Deals from hire companies in 70,000+ locations.
Peninsula Malaysia shares a border with Thailand and Singapore across a bridge, while East Malaysia shares a border with Brunei and Indonesia; that being said, most (if not all) providers of car hire in Kota Kinabalu will not allow driving into any other countries, even if you plan to return to Malaysia to drop off your car later. If you plan to visit Malaysia as well as either of those countries on the same trip, you can cross the border with public transportation and pick up another hire car after arriving at your destination. Always ask your hire car supplier in advance about any planned border crossings, as well as crossing bodies of water with a ferry. Driving outside of Malaysia without your hire car agency’s permission will violate the contract and void any insurance.
Car hire agencies require a payment card for insurance against possible expenses relating to damage, fines or other charges caused by the fault of the driver. While some people do not bring a credit card with them or prefer using a debit card these days, a debit card will not be accepted by most providers of cheap car rentals in Kota Kinabalu, and neither will cheques or cash. A debit card may sometimes be used for booking, but you will still need a credit card issued to the main driver in order to secure the deposit when you arrive at the hire desk.
Driving around Kota Kinabalu can feel familiar, especially if you’re used to driving on the left side of the road, as in the UK. The left lane of a dual carriageway is the slow lane and the right-most lane is for overtaking; but on a three lane expressway, the centre lane can be used when driving at a steady speed and not overtaking. On top of that, road signs in Malaysia are in accordance with the international road signs, so despite the presence of Malay words, anyone should be able to understand most of the signs. The speed limit is generally 110 km/h (70 mph) on motorways and 50 to 70 km/h (30 to 45 mph) in town. There are many motorcycles in Kota Kinabalu, so be alert for motorcycles sharing the road, at traffic lights, intersections and when going around a corner. In Kota Kinabalu, the blood alcohol content (BAC) limit is 0.08%, as in the UK. Unlike major motorways in Peninsular Malaysia, the dual carriage Pan Borneo Expressway in Sabah and Sarawak is toll free.
At the time of your car hire, you will need to have held a full and valid driving licence for at least two years. A driving licence that uses non-Roman alphabets (Hangul, Chinese characters, Cyrillic etc) must be complemented by an International Driving Licence, or for some providers of car hire in Kota Kinabalu, any driving licence not in English will require an International Driving Licence. The minimum age to hire a car is 21 for most Kota Kinabalu car hire agencies, and some car hire companies may charge a fee for drivers under the age of 25, as well as those over the age of 65. Your car hire agency may ask for a secondary ID card or passport at time of pick up, and remember to bring a credit card registered in the same name as the booking.
KK Rent A Car
Cleanliness
Comfort
Overall
Pick-up/drop-off
Value
Agtran
Cleanliness
Comfort
Overall
Pick-up/drop-off
Value
Avis
Europcar
Cleanliness
Comfort
Overall
Pick-up/drop-off
Value
keddy by Europcar
Sixt
Green Matrix
Hawk
In most cases, there is no fee when you cancel your Kota Kinabalu car hire. You can check to see whether or not your preferred car hire company in Kota Kinabalu offers free cancellation when booking with momondo.
A Standard is the ideal car to hire when visiting Kota Kinabalu in April. On average, Kota Kinabalu receives 228 mm of precipitation and temperatures hover around 27 °C during the month of April. These conditions are well-suited for a Standard size car, which can easily handle a bit of rain and even hold up well when temperatures fall. Hiring a Standard in Kota Kinabalu will cost you €83/day on average.
If you are hiring a vehicle in Kota Kinabalu, then be aware that the current speed limit within city or town limits is 70 km/h, unless otherwise posted. Suburban speed limits around Kota Kinabalu will generally have a speed limit of 90 km/h. If you are travelling on a motorway in Kota Kinabalu, then the speed limit is 110 km/h.
If you’re interested in hiring the Nissan X-Trail in Kota Kinabalu, then keddy by Europcar is the most popular car hire company in the city that offers this vehicle (as well as other similar SUV hire). Nissan X-Trail hire in Kota Kinabalu from keddy by Europcar is €67 per day on average.
During the month of March the average temperature in Kota Kinabalu is 26 °C and the expected precipitation is 74 mm. This information is useful for travellers looking for a car hire in Kota Kinabalu.
Those looking to hire a car in Kota Kinabalu for a road trip to the surrounding areas, please know the weather in Sabah during the month of March usually is around 26 °C with 74 mm of possible rain.
Prices for cars in Kota Kinabalu refresh daily.
As of March 2024, there are 57 operators available to choose from for cars in Kota Kinabalu.
The minimum age for drivers varies by country, including Kota Kinabalu. In many EU countries drivers must be 18 years old. As a rule, you’ll need to be 21 to hire a car abroad, and a young driver surcharge may be applied if you are under 25. We recommend reading through the policy of your chosen hire company before booking.
To hire a car in Kota Kinabalu, all drivers must present a valid full driving license. If the license is written in a language other than the language of the country of hire, an International Driving Permit may be required to avoid the risk of potential fines. If you're hiring a car abroad, you may also need to provide evidence of your return travel and accommodation information during your stay. We always recommend that you verify with the specific hire company you're booking with.
You should use momondo to book a car hire in Kota Kinabalu because it could save you time and money. momondo fetches and allows you to compare car hire prices and policies from thousands of car hire websites.
momondo makes it easier for you to find great car hire in Kota Kinabalu, by allowing you to refine your search with numerous filtering options. You can narrow your selection by looking at price, car type, location and more.
Free cancellation is a policy that can be filtered on momondo car hire searches for Kota Kinabalu and all other locations. Availability may vary by location.
Yes, simply select the fair fuel policy filter after performing a search for hire cars in Kota Kinabalu on momondo.
Yes, momondo shows deals with enhanced cleaning services for hire cars in Kota Kinabalu.
Unlimited mileage is indeed an option momondo offers on car hire in Kota Kinabalu.