Renting a car is a great way to explore the Kingdom of Thailand. If you are not in Bangkok, public transportation options are quite limited outside downtown areas. Fortunately, there are several car rental companies, both local and international, that have branches across the country covering various locations as well as the airports.
Having private transportation allows you to visit the country at your own pace and venture off the beaten path to discover tiny villages, areas of intense natural beauty and secluded sandy beaches that are not part of the usual tourist itinerary. There are certain things you should know in advance before renting a car in Thailand, from required driving license, insurance options, and prices, to procedures and available companies.
Preparation
Required Driving License
If you plan to drive in Thailand, you should either have a Thai driving license or an international driving permit. The driving license from your home country might work in some cases, but you risk not being covered by insurance. You should carry with you at all times your Thai driving license or an international driving permit, along with a copy of the photo page and visa page of a valid passport. Failure to carry these documents can result in a hefty fine if stopped by the Thai traffic police.
Road Conditions
The roads in Thailand are generally very smooth and well maintained. People who choose to rent a car will find little difficulty. However, Thailand recently was labeled with Thailand recently was labeled with the highest road accident death rate in the world. The main hazard comes from drivers. Since traffic laws here are not well regulated, this results in reckless and speedy driving even in a community area.
Accidents may happen even while you are walking on the footpath. It’s better to have a travel insurance in preparation for this type of unexpected incident.
Minor roads, especially those in the countryside, are not always well lit. If you’re driving on these roads for the first time, avoid driving at night to reduce the risk of road hazards. Danger also comes from stray animals, like dogs that lie in the middle of the road or dart across moving cars. Street dogs can be particularly difficult to spot at dusk and motorists should keep a lookout for them at all times.
All in all, you should still be fine if driving carefully. But in case you want extra peace of mind, better to buy travel insurance beforehand. Or you can buy a vacation package from TakeMeTour. They have English speaking guides with transportation provided.
Who Can Rent a Car in Thailand?
Renting a car is regularly the best way to spend your vacations in Thailand. The minimum age is usually set by the car rental company. Some companies set the minimum age at 21, while other car rental companies specify that the driver must be at least 23. Most car rental companies in Thailand require the driver to have a driver’s license for a minimum of a year, while luxury cars are often reserved for older and more experienced drivers.
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There is also a standard VAT charge of 7%, which is usually included in the rental charge. There is a 24-hour minimum rental charge as well. If you return the car later than the agreed-upon time, you should expected to pay extra charges or a full day’s rate. However, some rental companies like Sixt do not charge for a few additional hours.
If you wish to extend your rental period beyond the agreed length of time you usually need to let the rental company know at least two days in advance. Rental companies will then charge you the regular daily rate. Added features, like baby seats and GPS, will increase the daily rate.
After selecting the type of car that you wish to rent, you will need to leave your credit card details with the rental company and pay a deposit. You can pay the remaining balance upon returning the vehicle.
Although most car rental companies prefer drivers to pay using a credit card, some companies take cash or wire transfer. Two major credit cards, Visa and MasterCard, are accepted throughout Thailand while other minor credit cards such as American Express and Divers Club can be used sparingly. Some car rental companies only accept credit cards issued by banks though.
If you plan to rent a car for several weeks or even months at a time you may get a discount. Rental prices tend to drop slightly in the low season and rise in the high season. Many of the larger car rental companies offer special deals and promotions throughout the year as well.
The remaining number of cars the rental company has for your date also affects your rental costs. If there are a lot of rental cars left, the cost will be lower. If there are only a few left, the price goes up.
However, some rental companies have a fixed price, no matter what time of year or how many cars they have left. These are usually small companies aiming at long-term rentals.
Before Accepting a Car
To rent a car in Thailand you must sign a car rental contract, which is a legally binding document designed to protect both the motorist and the rental company. Before signing, however, you should ask certain questions such as what you are expected to do if the car breaks down, what happens if you lose the car key, and what phone numbers you can call if the vehicle is stolen, breaks down, or is damaged.
The Car Rental Contract
The specific details of the car rental contract will vary from company to company, but generally you will receive one or two pages of A4 sized paper full of terms and conditions with very fine print. Although it is tempting to skim through the contract and sign it as quickly as possible, failure to read and fully understand all of the terms and conditions could lead to problems later on.
International companies usually post a copy of their car rental contract online, which allows you to read it in advance to ensure that you understand and agree with everything. A typical example of a standard car rental contract can be found here.
Here are a few things to be aware of before accepting the contract. You must return the rental car with a full tank of gas. If not, you will pay extra for the car rental company to fill up the tank. This charge is usually much higher than the average fuel price.
If there is a clause in the contract that limits the amount of miles that can be covered, stick within the limits. The excess mileage fee can be very high. In addition, you may be charged for returning the rental car late. There maybe an early return penalty as well. It is important to check this carefully before signing the contract.
Inspecting the Rental Car
You should conduct a full inspection of the rental car along with a member of staff before signing the rental car contract. There are several things to pay attention to while walking around the car and checking for obvious signs of damage. If you happen to notice scratches, dents or other signs or damage, point them out to the member of staff and make sure that they are noted. You and the company should keep a signed record to prevent being charged for this damage when returning the vehicle.
Make sure that the license plates on the rental car are current and that the tires are fully inflated with even tread wear. The interior of the vehicle should be clean and tidy with the owner’s manual in the glove box. Check under the hood and trunk, looking for a spare tire, lug wrench, and jack.
Car Pick up and Return Locations
If you plan to use a rental car to explore Thailand you may find that you have to leave the country via a different airport or land border from where you arrived. In this case, you can specify your preferred drop off location when renting the car.
Many of the larger car rental companies have several offices throughout the country and selecting a different drop off location is usually no problem. You are able to fly to Bangkok, rent a car there, have a roadtrip to Chiang Mai, and return a car there. Although in some cases, a small fee may be charged. Some companies also charge a fee for dropping off the rental car outside of office hours.
Delivery and pickup services are offered by most car rental companies in Thailand and need to be booked in advance. The service is usually free if the location is within 10 miles of the nearest rental office, otherwise a collection fee will usually be charged.
The Car Return Inspection
When motorists return their rental car, a member of staff will inspect it carefully. In addition to checking for damage, the member of staff will check the trunk, glove box and storage compartments, underneath the back and front seats, and the mileage and gas gauge. If any dents or scratches are found, motorists will be expected to pay extra for them.
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