How to cancel a private driver/transfer booking in Sri Lanka and get a refund if something goes wrong?
Based on 3 discussions with 3 participants · Last activity: 8 days ago
TL;DR
Drivers often refuse to cancel a booking even a week in advance, claiming the car is already assigned — this is common pressure tactic, not a strict rule. Refunds through booking intermediaries like City Travel can take over a month and may require threatening legal action.
What the community said
When trying to cancel and switch to another driver a week before the trip, the original driver insisted the car was already assigned and cancellation wasn't possible, even though no clear confirmation was given beforehand. Travelers agree this is a common pressure tactic to keep the client, not a real obstacle — it's worth standing firm.
17 days ago
During a trip, the driver slightly exceeded the speed limit near the end of the route and got fined around 3000 LKR. Travelers concluded that trying to save time by speeding on local roads usually doesn't pay off, and the fine risk is real.
16 days ago fine ~3000 LKR
After cancelling a trip, the money was eventually refunded in full, but when booked through the City Travel service, the refund process dragged on for almost a month: the service tried to shift responsibility to the actual carrier, and only after the carrier officially confirmed in writing that refunds could only go to whoever bought the ticket directly from them did City Travel agree to process it — threatening legal action helped speed things up. The carrier itself offered a choice between a voucher or a full refund.
8 days ago City Travel