For many travelers, having a car means added freedom.
Freedom to come and go when you want, freedom to stop at any attraction or beautiful site.
Renting a car is the easiest way to create some added freedom when traveling through Thailand.
While there are other ways to get around, like taxis, buses and tuk-tuks, that are also affordable and reliable, many travelers in Thailand find that it is more comfortable and convenient to have their own transportation.
In this article, we’ll give you some handy information about renting a car and driving in Thailand.
We’ll cover some of the basic information about how to rent a car, along with some helpful hints to make traveling through Thailand, by car, just a little bit easier.
Contents
Do you need to rent a car in Thailand?
Driving is a great way to explore places in Thailand that are off the beaten path, or aren’t normal parts of tours or tourist packages.
While the tourists spots are great to visit, you’ll find that there are tons of other places to see that aren’t part of the package. Having a rental car can make visiting these gems, just a bit easier.
There are pros and cons to renting a car in Thailand.
And before you jump into spending the money on a rental car you need to make sure that you really need a car, and that spending the extra cash is going to be worth your time.
If you are planning to travel from place to place, through Thailand, with multiple overnight destinations, or if your stay is more than a week or so, you may find it useful to have a rental car. Driving in Thailand is relatively simple, and you’ll find that most drivers are polite and patient.
With well-maintained roads, and highways that connect through most of the country, it is easy to drive from point to point in Thailand.
Most hotels and communities have free or low cost parking, so you don’t have to worry about where you’re going to park or how much it will cost you, making driving through Thailand, that much easier.
Tourists that are going to be spending time in Phuket find that renting a car is a must. Taxi service out of the resorts in Phuket is quite expensive.
To avoid the hassle of dealing with bartering for a reasonable taxi rate, renting a car in this beautiful island getaway is a must.
The Phuket airport is home to some familiar rental car agencies, and you’ll find that driving through this island oasis is relaxing and full of sight-seeing opportunities.
However, if your trip is going to keep you in and around Bangkok, you may want to consider skipping on the rental car.
Bangkok is a busy and hectic city to drive in.
Many tourists find that renting a car to drive around Bangkok is a major challenge and can be quite stressful. In Bangkok, you may want to consider using other means of transportation.
Taxis, tuk-tuks and buses in Bangkok are a highly reliable way to get around, and using these means of transportation can actually save you money.
Many travelers have found that taxi drivers are more than willing to drive tourists great distances out of Bangkok to popular tourist destinations, and charge a nominal fee.
The best answer to the question, “Should I rent a car in Thailand?” is, do your research and know what your plans are, before you leave.
Renting a car in Thailand is easy, and affordable, but can be a waste of money if you just don’t need one.
Who can rent a car in Thailand?
Rental car requirements in Thailand aren’t much different than in most other parts of the world.
Most drivers are fine to rent a car in Thailand, but it is helpful to understand some of the driving requirements (we’ll discuss this shortly), before you decide to rent a car.
If you are renting from one of the major rental car companies like Avis, Enterprise, and Budget, the rental requirements are the same in Thailand as they are in other parts of the world.
Most rental car companies require that drivers be at least 21 years of age (though some increase that to 23 or 25 years of age) and hold a valid driver’s license from their home country.
Most major rental car companies require a credit card to rent a car, though some of the local Thailand rental car companies will accept cash or wire transfers.
In Thailand, there is a high incidence of vehicle accidents and damage, mostly due to the large number of motorbikes and stray dogs.
For this reason, most rental car companies also require a loss damage waiver, and many will not accept third party insurance coverage.
This can increase the cost of your rental, but it is well worth it, since few rental cars are returned without a couple of scratches and dings.
Driving requirements in Thailand
There is little difference in driving requirements in Thailand from other parts of the world.
There are a few requirements that you should be aware of before you leave, that will make driving in Thailand just a little bit easier.
First, drivers in Thailand must be 18 years of age.
This is the law, so make sure that you aren’t handing the rental car off to your teenager.
While driving in Thailand is relatively easy, there are some times when it pays to be an experienced driver, so make sure you follow this rule.
For the most part, drivers with a driver’s license in English can get away with just their driver’s license.
However Thai law does require the foreign drivers must also have their passport, in the vehicle as well.
In most cases this should be sufficient to rent a car and get through any unfortunate traffic stops you might encounter.
However, it is always a good idea when you are traveling internationally to have an International Drivers Permit (IDP). An IDP can be acquired at many travel companies like AAA or online.
How much is a rental car in Thailand?
Rental car rates in Thailand can be a bit more affordable than in other countries, especially if you use one of the local car rental companies.
Many rental car companies will give a discount on rates if you rent your car in advance, however, the major airports in Bangkok and Phuket generally have plenty of inventory if you want to rent on the fly.
You will need to rent at the airports since rental options otherwise are limited.
Travel comparison sites are a great way to find the best prices on rental cars. These sites often give good discounts for booking online and in advance, so make sure to do your research before you leave.
In general, a standard size sedan or economy car will cost you in the range of $20 per day.
Because parking can be tight, and the roads in some places can be narrow, we’d recommend you stick with smaller vehicles.
If you do need a larger vehicle, SUVs and minivans will cost you more, but not an unreasonable amount, averaging $40 per day.
This amount may vary depending on any extras and costs for required loss damage waivers and insurance.
Renting a car in Thailand is an affordable and practical way to travel throughout the country. If you are planning to spend your holiday exploring all that this beautiful place has to offer, a rental car is an added bonus to your trip.
Don’t worry though if a rental car doesn’t fall in your plan, you can still easily explore all the great spots without one.
