month and 300 MYR for an automatic one.
They also ask for a deposit of 200 – 300 MYR.
As already mentioned, the deposit is returned if there is no damage to the scooter.
If you need a scooter only for a couple of days, first find out if your hotel has them for rent. Most of the guest houses in Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah do. The rates start from 25-30 MYR per day.
We have rented scooters in Villa Thai and Rainbow Guesthouse for this price.
The best place to rent a scooter for a few days in Kuah is Kuah Jetty Point.
The rates there start from 40 MYR, which is more than at the cheapest places.
But at the same time you can get a bike right after getting off the ferry.
The rental places are located in front of ticket booths, outside the ferry terminal.
There used to be few of them, and the prices are different.
So, just ask around and find the best deal!
You even can try and haggle a bit, if you are good at it.

Langkawi Motorbike Rental
It’s possible to rent a motorbike in Langkawi as well, not only scooters.
Currently there are no specialized motorbike rental shops in Langkawi. So you’ll just have to go to the nearest scooter rentals and ask. As they aren’t popular your safest bet would be asking around at scooter rentals in the area of Pantai Cenang, where most of tourists are staying at.
You can rent a car or a minivan and, of course, a bicycle, as well. Some rentals even have electric bikes for rent!
You see? Renting a scooter in Langkawi is very easy and cheap. So go for it!
There is just so much more to see and experience in Langkawi. It’s not only about Pantai Cenang, where most of the tourists spend their time. Actually, if you ask me, then Pantai Cenang is one of the less beautiful beaches of Langkawi.
Book Your Trip Like a PRO
1. Book Your Flight. Find cheap flights using Kiwi.com, Momondo.com. Or subscribe to Dollar Flight Club, if you don’t want to be searching for the flights yourself. Kiwi currently is my first choice.
2. Book Your Accommodation. Booking.com, Agoda.com and Airbnb. I use Booking and Agoda at least a dozen times a year, and Airbnb – when looking for a long-term stay. My best tip is to ALWAYS compare the price. Sometimes the same hotel is cheaper on Booking.com, other times – on Agoda. Always compare the price!
3. Buy Your Travel Insurance. Ekta and SafetyWings are two companies I can recommend. Ekta offers some extra benefits, that will be important for those doing some higher risk activities (make sure to choose the right plan!), while SafetyWings is better for digital nomads. SafetyWings is also very affordable.
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