Top 5 best scooter rentals in Yangon

Downtown Yangon runs on foot, trishaw and bus, but the moment you cross a bridge or a river the city opens up. Ride out past Kandawgyi Lake toward Thanlyin, or catch the Yangon River ferry to Dala, and suddenly you have flat, quiet roads all to yourself, the kind of roads made for a scooter rather than a taxi queue. This is where renting a scooter in Yangon actually pays off — not weaving through Sule Pagoda traffic, but stringing together river crossings, pottery villages and hilltop pagodas at your own pace.

That's really the shape of riding here: central Yangon has banned motorbikes and scooters since 2003, so a rented scooter isn't for the downtown grid at all — it's your ticket to everywhere just beyond it. The outskirts and day-trip routes are flat, lightly trafficked and poorly served by public transport, which is exactly the gap a scooter fills. One rental can carry you from a ferry jetty to a pottery workshop to a riverside pagoda in a single afternoon, something no bus route in the area manages.

Top 10 things to see in Yangon by scooter

1. Shwedagon Pagoda — the city's defining landmark and the best sunset viewpoint over Yangon, the obvious first stop even on foot for the final approach.
2. Chaukhtatgyi Reclining Buddha — a short ride from downtown, easy to pair with Shwedagon on the same loop.
3. Kandawgyi Lake — a flat lakeside road along the Nature Park boardwalk, with Shwedagon's golden spire visible across the water, a good easy warm-up ride.
4. Botataung Pagoda — a riverside pagoda near the Yangon River jetties, worth combining with a ferry crossing to Dala.
5. Dala — cross by ferry, then enjoy rural roads and villages with none of downtown's traffic restrictions.
6. Twante — a pottery-making village and canal town, a classic scooter day trip from the Dala side of the river.
7. Thanlyin and Kyaikkhauk Pagoda — a hilltop pagoda across the Thanlyin Bridge with river views, a popular longer loop.
8. Kyauktan Ye Le Pagoda — a pagoda built on an island in the river, reached by a short boat hop after riding out from Thanlyin.
9. Hlawga National Park — forest and lake north of the city, a green, quiet ride well away from traffic.
10. Bago — the Shwemawdaw Pagoda and Kyaikpun Buddha make for a well-known full-day scooter excursion along the main highway out of Yangon.

What do you need to rent a scooter in Yangon?

An International Driving Permit isn't formally required, though officially you're expected to hold a Myanmar licence or a temporary permit from the Road Transport Administration Department — in practice, most shops outside the centre focus on the deposit rather than paperwork. Riders are generally expected to be 18 or over. Shops usually ask to hold your passport as a deposit, though a cash deposit or a photocopy can often be arranged instead; amounts vary by shop and by vehicle, so it's worth checking terms when you book.

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

Expect around 25,000 MMK per day in low season, rising to roughly 35,000–45,000 MMK per day in high season, with larger or newer automatic scooters running 50,000–70,000 MMK per day.

• Prices peak from December to February, the cool, dry stretch when tourist numbers are highest.
• Prices drop from June to September, during the rainy season when demand is lowest.

When to book a rental scooter in Yangon?

High season runs November to February, dry and clear but also the priciest and busiest stretch, so it's worth booking ahead if your trip falls then. Low season runs roughly June to September, when the southwest monsoon brings heavier rain but also lower prices and easier last-minute availability. Shoulder months around March to May are hot — ridable, but best tackled outside the midday heat.

Local traffic rules in Yangon

Myanmar drives on the right, though many cars are right-hand-drive imports, so take extra care overtaking. Helmets are legally required for riders, and it's worth insisting on a decent one rather than whatever comes with the cheapest rental. Treat drink-driving as a strict zero-tolerance rule. Remember, too, that scooters simply aren't allowed in most of central Yangon — keep your riding to the outskirts and day-trip routes described above, where the roads are flat, open and genuinely enjoyable.

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!