Langkawi is a tropical island in Malaysia that sees thousands of international visitors every week. The trouble is that Langkawi is a little different to many of the popular island destinations that you may have been to or heard about. There is not that much information available online, and most of what there is is either confusing, or contradictory. I found that out when I was researching riding a scooter in Langkawi, and in the end had to just find out myself.
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So that is why I have written this article on Riding a scooter in Langkawi. Here, I will post all the practical information that you might possibly need to help you make a decision on whether or not you WANT to rent a scooter, and how to go about it.
Table of Contents
- Why should you rent a scooter?
- Where to rent
- How much is scooter rental in Langkawi?
- What do you need to rent a scooter?
- Is it safe riding a scooter in Langkawi?
- Filling up your scooter
- Don’t forget your insurance
- Summary
Why should you rent a scooter?
Put simply, there is no public transport on the island of Langkawi. That seems strange, but it’s true. So the only ways to get around are basically Taxi, GRAB Car, private car or scooter, or riding a pushbike.
Seeing as the island is actually quite large, pushbike is only really useful for you to get around locally. Unless you are a serious bike rider and do it for fitness, you probably wouldn’t want to be riding the pushbike across the island!
Taxi’s can be expensive, and even though GRAB (uber) is cheaper, for the price that you will get a return trip to a destination such as the Skycab and Skybridge, you may as well have just rented a Scooter. Riding a Scooter in Langkawi can financially be a no brainer when you look at it that way.
This is why I first decided that riding a scooter in Langkawi would be the best option for me. Plus the fact that I live in Bali, and I ride a scooter there every day. But riding a scooter in Langkawi is simply the best way to get around, gives you freedom of movement, and allows you to set your own itinerary and routine. Plus, if you only have a couple of days in Langkawi, you can get a whole lot more done!
I rode right around the island in just over half a day, visiting half a dozen beaches, rode to the top of Gunung Raya, and visited Eagle Square. You can get a LOT done when riding a scooter in Langkawi.
Where to rent
Be very careful on where you rent your scooter in Langkawi. And this is no different to hiring here, Bali, Vietnam, or anywhere else for that matter. You will ALWAYS find dodgy places renting out scooters that you should avoid.
Why?
Firstly, because the product if most likely sub standard. The last thing you want is a scooter that breaks down halfway across the island.
Secondly, is the service. You want to make sure that the scooter you hire if fully registered, insured, and that if you have a problem, you can always come back. Too many of the dodgy operators will wash their hands of you as soon as they have your money. So ideally, you want to hire from someone that hires scooters as their main business. Stay away from the “shop” that just hires a couple of scooters on the side.
Here are my choices of places to hire from:
- Uncle B Scooter Langkawi – Uncle B is very friendly, has amazing scooters, and is located right at the airport. So as soon as you land in Langkawi, you can hire right there and ride it to your accommodation. Too easy! His prices are good, and his service is the best you will find. To contact Uncle B, simply drop him a message on WhatsApp on +60174729522. He will come straight back with all the info you need such as prices, license requirements etc.
- A ONE SUPER DUPER Scooters Cars Rental & Langkawi Tours – This place also does tours, but they are a very professional shop that do every thing right. The reviews are all from very happy customers. If you are staying around Pantai Cenang, then look them up. They can be found at THIS location. You can also check out there website HERE.
- Ask at your homestay or guest house. Depending on the place, many of them have their own scooters for rent to guests. This is a great option as you know the owner, it’s usually cheaper, they will have your back, and you don’t have to worry as much about handing over passports etc. I did this on my last stay and it worked out wonderfully.
For easy, reliable scooter rental that you can organize online, follow THIS LINK or click the button below.
How much is scooter rental in Langkawi?
One way to know if a place is dodgy or not is to look at the prices they are renting for. Most of the prices across the island are pretty much the same. So if someone is a lot cheaper than the rest, stay away!
As of writing this, here are the current prices for renting and riding a scooter on Langkawi.
- 110cc scooter RM40/day (24 hours)
- 125cc RM55/day
- 155cc RM70/day
- 160cc RM90/day
In Bali, I own a 155cc Yamaha NMAX. It’s a great size if you have two people, especially if you are a tall guy like me. When in Langkawi though, I found the 125cc was more than enough for me by myself. It even rode all the way to the top of Gunung Raya (the highest peak) with no problems.
What do you need to rent a scooter?
First, if you are planning on riding a scooter in Langkawi, then let’s talk about licenses.
You will need a license to hire and ride a scooter legally. Any legitimate hire place will also make sure you have the proper license. If they don’t ask and don’t care, then that is a red flag!
Now, to abide strictly by the law, you will need a motorcycle license from your home country, AND an International Driver’s Permit.
Now, your actual license from home should be in English, but this isn’t always possible. This is one of the reasons that you should always have an International Driver’s Permit for driving anywhere in the world. Riding a scooter in Langkawi is no different. Make sure you carry both the IDP and your home license with you wherever you go when on a scooter.
Police on Langkawi may stop you, and if they do you will be fined if you don’t have the proper license. This doesn’t happen all the time – in fact I have personally never been stopped. But I have spoken to many that have. Usually the traffic stops are to check for unlicensed locals (because there are a lot) but if you get caught up in one, the police won’t just turn a blind eye.
So get your own IDP and be on the safe side. You can get on at THIS LINK, or by clicking the button below.
When you hire your scooter, you will also be asked for your passport, and a deposit of usually about RM100. This deposit is the “key” deposit. Some places will ask for more deposit, it just depends on the company.
Is it safe riding a scooter in Langkawi?
Coming from Bali, I find that riding a scooter in Langkawi is very safe. There is nowhere as much traffic, the roads are in pretty good condition most of the time, and the traffic is quite sensible. This doesn’t mean you should not be careful though.
Probably the biggest issue with riding a scooter in Langkawi is that it IS so quiet on the roads. This means there can be a lot more wildlife around, and things such as branches on the roads. Just the other day I rode to a remote beach about 9am in the morning, and all the way I was dodging wild dogs laying on the road, cows, monkeys, and a tree that had fallen overnight. Never let your guard down and stay alert!
Generally though, the roads are in good condition.
One thing to note here is that in Langkawi most scooters will ride right over on the far left of the road to allow cars to pass easily. This is a practical and safe thing to do. With long open roads the cars will drive a lot faster than you, and giving them enough room to get around is just the smart way to ride.
Filling up your scooter
Petrol. We can’t get around it, and riding a scooter in Langkawi is no different. Unlike Indonesia and some other South East Asian countries though, you won’t find roadside stalls with bottles of fuel.
Fortunately, there are plenty of petrol stations. Before you set off, take a look on Google Maps and find out where they are in relation to where you are going. Forewarned is forearmed, and there are a couple of places where you might find yourself in trouble if you don’t.
One of these places is the part of the island where the Cable Car is located. There is one Gas Station out this way, so don’t just ride on past if you see it. The other place is around Pantai Cenang area. There is really only one handy option, so make sure you fill up before heading off for the day.
Generally I found that the other side of the island had a lot more options, which doesn’t make sense, but it is what it is.
When getting petrol, you will have to pay first. Coming from Australia this is a strange thing to do, but it might not be for you, depending where you are from.
So when you pull up to the bowser, simply hop off your scooter and head to the payment window. Hand the cashier some money (it will only cost about RM4-5 to fill) and head back to your scooter. Fill it up, and when you are done go back for your change, if there is any.
Simple!
Don’t forget your insurance
Make sure you have insurance before you come to Langkawi. I personally always go with SafetyWing, as they are the most comprehensive coverage that really suit me. You can check them out at THIS LINK.
One thing to be aware of, and you should ask them, is whether you are covered when riding a scooter in Langkawi. Mostly, they won’t cover you if you don’t have the correct license. So that makes it even more important to get your IDP.
Summary
Riding a Scooter in Langkawi is the easiest, simplest and most economical way to see the island. Just make sure you have the right license, hire from someone reputable, and use common sense on the road.
Stay safe!
If you are heading to Langkawi, then don’t miss my COMPLETE GUIDE at THIS LINK.
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