Car Rental in Penang: 10 Car, App and Scooter Options
Last updated: October 2026
George Town's heritage core is best walked, but car rental in Penang opens up Penang Hill, Balik Pulau's durian farms, the beaches at Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang, and the national park at the north-west tip. Most rental desks are at Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas, about 30 minutes' drive south of George Town, with a few branches and delivery services in the city.
This guide covers 10 options for car rental in Penang, including international brands, Penang-based companies, car-sharing and peer-to-peer apps, and a scooter rental firm, all checked in October 2026. Published prices are listed where the operator makes them public; prices are in Malaysian Ringgit (RM). Counter rates depend on season and car class, so those entries say "rates on quote".
SOCAR, previously a popular car-sharing option in Penang, closed its Malaysian service on 31 August 2026, so it is no longer listed.
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International Car Rental Brands at Penang Airport
Hertz (Sime Darby Rent-A-Car)
Hertz, run in Malaysia by Sime Darby Rent-A-Car, has a counter in the arrival hall at Penang International Airport (04-643 0208). Sunday and public holiday hours end at 4 pm, so late Sunday arrivals should arrange collection in advance.
Its George Town branch is at 128-L1 and 128A-L1 Jalan Transfer (04-226 8602), open Mon–Fri 8 am – 6 pm and Sat 8 am – 3 pm, with Sunday handovers only for confirmed reservations. Hertz Malaysia asks debit card users for an RM600 deposit at collection.
Avis Malaysia
Avis's Penang airport desk is on the ground floor of the arrival hall (04-643 9633) and opens daily from 7:30 am to 9:30 pm, with a 24-hour drop-off option for returns outside desk hours.
Avis Malaysia also runs a desk at KLIA, which makes it one of the simpler choices if you are combining Penang and Kuala Lumpur in one trip. Ask at booking about one-way rentals between the two airports and the fee involved.
Europcar
Europcar lists a car and van rental station at Penang International Airport, one of a handful of Europcar stations in Malaysia alongside klia2 and Kota Kinabalu.
Book through europcar.com.my or an international Europcar site. Google lists the airport desk as open daily from 9 am to 6 pm, so arrange collection in advance if your flight lands in the evening.
Penang and Malaysian Car Rental Companies
Mayflower Car Rental
Mayflower, a Malaysian firm headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, runs its Penang branch from the Tan Chong Building on Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah in Bayan Lepas (04-641 1191), a short drive from the airport. It has no airport counter: the office opens on weekdays only, and cars can be delivered to the airport on request, so arrange the handover when you book.
Published terms apply nationwide: drivers aged 21 to 65 with at least two years' experience, a card pre-authorisation as deposit (which banks can take 14 to 30 days to release) and bookings 48 hours ahead for short-term rentals. Roadside assistance runs 24 hours.
New Bob Rent-A-Car & Tours
New Bob is a long-established Penang company offering self-drive rentals, chauffeur-driven transfers, room-and-car packages and local tours. The office is on the top floor of New Bob Centre on Jalan Gottlieb, north of the heritage zone.
The office keeps weekday hours only. Main line: 04-226 6111; the company also lists an on-call number (012-472 5577) for arrangements outside office hours.
Suria Car Rental
Suria is a Penang-based rental company near the airport that meets customers in the arrival hall and takes cars back at the departure hall, so there is no shuttle ride to an off-site lot. Communication is mainly by WhatsApp (016-482 3074), and it also offers longer-term leasing.
It is a common pick on booking sites for Penang airport, where reviewers mention easy pickup and well-kept cars. Confirm the deposit amount and whether the car has a Touch 'n Go card before you pay.
WAHDAH
WAHDAH is a Malaysian rental platform that delivers cars to fixed pickup points. In Penang, its free-delivery points include the airport (Level 2, Gate 5), the George Town ferry terminal, Komtar, Sungai Nibong Express Bus Terminal, Penang Sentral and the KTM station in Butterworth, which is handy if you arrive by train or bus.
Its website shows daily rates from RM130 depending on the car. Ask support (+603-2709 0105, WhatsApp or [email protected]) about documents and deposit before booking as a foreign renter.
App-Based Car Sharing in Penang
GoCar
GoCar's car-sharing service operates in Penang as well as the Klang Valley and Johor Bahru. You book and unlock the car through the app and pay by the hour (from RM13.90) or day (from RM69), which works well for a half-day trip to Penang Hill or Balik Pulau.
Foreign members must register with a passport, International Driving Permit and home licence. Check the app for the station nearest your hotel before relying on it.
TREVO
TREVO lets private owners rent out their cars. Prices start from RM70 a day with 200 km included (RM1 per extra km), and weekly and monthly bookings get 10% and 20% off. Hosts may offer delivery if you request it at least three hours ahead.
Foreign renters need a home licence, passport and International Driving Permit, verified within 24 hours, and must be at least 19 with a full licence. Availability in Penang depends on which hosts are listing, so check the app before you travel.
Scooter and Motorbike Rental in Penang
Sewa Rental Motorcycle (Rev Move Utara)
The scooter shop at 35-A Jalan Irving, previously advertised as Motor Rental Penang, now trades on Google as Sewa Rental Motorcycle, Vespa, Car & Van (Rev Move Utara Sdn Bhd). It rents scooters, motorbikes and Vespas and delivers to hotels and homes across Penang Island. Last listed rates were RM38 a day for a 110cc moped (RM53 regular), RM55 for a standard 125cc scooter and RM98 for a 125cc automatic, with a 15% discount for online bookings; confirm current prices when you book. It also rents cars and vans.
Booking is by WhatsApp (010-325 4047) with payment by bank transfer. You need a valid motorcycle licence; an International Driving Permit must cover motorcycles (class A) to be valid for a scooter.
Driving Tips for Car Rental in Penang
Licences and the International Driving Permit
Visitors can drive on a valid foreign licence for up to 90 days. A licence not in English needs an International Driving Permit (IDP) or certified English translation; ASEAN licence holders are exempt. GoCar and TREVO require an IDP from all foreign renters, and for scooters your licence or IDP must include the motorcycle class.
Driving on the left and George Town traffic
Malaysia drives on the left. George Town's heritage zone is a maze of one-way streets and narrow lanes with limited parking, so park once and walk. Main roads such as Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Jalan Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu and the coastal road to Batu Ferringhi get slow at rush hour and on weekends.
Bridge tolls and Touch 'n Go
Both bridges to the mainland charge RM7 for cars, collected only on the island-bound crossing, so the trip from the island to Butterworth or Batu Kawan is free. Tolls and expressways are cashless: use a Touch 'n Go card, an RFID tag, or a contactless bank card where open payment lanes are available. Check what the rental car is set up with before you drive off.
Parking in Penang
Street parking on Penang Island and in Seberang Perai is paid through the Penang Smart Parking app, which replaced paper coupons. Download it before you arrive and register your rental car's plate. Malls and hotels use their own ticket or Touch 'n Go barriers.
Petrol prices for foreigners
The subsidised RON95 price of RM1.99 a litre (BUDI95) is only for Malaysian citizens with a MyKad. Foreign drivers pay the weekly market price: RM4.67 a litre for RON95 and RM5.15 for RON97 for 8 to 14 October 2026. Aggregator searches show compact cars at Penang airport from around RM76 a day before fuel.
Car Rental in Penang: Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an International Driving Permit to rent a car in Penang?
It depends on your licence. Visitors can drive on a foreign licence for up to 90 days; an IDP or certified translation is needed if it is not in English, and ASEAN licences are accepted without one. Car-sharing apps GoCar and TREVO require an IDP from every foreign renter, so bringing one avoids problems.
Should I rent a car or a scooter in Penang?
A scooter costs from about RM38 to RM55 a day and is easier to park in George Town, but you need a motorcycle licence and traffic is busy. A car is better for families, rainy days, luggage or trips across the bridge. Inside the heritage zone, walking and Grab are usually quicker than either.
How much is the Penang Bridge toll?
Both the Penang Bridge and the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah (second) bridge charge RM7 for cars. The toll is collected only when driving onto the island, so leaving the island is free. Payment is cashless.
Where can I rent a car at Penang airport?
Hertz, Avis and Europcar have counters at Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas. Suria Car Rental and WAHDAH meet customers at the terminal, Mayflower has a weekday office in Bayan Lepas and delivers to the airport on request, and New Bob has an office in George Town.
How much is petrol in Penang for foreigners?
Foreigners pay the unsubsidised price, RM4.67 a litre for RON95 and RM5.15 for RON97 in the week of 8 to 14 October 2026. Prices are reviewed weekly. The RM1.99 BUDI95 rate is reserved for Malaysian citizens.