Top 5 best scooter rentals in Manila

Manila moves fast, and the moment you swing off Roxas Boulevard onto a scooter with Manila Bay's sunset at your back, you'll feel it too. One minute you're weaving past the Rizal Park monuments, the next you're rolling through the cobblestone lanes of Intramuros or ducking into the food stalls of Binondo, the world's oldest Chinatown. A scooter turns a sprawling, chaotic capital into something you can actually enjoy at your own pace.

Metro Manila's traffic is notorious — jeepneys, buses and cars can lock a street solid for an hour. A scooter lets you filter through it and reach compact, spread-out sights like Intramuros, Binondo and the Baywalk far quicker than a taxi ever could. It's also the easiest way to stretch a Manila trip further, out to the hillside views of Antipolo or down to Tagaytay Ridge, without booking a van or a guided tour.

Top 10 things to see in Manila by scooter

1. Rizal Park (Luneta) — a central historic park with monuments, a good first stop to get your bearings.
2. Intramuros (including Fort Santiago) — the old walled Spanish city, with cobblestone streets, Fort Santiago and Manila Cathedral, best explored slowly.
3. Binondo (Manila Chinatown) — the world's oldest Chinatown, narrow streets lined with food stalls worth a slow ride-through.
4. Manila Ocean Park — a bayside aquarium and theme park right next to Rizal Park, popular with families.
5. Roxas Boulevard / Manila Baywalk — a coastal boulevard with Manila Bay's famous sunset, a classic evening ride.
6. National Museum of Fine Arts and National Museum of Natural History — the city's flagship museums facing Rizal Park, a good rainy-day detour.
7. Quezon Memorial Circle — a large park and monument in Quezon City, a favourite loop among local riders.
8. La Mesa Eco Park — a forest reserve and reservoir on the city's edge, a green escape you can reach within the metro.
9. Antipolo Cathedral and Antipolo hillside viewpoints — a hill city east of Manila, with restaurants and viewpoints over the skyline.
10. Tagaytay Ridge / Taal Volcano viewpoint — a popular day ride roughly 1.5–2 hours south of the city, for the classic Taal Lake and volcano panorama.

What do you need to rent a scooter in Manila?

You'll need a driving licence with a motorcycle entitlement — a car-only licence won't cover it, even for small automatic scooters. If your licence is in English, it's valid for up to 90 days from your arrival; otherwise bring an International Driving Permit or an official translation, and keep your passport or entry stamp on hand to prove you're within that window. The legal driving age is 18, though some shops set the minimum higher for bigger machines. Expect to leave a deposit, usually your passport held as security, though a cash deposit or photocopy can sometimes be negotiated instead.

How much does it cost to rent a scooter in Manila?

A standard automatic scooter (110–125cc) runs about 300–400 PHP per day in low season, rising to roughly 500–900 PHP per day at peak times. If you want a bigger machine, like a Yamaha NMAX or Honda PCX (150–160cc), budget around 800–1,500 PHP per day.

• Prices climb in December–January and again over Holy Week in late March or April.
• Prices ease off from June to October, during the rainy season.

When to book a rental scooter in Manila?

High season runs December through February, plus Holy Week and Easter — book ahead, since this is also when prices peak. Low season stretches from June to October, when monsoon rain and typhoon risk keep visitor numbers down and rental rates soften. If you want dry, cool weather without the holiday crowds, December to February is the sweet spot for riding.

Local traffic rules in Manila

The Philippines drives on the right. Helmets are mandatory for both rider and passenger, and must carry an ICC/PS safety mark. Speed limits generally run up to 30 km/h on city streets, dropping to 20 km/h near schools and crowded areas, with higher limits on open roads and expressways — though scooters under about 400cc aren't allowed on expressways like NLEX or SLEX, so stick to the national highways instead. The blood-alcohol limit is 0.05%, and handheld phone use while riding is banned, even at a red light.

Types of scooters available

On our website you can rent the following types of scooters: classic scooter, Vespa, moped, motoroller, motoscooter, with a sidecar, with automatic or manual gears, three-wheeled scooters, large, maxi-scooter, touring, scooters with a windscreen and a roof, underbones, electric scooters.

Models of scooters available

On our website you can hire scooters from the following manufacturers: Adly, Aeon, Aprilia, Piaggio, Bajaj, Benelli, Beta, BMW, Derbi, Gilera, Honda, Kawasaki, Kymco, LML, Malaguti, Peugeot, PGO, Suzuki, SYM, TVS, Vespa, Yamaha.

Which insurance is provided with my rental scooter?

Usually basic third-party insurance is included in the rental price. If you wish to have more protection you can purchase additional CDW insurance, which limits your risk to the amount of your deposit. If you wish to rent a scooter without a deposit and with zero risk, you will need to add full insurance to your reservation.

Extra services available

When you make an online scooter reservation you can also order the following extra services and equipment: integral helmet, GPS navigation, intercom, unlimited mileage, top case, side cases, boots, jacket, gloves, individual guide or tour, map, full insurance, one-way rental, delivery to your hotel, delivery to your address, delivery to the arrival point of your choice.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Find the best deals for scooter hire;
• Compare prices of scooter rental companies;
• Read reviews of previous customers;
• Reserve a scooter online with the Best Price Guarantee!

Most of our local moped rental companies have many years of experience and will provide you with a well-kept scooter, helmet, lock, top case, GPS, insurance and friendly service. The number of companies we work with is increasing every day, so if you want to rent a scooter, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!