Renting Vehicles in Thailand

• Automatic scooter (125cc): ฿200-350/day
• Semi-automatic (Honda Wave): ฿150-250/day
• Bigger bike (250cc+): ฿500-1,500/day

Legally: YES, you need IDP to ride legally

Reality: Many tourists rent without it

Risk: ฿500 fine if police stop you, or ฿50,000+ if accident without IDP (insurance won't cover)

Get IDP before leaving home:

USA: AAA office, $20, same day
UK: Post Office, £5.50
Australia: AAA, $42
Canada: CAA, $25
EU: Varies by country

Advice: Get the IDP. It's cheap, legal, and protects you.

• Fine: ฿500 if caught without
• Rental shop provides helmet (check quality!)

1. Find rental shop (everywhere in tourist areas). Better: Hotel rents bikes, less likely to scam guests
2. Show passport + IDP (or just passport, they usually don't ask)
3. They take a photo of the passport
4. Inspect bike thoroughly:
5. • Check for existing scratches/damage
   • Take PHOTOS/VIDEO of the entire bike from all angles
   • Show timestamp
   • Test brakes, lights, horn
5. Sign rental agreement
6. Pay: ฿200-350/day
7. Leave a deposit of ฿2,000-3,000 cash
8. Get helmet
9. Fill tank (usually not included)
10. Return with same fuel level

• Many shops ask for:
• • Passport as deposit, OR
  • ฿3,000 cash
• Never leave your passport:
• • Illegal (passport must be with you)
  • Risk of scams (fake damage claims)
  • Need passport for hotels, travel
• If the shop insists on a passport:
• • Talk about Tourist Police

• Shop claims you damaged bike
• Tries to charge ฿5,000-20,000
• Prevention: Take photos/video before riding (see above)
• If happens: Show your photos, negotiate, call tourist police (1155)

• Shop holds passport, inflates damage claim
• Prevention: Don't leave passport

• Shop offers "insurance" for ฿100-200/day
• It's not real insurance
• Skip it (your IDP + following traffic laws is your insurance)

• 70+ tourists die in motorbike accidents every year
• Most common cause: No experience riding, unfamiliar roads, no helmet

• You've ridden scooters before
• You're comfortable in traffic
• You're wearing helmet + appropriate clothes
• You're sober
• Road conditions are good

• Never ridden before (Thailand is NOT the place to learn!)
• Planning to drink alcohol
• Rainy/monsoon season (slippery)
• You're nervous about it

• Grab/Bolt motorbike taxi (they drive, you sit)

• Small car (Toyota Yaris): ฿800-1,200/day
• SUV: ฿1,500-2,500/day
• Van (for groups): ฿2,000-3,500/day
• Insurance: ฿300-500/day extra (GET IT)

• International Driving Permit (IDP) - REQUIRED
• Valid driver's license from home country
• Passport
• Credit card (for deposit)
• Age: 21+ (some require 23+)

Budget: budgetthai.com
Hertz: hertz.co.th
Avis: avisthailand.com
Pros: Professional, clear insurance, better cars
Cons: More expensive

Cheaper (฿600-900/day)
Everywhere in tourist areas
Pros: Cheap
Cons: Less reliable, insurance unclear, older cars

• Get FULL insurance (collision damage waiver)
• Take photos/video of car before leaving (every angle)
• Check spare tire, jack
• Test all lights, AC, brakes
• Fill up gas before return (or charged premium)
• Drive defensively (Thai driving is chaotic)
• Use Google Maps (best for Thailand)

• Skip insurance (accidents = ฿100,000+ liability)
• Drive in Bangkok (traffic nightmare, use public transport)
• Speed (speed cameras everywhere, cops love fining tourists)
• Drink and drive (zero tolerance, ฿50,000 fine + jail possible)

• Drive on left side
• Speed limits: 50-90 km/h (cities), 90-120 km/h (highways)
• Seat belts mandatory
• No phone use while driving

• Rules are... suggestions
• Motorbikes everywhere (weave between cars)
• Traffic can be chaotic
• Stay calm, go with the flow

• Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai (north) - scenic, less traffic
• Phuket/Krabi/islands - easy, see multiple beaches
• Hua Hin/Cha-am - relaxed coastal driving

Bangkok - don't even try