Renting a motorcycle and car in Thailand – everything you need to know

Renting transport in Thailand gives you incredible freedom of movement and opens up many possibilities compared to guided tours or public transport, and rental prices here are so low that renting is often even cheaper than using public transport. In this article, we've gathered important information and some specifics you should know if you're planning to rent a motorcycle/motorbike or a car.

Keep in mind that standard tourist insurance included in package tours does not cover injuries sustained while driving. For that, you need to get additional insurance with a moped/motorcycle riding option or active sports, which is considered equivalent to riding two-wheelers. To save money, you don't have to buy such insurance for your entire trip; you can do it for just a few days, but you need to do it in advance, at least a few days before. You can compare travel insurance costs from different companies and buy it online on these trusted sites:

• ☂ Travel insurance on VisitorsCoverage
• ☂ Travel insurance on Insubuy

What license do you need to rent transport in Thailand?

There's a lot of debate among tourists about whether you need an International Driving Permit to rent transport in Thailand, or if a national (regular Russian) license is enough. Some people online insist that you absolutely need to get a local Thai license. The truth is somewhere in between.

The thing is, on May 1, 2020, a long-awaited event finally happened – Thailand ratified the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, which it had originally joined way back in 1968. Theoretically, this means you can now drive rented transport in Thailand using a regular Russian driver's license, and there's no longer any need to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) booklet. However, despite the ratification and what seems like full recognition of Russian national licenses by this international act, problems still exist in practice. The issue is that some police officers on the roads, and even some rental agencies, still ask to see an IDP alongside a national license, and they don't react to references to the Vienna Convention. Therefore, recent traveler reviews contain completely contradictory experiences – some people rented and drove with their Russian national license without issue, while others had problems due to the lack of an IDP. Because of this, we still recommend getting an IDP in addition to your Russian license before traveling to Thailand. We've covered this question in more detail in the article – What license do you need in Thailand.

As for the supposed mandatory requirement to get a local Thai license, we did our own research and couldn't find a single official document or rule that obliges tourists to get a local license to drive. So the claim that you need a local license is most likely a typical blogger fake.

Traffic and driving rules in Thailand

Traffic in Thailand drives on the left, i.e., not like at home. Road conditions are good. There are toll roads, which usually have free but lower-quality alternatives.

Opinions on the intensity and safety of traffic in Thailand vary and, of course, depend on driving experience. Those who have never driven themselves, but only traveled in Thailand as passengers, might say that traffic here is very calm and there are very few accidents. But as the saying goes, "figures don't lie," and they show that about 15,000 people die on Thai roads every year (averaging 44 per 100,000 inhabitants), and a significant portion of them are tourists. This was the second-highest rate in the world in 2014, with Thailand losing first place only to Namibia. In Russia, by comparison, it's 18 per 100,000 inhabitants. However, it's worth noting that in terms of the number of vehicles per 100,000 inhabitants, Thailand surpasses Russia due to motorcycles, which are one of the most dangerous types of transport, where even the simplest accidents are most likely to result in death.

Once you get behind the wheel, you'll realize that the traffic only seems calm from the outside. The thing is, the driving style in Asia, and Thailand in particular, is very different from ours. That's why you should try not to overestimate your driving abilities, even if you're a real ace back home.

Here are some recommendations, possibly subjective, but reflecting my (the site author's) point of view:

• Thai drivers are first-class drivers (author's personal opinion). Their reaction times are very fast, incomparable to ours. Many of them have been riding motorcycles and scooters since childhood, and throughout their lives, they practice their skills, including at special tracks. Don't even think about competing with them or behaving as adeptly on the road.
• Thai drivers pay special attention to tourists on the road and are ready to let you pass even where they shouldn't, but only if they notice that you're a tourist.
• Traffic on Thai roads is very intense but unhurried. They rarely drive fast but maneuver very deftly and easily squeeze into any free space between vehicles. Don't try to imitate them.
• Try to adapt to their unhurried pace of traffic and restrain yourself from accelerating to full speed even on an empty road. You should always expect that someone might suddenly pull into your lane to overtake or swerve onto the road from the shoulder to turn around. The thing is, Thai drivers are used to others moving slowly too and miscalculate the distance to you as safe. But if you're moving too fast, trouble is inevitable.
• Never forget that a motorcycle is far from a car and is much harder to handle. Falling off a motorcycle on a sharp turn is easy; you just need to overdo the accelerator a bit.
• There is an excellent online self-study guide for Thai traffic rules at http://thaidriving.info/ or http://phuket.dlt.go.th. There's a language switcher for English. You can study the rules, watch a video lesson, and take an online exam. I strongly recommend studying the rules at least briefly. If you have no desire at all, at least look at the signs, as they are quite different from ours.

However, don't think that all Thai drivers are kind angels on the road who will politely let you pass and thank you even if you're wrong. Driver aggression in conflict situations here often crosses the line. Almost every day, local media reports on another clash between drivers who didn't share the road, ending in shooting or stabbings. Many drivers, especially taxi drivers, carry firearms, knives, machetes, and can easily use them in a conflict situation. Motorcycle riders can also be aggressive. This is especially common in large cities and resorts, so be very careful, don't ruin your vacation, and don't get into conflicts. The rule "Give way to the idiot" applies here just as it does back home.

Don't believe that Thai drivers can be aggressive? Watch this video:

Features of renting a motorcycle in Thailand

A motorcycle or scooter in Thailand, simply called a "motorbike," is the national mode of transport. There are huge numbers of them on the roads, and their use, including by foreigners for tourism, is more than justified. The rental cost is very low, fuel consumption is very small, and there are many other advantages. It's safe to say that a motorbike is the budget traveler's transport. But let's go in order:

How and where can you rent a motorbike?

You can rent a motorbike anywhere. You can start your search at your hotel or guesthouse. If they don't have one, they'll point you to the nearest rental shop. Don't rush your choice; look for a cheaper place, and feel free to haggle. It's better to choose larger shops with many bikes, as they are less likely to pull "scams" over scratches and dents, fake theft, etc. (more on this below). Along with the motorcycle, you'll get helmets for free and, in most cases, a chain or cable with a lock.

💥 Online rental for motorcycles and scooters is now also available!

Usually, rental shops will ask for your passport as a deposit (which is illegal under Thai law) or a photocopy of your passport plus cash (a few thousand baht) as a deposit. If you rent a motorcycle from the hotel you're staying at, you might sometimes get away without a passport or deposit. Some large rental companies may use your credit card to freeze the deposit amount, which will be released a few days after the rental, but this is not relevant for Russian cards, as they are not accepted for freezing deposits.

Try your best to avoid leaving your passport as a deposit. You could try a dishonest but effective trick: rent a bike by leaving your old, invalid passport as a deposit. Another option is to leave your internal passport as a deposit; we've done that.

Keep in mind that in most cases (with very rare exceptions), motorbikes are rented without insurance. Anything you damage on or with the motorbike will have to be paid for out of your own pocket. So be very, very careful.

If you rent a motorbike from a somewhat serious company, you will sign a contract, which is generally good because it specifies which damages you are responsible for and which the rental company covers. But on the other hand, it leaves no room for haggling. Moreover, under the contract, rental companies usually only take responsibility for engine breakdowns; everything else you'll have to repair at your own expense, even if a light bulb burns out or a cable snaps.

Where and how to fill up a motorbike?

It's cheapest to fill up at large chain stations like Ptt, Pt, Shell, etc. A full tank (usually 3 or 4 liters) will last for over 100 kilometers. If there are no gas stations, you can fill up at roadside bottle stations or shops, but it will be about one and a half times more expensive.

Gasoline in Thailand is expensive, more expensive than in Russia. You'll have to pay from 35 baht per liter (1.07 USD, )see about Thai money and exchange rates), and on islands, in remote provinces, and in the north, the price can reach up to 50 baht. Bikes run on 95-octane gasoline, sometimes 92-octane of special good quality. At gas stations, there are many types of 92 and 95 with different labels (Super, Nitro, etc.), so trust the station attendants and pull up to the pump they point to. You don't need to figure out the equipment yourself: there are always people working there who will do everything; you just need to give them access to the tank and say how many liters you need or "fill it up." You usually pay them too. Major chain stations accept bank cards for payment, including some Russian UnionPay cards for now; we cover this in more detail in a separate article about money and bank cards in Thailand here.

How much does motorbike rental cost?

Depending on the region and city, the rental price may vary, but on average, the minimum price for the simplest two-seater bike starts from 150 baht per day (4.57 USD). But you still need to find that price; generally, the real price without haggling for a short term is 250-350 baht. Moreover, we've noticed from our experience that the more popular the resort and rental location, the lower the price. And if you go to a resort or city that's less popular with tourists, the price might be another 100 baht higher.

A rental day means that if you pick up the bike at 10:00 AM, you must return it no later than 10:00 AM the next day (unless you've rented it for several days). Therefore, the rental contract almost always specifies the exact start time. If you want to rent a motorbike for just a day, discounts are usually not given, and you'll have to pay for a full day anyway. Be sure to check the return time: even if you decide to return it early, it's not certain that the rental shop will be open.

Renting for several days can get you a discount. A month's rental starts from 3000 baht (some travelers say they rented a bike for a month for even 1500 baht, but I don't know if that's true or not). Newer bikes with low mileage are more expensive. When renting from small shops or hotels, you need to haggle and aim for the prices we mentioned above.

Where to park a motorbike

If you rent a motorbike for several days, you'll need to park it overnight. We strongly recommend against leaving it unattended on the street overnight, even if it's chained or locked. Most hotels have free parking for guests' motorbikes, and sometimes they even pull the motorcycles directly inside the hotel or guesthouse where they can safely spend the night. Ask about this at the hotel reception; if it's possible, they will arrange it for you. Sometimes you may need to leave the bike's keys at the reception so they can pull it inside late at night before closing the doors.

If your hotel doesn't have a place to park the motorbike or you're afraid to leave the keys at reception, you can use a paid city parking lot. There are plenty of them everywhere, and it will cost 20-50 baht for one night.

Parking a motorbike on the street during the day is possible almost anywhere and is mostly free. Near attractions, there are paid parking lots costing 10-20 baht. But there are places where parking is strictly prohibited. You cannot park on crosswalks, under a "no parking" sign, or near a yellow line marking. In general, everything is usual according to traffic rules. And you can get fined even if you just roll into a restricted zone with one wheel.

Violation carries a real fine of 500 baht. Usually, for such a violation, the motorbike is either towed (rarely) or immobilized with a locking chain. And this isn't a "scare story"; it's a real fact, we've personally experienced it. After that, you need to go to the nearest police station, pay the fine, after which the bike will be unlocked. Paying the fine is quick; the main thing is to get to the right police station. Local taxi or motorbike taxi drivers will help you with that. Of course, they'll take you there for a fee, not for free.

Useful tips for renting a motorbike in Thailand:

• Before renting a motorbike, be sure to carefully check how it works (it's best to take a short ride), look for any scratches or dents, and note all defects in the contract. Even better, take photos of the bike from all sides, especially the defects, because Thais like to pick on minor damages and demand compensation for repairs. Oh, and don't forget to read the contract carefully before signing it.
• As soon as you rent the bike, write down or take a photo of its license plate so you don't lose it when parked among hundreds of similar ones.
• Always wear a helmet while riding. Riding without a helmet carries a fine of 500 baht, but you can also haggle here if it happens on the road and not at the police station. You can realistically bring the price down to 200 baht. Helmets can be obtained from the rental shop with the bike for free, or you can buy a new one for a few hundred baht. It's even better if your helmet has a transparent visor to protect your mouth and eyes from insects: you'd rather eat them fried with beer, sitting by the beach in the evening, than raw on the go :-)
• Motorbike theft. Motorbikes are very often stolen in Thailand, and they can simply be loaded into the back of a truck and driven away. Try not to leave it unattended and always lock it (though that's no guarantee). Don't skimp on paid parking. There are plenty of them everywhere, costing 10 baht. There have been cases where dishonest rental operators themselves steal the bikes they've rented out and demand payment (so there's a tip to buy your own lock and chain or cable and secure the bike at the parking lot). There's no way around it, because "no lock can stop a thief": when you sign the contract, you most often agree to pay the cost in the event of any loss, and insurance for motorbikes is almost never taken out. If, Buddha forbid, you find yourself in such a situation, and your passport is held as a deposit and you need to get it back no matter what, at least know the cost: a new bike costs no more than 50,000 baht; for a used one, you need to haggle the price down to as low as 25,000 baht.



• Motorbike towing. If you come to the place where you left your bike and it's gone, it might not have been stolen but towed by the police. This happens very often if you leave the bike in a place where parking is prohibited. Such places are marked by road signs and markings. The bike is returned at the nearest police station after paying a fine of a few hundred baht.
• If you damage the bike. Theoretically, when you sign most contracts, there is a clause stating that you should not repair the motorbike yourself if you damage it (meaning external damage resulting from an accident or fall). Therefore, you are obligated to pay for the repair as assessed by the rental owner, or have it repaired at his shop. But here too, you need to haggle.
• If the bike breaks down. The bike owner is responsible for the vehicle's functionality, and you shouldn't have to repair anything, unless the breakdown was clearly your fault or the contract specifies otherwise. In other words, if the bike has a burnt-out headlight bulb, a broken clutch, an engine that won't start, etc. – that's not your problem. If the breakdown is clearly your fault, for example, you hit a pothole and bent a wheel, it's unlikely the rental owner will pay for that themselves. If you get a flat tire, it's easiest to get to the nearest repair shop and pay for the repair yourself (replacing the inner tube will cost about 200 baht, but remember to haggle as usual).
  However, motorbikes with automatic transmissions are not designed for long-distance travel, so there may be restrictions on engine warranty based on mileage or distance from the rental location (these conditions are specified in the contract). For example, if the bike stops starting for you when you are more than 50 kilometers from the rental place, you will have to handle any repair yourself. So pay attention to such clauses in the contract, or for long trips, take a motorcycle that does not have an automatic transmission.
• When riding a motorcycle/scooter without a passenger, the passenger footrests should be folded up. The fine for violation is 200 baht.

Conclusion

All the above describes a standard, average motorbike rental situation. But don't be surprised if, in practice, no one tries to scam you out of money for minor scratches you caused; no one asks for a deposit, passport, or refuses upfront payment for the rental; no one ever checks your license on the road, and a police officer just gives you a warning and a preventive talk for not wearing a helmet. This happens, and not infrequently. Thailand is a wonderful country, and from a bike, it's even more wonderful.

Features of renting a car in Thailand

Cars for rent can be found in all tourist places, at airports. You can book a car rental online, which is recommended. As our (the site authors') practice has shown, without haggling skills, it's not worth renting a car on the spot, as you'll pay more than when booking online. Car rental prices start from 600 baht for the simplest car when renting for a long term, and for short-term rental you'll have to pay from 1000 baht.

There are two very popular rental companies operating in almost every part of Thailand – AVIS www.aviasthailand.com and BUDGET http://www.budget.co.th/. They have excellent cars and good insurance coverage, but you'll pay about one and a half times more than when booking from smaller shops. But even these serious organizations are open to haggling, especially if you are renting for a long term. They also sometimes offer special prices and run promotions at reduced rates, but you should start monitoring those a few months before your trip.

When renting a car, you need to pay attention to its technical condition, external damage (note it in the contract and take photos), and very carefully check the contract and insurance terms. We strongly recommend against renting a car without insurance, although, to be honest, even standard insurance won't cover all the costs of a serious accident. Insurance might only cover damages up to a few tens of thousands of baht, and anything above that you'll have to pay out of your own pocket. Be sure to pay attention to these conditions. Also ask the rental company and read the contract about the deductible. If the contract includes a deductible, you will be obligated to pay for minor repairs, for example up to 5,000 baht, out of your own pocket, with insurance covering the rest.

When renting a car, you won't get away with just a passport and credit card. Rental companies will definitely ask for a valid driver's license of the corresponding category. If they don't accept your Russian license, go to the next rental company.