Frequently asked questions

Yes. Tourists can rent cars across the Maldives — nearly every inhabited island has a road network, and on Dhihvaa you book directly from verified local owners. You'll need a valid driving licence (foreign licence holders should check the licence rules below) and a quick one-time ID verification before your first booking.

Yes — scooters are the most popular way to get around the islands and the most widely listed vehicle type on Dhihvaa. You need a valid motorcycle licence. Helmets are mandatory on bridges, link roads and highways — and a good idea everywhere — so ask the owner to include one.

Yes. You must hold a valid licence for the vehicle category you’re renting — a motorcycle licence for scooters, a car licence for cars. If you hold a foreign licence, you’ll generally need an International Driving Permit or an endorsement of your licence from the Maldivian transport authority to drive legally. Confirm the current requirements before your trip, and bring your licence to every pickup.

Yes — nearly every inhabited island in the Maldives has a road network, so you can drive on virtually any island people live on. Busier town islands have streets where a car or scooter is genuinely useful; on smaller islands a scooter or bicycle covers everything in minutes. The only real limit is practical: islands are separated by sea, so a vehicle stays on the island where you rent it. Addu City is the standout: its link road connects Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Feydhoo and Gan, so it’s one of the only places in the Maldives — along with Laamu — where you can genuinely drive island to island, and where renting a car makes the most sense.

The left, like the UK, India and Sri Lanka. Speed limits are low — around 30 km/h in town centres and other urban areas, and up to 50 km/h on the Sinamalé Bridge and highway links.

Where an airport island is linked to nearby islands by a bridge or causeway — such as the Sinamalé Bridge — a rented car or scooter works for airport runs. On islands reached only by sea, you'd collect the vehicle after your ferry or speedboat transfer.

No — Uber, Grab and other international ride-hailing apps don’t operate in the Maldives. People use fixed-fare taxis booked by phone or arranged through a guesthouse, RTL buses and ferries, and — most of all — scooters. Renting a scooter or car from a local owner is the closest thing to on-demand transport freedom here.

No. Bicycles need no driving licence and no International Driving Permit — anyone can rent one. On smaller islands like Thoddoo or Dhigurah a bicycle covers the whole island comfortably, and it’s the classic way visitors get around.

Yes — riding with a pillion passenger is how scooters are used across the Maldives every day. Helmets are mandatory on the bridges, link roads and highways for everyone on the scooter, and a good idea everywhere else.

Contact the owner first — it’s their vehicle and their island, and most issues get sorted directly. If you can’t resolve it together, contact Dhihvaa support from your dashboard. The security deposit is only touched for damage that’s your responsibility, and the dispute process reviews evidence from both sides before anything is deducted.

The Ministry of Transport’s May 2025 notice lists 30 approved countries: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, the UK, the US and Vietnam. Those licences are valid for driving for up to 90 days from arrival, and can be converted to a Maldivian licence for longer stays. Other licence holders generally need an International Driving Permit or a locally issued licence.

Yes — India is on the Ministry of Transport’s approved list, so a valid Indian licence works for up to 90 days from arrival for the vehicle category on your licence. For longer stays, convert it to a Maldivian licence online through the SIMS portal. Bring your physical licence to every pickup.

Owners set their own prices, so rates vary by model, island and season. Every Dhihvaa listing shows a daily rate, and most vehicles have discounted weekly and monthly rates. Browse the live listings to compare current prices — the full total, including any security deposit and the service fee, is shown before you confirm.

Scooters are the cheapest motorised option — typically a fraction of a car’s daily rate. Owners set their own prices and most offer weekly and monthly discounts. Check the live scooter listings on Dhihvaa to see what’s available on your island today.

Payments are processed through the platform and held in escrow — the owner is only paid after the rental completes successfully. If something goes wrong, you can open a dispute and our team mediates before any money moves.

Many owners set a security deposit, which is held in escrow during the rental and released automatically after a successful return. It’s only touched if the owner files a damage claim, which our team reviews with evidence.

Yes. Cancel more than 48 hours before pickup for a 100% refund, or 24–48 hours before for a 50% refund. Cancellations under 24 hours and no-shows are non-refundable. If the owner cancels, you always get a full refund.

Yes. Every renter completes a one-time ID verification before their first booking. It keeps both sides accountable and is a big part of why owners are comfortable renting to people they haven’t met.

Yes — most listings show discounted weekly and monthly rates alongside the daily price, and monthly rentals are popular with expats and long-stay visitors. Filter listings by your island and dates, then compare the weekly and monthly pricing on each listing.

Often, yes — many owners are happy to hand over at the harbour, the ferry terminal or your guesthouse. Message the owner through Dhihvaa to agree the meeting point before your rental starts.

List it on Dhihvaa: create an account, add your vehicle with photos and rates, and submit it for verification. Listings are typically reviewed within 1–2 business days, and once approved your vehicle is bookable by verified renters.

It depends on your vehicle type, your island, and how often it's available. A scooter that would otherwise sit parked can cover its own running costs; cars and pickups earn more per day. Use the earnings calculator on Dhihvaa for an estimate based on your own rates.

Earnings are credited after each rental completes, with a short 3-day hold that mirrors the dispute window. After that, you can request a payout to your bank account from your earnings dashboard.

Dhihvaa’s protections are the security deposit, renter ID verification, and a dispute process that can apply deposit deductions for damage. This doesn’t replace vehicle insurance — keep your own comprehensive policy active, and treat the deposit as the first line of protection.

Dhihvaa — "ride" in the Addu dialect of Dhivehi — is the Maldives' peer-to-peer vehicle rental marketplace. Locals list their cars, scooters, bicycles and boats; renters book them directly, with ID verification, escrow payments and dispute resolution built in.

Any inhabited island in the Maldives — owners can list from anywhere, and you can search by island. Dhihvaa is built for everyday people renting to each other rather than for resorts, though there's nothing stopping a resort from listing its own vehicles if it wants to.