Which Car Should You Rent in Kuching? A Guide from RM80 Compacts to 14-Seater Vans

Think about where you’re driving 

The main sights around Kuching, including Semenggoh, Bako’s jetty, Damai and the Bau caves, are on sealed roads that any car can handle. An SUV is not a pass to go off-road: like most rental companies, Tiva’s insurance doesn’t cover unsealed or unpaved roads, and Puncak Borneo is outside our driving area. What an SUV does give you is more comfort on long highway drives and more clearance on bumpy rural roads. Our guide to SUV car rental in Kuching explains when it’s worth it. 

Check manual or automatic before you book 

Every car in Tiva’s fleet is automatic except one: the Perodua Viva 2012, our cheapest car, is manual. If you only drive automatic, as most visitors from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and abroad do, choose any other model. 

How much does each type of rental car cost in Kuching? 

At Tiva, a compact costs from RM80 a day and a 14-seater van from RM450 a day, with lower daily rates once you rent for three days or more. Sedans start at RM100, 7-seaters at RM170 and SUVs at RM280. A refundable deposit of RM200 to RM1,000 applies, depending on the car model.  

For rentals of 30 days or more, we quote a monthly rate on request. See every model and its exact rate on our price list. 

What’s included and what costs extra 

1. Delivery:  FREE to Kuching International Airport and Kuching Sentral bus terminal. Hotels in town cost RM10–20 each way; Kota Samarahan and Matang Jaya cost RM20–30. 

2. Late-night handover:  pickups or returns between 10pm and 8am cost an extra RM50. Late-night airport returns also mean paying RM30–50 for airport parking. 

3. Fuel: You get the car with a half or full tank and return it at the same level. If it comes back lower, we charge per bar on the fuel gauge, from RM20 for a compact to RM100 for a large SUV. 

4. Rental day:  each day is 24 hours from pickup. Returning more than 5 hours late counts as another full day, and there’s no refund for returning early. 

5. Driving outside the Kuching area:  a one-time outstation fee applies (see below). 

How the 15% booking fee works 

You pay 15% of the rental online to confirm your car. The rest, plus the refundable deposit, is paid when you collect the car. The booking fee isn’t refundable if you cancel after confirming, but you can change your dates by calling or messaging us on WhatsApp.  

Here’s a worked example for a Perodua Bezza 2024 rented for 3 days and collected at the airport: 

The RM200 deposit comes back in cash or by bank transfer within 24 hours of returning the car, minus any fuel top-up or fines. 

Which car is best for city driving and short trips? 

A compact or a small sedan. Compacts like the Myvi are the easiest to park around the Waterfront, Carpenter Street and India Street, and they use the least fuel. Choose a sedan such as the Bezza or Saga if you have check-in luggage or plan longer drives to Bau, Serian or Lundu. 

A compact is enough if you’re travelling solo or as a couple with cabin bags, or if you’re in Kuching for meetings in town. The Viva 2012 at RM80 a day is our cheapest car; the Myvi 2020 is the most comfortable compact for daily use. 

Step up to a sedan when luggage or distance matters. For RM10–30 more a day, you get a much bigger boot, more legroom at the back and a steadier ride at 90 km/h. It’s the car most families of three or four end up choosing. We compare them in detail in compact vs sedan in Kuching. 

Which car is best for families and groups of 5 to 7? 

A 7-seater MPV. The Perodua Alza and Toyota Avanza are the budget choices, the Aruz has the highest ground clearance, and the Toyota Innova is the most comfortable for long drives with luggage. Rates start from RM170 a day, and child seats are free on request. 

1. Perodua Alza (from RM170/day for the 2017 model):  smooth and economical on city roads and highways. It sits low, so drive slowly over speed bumps with a full car. 

2. Perodua Aruz (from RM220/day):  an SUV-style 7-seater with 220 mm of ground clearance, useful on rural roads and easier for older passengers to climb into. 

3. Toyota Innova (from RM230/day):  the largest and quietest of the four, and the one to choose for three-hour drives to Sri Aman or Sibu. 

Whichever you pick, ask for a baby seat when you book so we can set it aside for you. The 7-seater comparison guide covers luggage space and fuel costs for each model. 

When do you actually need an SUV in Sarawak? 

Less often than most visitors think. Standard cars reach Kuching’s main attractions on sealed roads. An SUV is worth it for long Pan Borneo Highway drives, bumpy rural roads, heavy rain, or when you want more boot space than a sedan without renting a full 7-seater. Tiva’s SUVs start at RM280 a day. 

Our SUV range runs from the budget Perodua Traz to the Proton X50 and X70, the Nissan X-Trail and the Toyota Fortuner, which is the most rugged. Remember that an SUV doesn’t change the insurance rules: damage on unsealed roads isn’t covered, whatever you’re driving. 

We also rent the Proton e.MAS 7, a fully electric SUV, from RM400 a day. It suits drivers who want to try an EV in and around Kuching, where fast chargers such as the Gentari hub at ICOM Square are easy to reach. Longer trips need more planning: Sarawak had 153 public EV chargers as of April 2026, concentrated in Kuching, Sri Aman, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri. Read more in our guide to SUV car rental in Kuching. 

What should groups of 8 or more rent? 

A van. The Toyota Hiace seats up to 11 and costs from RM270 a day; the Foton View CS2 seats up to 14 from RM450 a day. One van is usually cheaper and easier to manage than two 7-seaters, and it keeps the group together. Both vans run on diesel. 

Here’s how the numbers compare for a group of 11 over three days, before fuel: 

Two things to plan for. First, luggage: with every seat taken, a van’s boot fills quickly, so count suitcases as well as people. Second, parking: vans don’t fit under the height barriers at some mall car parks, and street parking around the Waterfront is tight, so drop your group off first.  

If nobody in your group wants to drive, we can provide the van with a driver for airport and event transfers through our chauffeur service. Just mention it when you book. For self-drive, our van rental in Kuching guide covers licences, parking and the Hiace vs Foton choice.