In brief
As reported in February 2021, Malay’s Municipal Ordinance No. 415 of 2020 allows one motorcycle per family on the island, for personal use only and “not in any way for rental or public transport”. So renting from a private owner is the case the ordinance is reported to bar, and a cooperative says it is the only authorized rental operator.
- The ordinance is reported to limit each family to one motorcycle for personal service, with excess units to be removed by the end of 20201.
- Buyers must first get a barangay certificate, then a permit from the mayor’s office1.
- The stated aim was to limit motorcycles causing congestion on the main roads1.
- The Malay Motorbike Service Cooperative (MASCO) calls itself “the only authorized motorbike rental cooperative in Boracay Island”2.
- Its page lists small bikes from PHP 1,000 for 2 hours and big bikes from PHP 1,400 for 2 hours, and asks for a photo of a driver’s license2.
Disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links, marked by the products, tours and hotels they name. A purchase through these links may earn the site a commission at no cost to you, and it never affects what is recommended. How this works.
Where to book Current rates across the island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can tourists rent a scooter in Boracay?
Through the cooperative that calls itself the only authorized operator, according to that cooperative2. The ordinance is reported to bar rental of residents’ motorcycles1.
Is renting a motorbike from a private owner allowed?
The ordinance is reported to limit family motorcycles to personal use, “not in any way for rental or public transport”1. The operator says renting private bikes brings penalties2.
What is Municipal Ordinance No. 415?
A 2020 Malay ordinance, reported in February 2021, that limits families to one motorcycle on Boracay and requires a barangay certificate and a mayor’s permit for buyers1.
How much does a motorbike cost to rent in Boracay?
The cooperative’s page lists PHP 1,000 for 2 hours (small bike) and PHP 1,400 for 2 hours (big bike), undated2.
Do I need a driver's license to rent?
The cooperative’s booking form asks for a photo of your driver’s license2.
Are habal-habal motorcycle taxis allowed?
The ordinance’s rule against use “for rental or public transport” was reported as aimed at the habal-habal problem1.
The detail
Visitors who want a motorbike on Boracay run into two things: a local ordinance aimed at residents’ motorcycles, and a single rental operator that says it holds the only authority to rent. Neither is published on an official municipal page that the sources used here could cite, so this page reports what a motorcycle-press article and the operator say. For the other ways to move around, see Getting around Boracay; for the journey to the island, see Getting to Boracay.
The short answer
| If you are… | Do this |
|---|---|
| A visitor who wants to rent a motorbike | Ask the cooperative that calls itself authorized (below), or ask the Malay Municipal Transportation Office first. |
| Offered a bike by a private owner or a shop | Treat it as the case the ordinance is reported to bar; the operator says fines apply12. |
| Wanting an e-bike or e-scooter | No ordinance on their rental to visitors appears in the sources used here; ask before you rent. |
What Ordinance No. 415 is reported to say
MotoPinas, a motorcycle publication, reported on 22 February 2021 on Municipal Ordinance No. 415, series of 2020, of the municipality of Malay1. The report describes these rules:
- One motorcycle per family on the island, which “shall only be used as personal service only, and not in any way for rental or public transport”1.
- Excess units were given until the end of 2020 to operate on the island before removal1.
- A barangay certificate is required before a mayor’s permit, to show residency or legitimate business ownership1.
- The aim was to “control or limit the proliferation of motorcycles within the island that is now causing congestion along its main thoroughfares”1. The report ties it to the problem of habal-habal, informal motorcycle taxis.
The report does not state penalties. The Motorcycle Rights Organization called the ordinance redundant, since the Land Transportation Office already issues motorcycle documents1. The ordinance text itself was not available to read here, so this is a news report of it, not the law.
The rental cooperative
The Malay Motorbike Service Cooperative (MASCO) describes itself on its booking site as “the only authorized motorbike rental cooperative in Boracay Island”, operating since 20002. It says that renting “private” motorbikes “would result in penalties when apprehended by LGU officials”, along with fees and fines2.
What you may have heard That MASCO is the only legal place to rent a motorbike on Boracay. That is the operator’s own statement. No municipal page cited here confirms it, and the 2021 report does not mention MASCO12. It fits the ordinance as reported, which bars rental of the privately owned bikes, but ask the Municipal Transportation Office before relying on it.
What it charges
On the operator’s page, undated, a small bike is PHP 1,000 for 2 hours or PHP 15,000 monthly, and a big bike is PHP 1,400 for 2 hours or PHP 18,000 monthly2. The booking form asks for a photo of your driver’s license2. Whether a foreign license or an international permit is accepted is not stated in the sources used here.
E-bikes, bicycles and e-scooters
No ordinance on renting bicycles, e-bikes or e-scooters to visitors was found in the sources used. That is not the same as saying it is allowed. Ask the operator for proof of its authority, and ask the municipal transportation office.
Related Articles
Sources (2)
- You’ll need a mayor’s permit if you want to ride in Boracay — MotoPinas, 22 February 2021. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Boracay Rent a Bike (MASCO) — Malay Motorbike Service Cooperative (operator). Accessed 2026-10-03.