Scooter rental in Thailand - do you need a license, how much does it cost, how to learn

I have seen many different articles on blogs on how to rent a scooter in Thailand. But all of them did not contain complete and necessary information for me, so I am writing my article. Well, I can't help but write about my personal experience and impressions of driving a bike, this is an integral part of Ty. We rode a bike in Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui, Phangan, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Pai, Hua Hin, so there is enough experience, both in terms of renting and driving. Yes, and in the comments, I think our readers will add important points to my post..

The content of the article

Scooter rental in Thailand

Verified rental points in different cities

If you are afraid to ride a bike, or you have a child, it is better to book a car. Here I have detailed post about this with all the nuances. The best way to book is through Economybookings, as it will be cheaper than direct. Well, prices from all distributors are immediately visible, you can compare.

Finding a rental office is very simple - you just need to go outside and find a rental office. But it is not worth taking a bike everywhere, especially when it comes to Phangan and Tao. You also need to take into account a number of nuances, which I will talk about in the post..

The rental is very easy to spot by the inscriptions Motobike for rent or for hire. There they will show and tell you all if you don’t know something about motorbikes. It can be either a private person or an office. We filmed this way and that, I don't see a fundamental difference, but of course, you somehow trust the office more.

Rent a bike in Pattaya
Rent a bike on Koh Samui
Rent a bike in Krabi
Renting a bike on Koh Phangan and Tao - how to deal with divorce
Rent a bike in Chiang Mai

Scooter rental

Do I need a scooter license in Thailand

They said that from the end of 2015 a new law would be introduced, and there would be a 5-10 thousand baht fine for driving without a license with category A. But so far there are no such fines..

Information has appeared that if you are traveling without a passenger, the passenger footpegs must be folded. Otherwise, the fine is 200 baht. But I'm not sure if it's true.

To drive a bike, you need a license of the corresponding category (A), because in fact it is a motorcycle, not a moped. Many foreigners forget about the need for rights, since checks are not everywhere and it is not a fact that you will stumble upon a raid. Moreover, you can get off with a small fine of 500 baht. It is best to clarify for each city where and what raids are, and it is even better to still have a license. Once upon a time, foreigners were not stopped at all, but since 2012 everything has become tougher in Pattaya and Phuket, then in 2014-2015 round-ups began to be carried out in other cities, moreover, now they still catch drunk people (finally!) With much larger fines. Remember that if an accident happens, you will be to blame anyway..

An international driver's license is needed, I have already told, how to get them in Moscow, this is a separate book, done in a couple of hours. In general, if you come for a long time and there is no required category, then the easiest way is to pass the license right in Thailand.

About the Vienna Convention. Questions have become more frequent, so I will write separately. Yes, Thailand has signed the Vienna Convention and, in theory, our customary national rights should apply. But in fact they don't roll. If you want to prove something on the spot to a Thai police officer, then try it, but it's easier for me to make international ones :)

What to leave as a deposit when renting

They ask for a deposit either a passport, or a photocopy of a passport, or a photocopy of a passport and a bank card, or a deposit. I would not recommend leaving your passport, although we did. Usually, there are a lot of rental offices, look for places where a passport will not be needed. In one place we were asked for a photocopy of our passport and bank card. I was afraid to give the card away, as they wanted to make a scan from both sides. Which would mean that they can use it on some sites on the Internet. Therefore, if you have a non-working bank card, then it may come in handy. (A little later we found out such an option with a bank card - letting a photocopy of it be made, but covering the photocopy with its CV code on the back side). Well, or offer yourself a deposit instead of a passport or card, usually it is several thousand baht, in Pattaya I left 1000 baht, on Koh Chang 3000 baht.

In general, it is always better to leave money than a passport. Thais themselves will not always offer, they want to get a passport from you more, so offer the money itself as a deposit and insist on it. Because with a passport, then you can blackmail and extort large sums of money for minor scratches.

Chiang Mai bike rental agreement

Do I need a helmet

For driving without a helmet, a fine in the region of 500 baht. The checks, as with the rights, depend on the region. In any case, I would ride in a helmet as it is safer. It makes sense to discard show-off and hammer on your hair, when it comes to your life, beginners (and not beginners) are constantly fighting.

And the rental office is given helmets, but with dimmed glasses or without them at all, and the helmets there are so-so. Therefore, either take sunglasses from home with you, or buy a helmet. They are inexpensive, and it makes sense if you will ride a lot. Otherwise, you will constantly blink from debris that flies into your eyes. Also, if you buy a helmet, take it at a higher price, and not for 200 baht, because the cheap ones are not very strong..

A helmet is an essential attachment for a biker

Bike with automatic or manual transmission

If you are reading this article, then you probably have little experience of driving a motorbike. Therefore, the easiest way is to rent a scooter with an automatic transmission (auto). It is the easiest to manage, and you can start learning from it. Anyway, I don't see much point in renting a bike with a manual gearbox. The most you get is a small savings in gasoline, and it will be easier to climb the hill. However, if a motorbike with an automatic machine is relatively new, then it will have the same advantages..

The most popular models on the machine

Honda PCX, Honda Click, Honda Scoopy, Yamaha Mio, Yamaha Nouva, Honda Airblade. The last two are quite heavy and were once the most powerful of this class. True, a new Click 125 has appeared (it used to be 110 cc), a super unit, it only tears like this. Mio seems to have also been updated and is now more powerful. I also liked the new Nouvo in principle. But the Airblade model is already old and, as a rule, they are all creepy.

The Honda PCX, so beloved by many Russian tourists, is worth a separate stand, it has 125-150 cubic meters and it is quite large. Of all the motorbikes, it is probably the most comfortable, but renting it costs 1.5-2 times more. If you are a beginner, then do not take it, as it will be more difficult to hold it due to the weight, if suddenly something. In addition, the cost of repairs, if you play, will also be higher..

Motorbike Honda Click

How much does it cost to rent a bike in Thailand

The standard price is about 3000-4000 baht per month for bikes with a gun. Or 200-300 baht per day. If the bike is with a manual gearbox, it will be cheaper, for example, 100 baht / day and 2000 baht / month. PCX costs around 5,000-7,000 baht per month. It all depends on the location. In the south it is more expensive (there are many tourists there), in the north it is cheaper. There is often a discount if you shoot for a period of 3 days or more, so it turns out to be cheap for a month..

Bike and medical insurance

Also, some offices will offer you bike insurance (against theft and damage), and this increases the cost of renting. For example, if a bike costs 200 baht / day, then with insurance it will cost 300 baht / day. In principle, this is a good option if you have never ridden, because you can fall out of the blue and damage the plastic. And how mirrors beat easily against the wall ... By the way, replacement of a mirror will cost 150-300 baht, so insurance is quite profitable for a short time.

About health insurance, I already wrote in another article. No rental office will offer you this, such insurance must be done in advance before the trip. Just keep in mind that, as a rule, you need to add a package «Leisure» or «Extreme vacation», because riding a bike is not a regular holiday and is not covered by the regular packages. You also need to know that you must be sober and have category A rights. If this is not the case, then you will be denied insurance services in the event of an accident. That is why many pretend to be a passenger of a bike, and not a driver..

If, after the fall, the wounds are not serious, then you can not go to the hospital and be treated with what you buy at the pharmacy. Nevertheless, at least for the very first time, it is worth going so that your wound is properly washed and a bandage is applied. It's not expensive. They took 1500 baht from my friends in Phangan.

Ointment for wounds can be bought at Thai pharmacies

What to look for when inspecting a bike

First of all, on the general degree of wear and tear of the unit, as well as on the mileage (although it could have been twisted). I would not recommend taking more than 20-30 thousand with mileage. We almost always drove new ones, the difference is very noticeable.

Secondly, you should look at scratches, chips, and point them to the owner. It is even better to take a picture, just in case, so that later there will be something to show. Especially, this applies to those places where you leave your passport as a deposit, for example, Phangan. They even make bases there on purpose. But we, pah-pah, have never had any problems, although this is not a reason to relax.

Well, before you agree, be sure to ride a little, see how it starts, how the engine sounds, how the brakes work. This is a matter of a few minutes. If it stalls, or the brakes are bad, it is better to change the motorbike to another. Otherwise, then you will have to go to the service somewhere along the way (bike maintenance prices).

Refueling gasoline (Gasoline)

Refueling 91. Refuellers themselves know what to fill, and, as a rule, it is written on the gas tank what kind of gasoline you need. The fuel filler flap is located either under the seat (more often), or between the steering wheel and the seat. The cost of gasoline is about 30 baht / liter, gas stations are quite common, but there are places when they may not be available for a long time. We always refueled in advance, without waiting for complete devastation. There is also such a thing as local selling gasoline in transparent bottles. It is a little more expensive, but sometimes it is convenient when there is no gas station nearby.

At the rental point, you will rarely be given a bike with a full tank; rather, on the contrary, it will only be enough to get to refueling. It must be returned in the same way so that it is not completely empty. If given with a full tank, then it is better to return this one, otherwise, upon return, they will charge a completely inadequate price for gasoline.

Selling gasoline from bottles

Transportation of goods by motorbike

Usually, all scooters have a space between the seat and the steering wheel, where to put bags with things or groceries. There is also a hook near the steering wheel on some models, then the bags can be hung. Other models do not have this space, but then the bike has a large enough glove compartment under the seat..

Transportation of goods by motorbike

How to drive a bike

How to start a bike

The picture shows the controls, they are almost identical on any bike. It is started by pressing the button on the right with the rear brake pressed (on the left handlebar). And before starting, do not forget to remove the footrest, this is a kind of protection (not all bikes have it). That is, remove the footrest, clamp the rear brake on the left, and press the engine start button on the right.

Motorbike controls

Honda Scoopy Controls

How to brake on a bike

It is best to use both front and rear brakes. Only the rear one is good if you need to slow down. Actually, at a lower speed it is enough and just release the throttle stick in advance to slow down. So, the rear brake is easy to feel and the bike remains controllable even with the rear wheel locked..

But at high speed one cannot do without a front brake, it is on it that most of the braking efforts fall, one rear one is not enough. You will have to feel the process and dose your efforts. Therefore, it is best to initially get used to braking with both, and not drive so that there is no need for emergency and sharp braking.

You also need to understand that if you only brake with the front one, then this is also not good, especially if there is sand or stones under the wheels. The front wheel will lock and skid, you may not hold the bike and fall. Also, when braking with only the front brake, there is a risk of flying out of the bike forward..

Letting go of the gas before we brake

My main driving problem was that I forgot to release the throttle when braking. That is, he pressed the brake, but also held the gas, thereby the scooter continued to move, introducing me to bewilderment. A couple of times I even fell over because of it. If you come across something like this, then I advise you to work out this movement on an empty road and at low speed: while you pull the fingers of your right hand to the brake, you also turn the throttle stick in the opposite direction (that is, release the gas).

Safety

Motorbike accidents are frequent. I myself have witnessed more than once how people began to reckless with joy. This is not worth doing. Despite the fact that it is easy to control the bike, you may not calculate your capabilities and do not have time to react.

Do not drive more than 60 km / h. This speed is sufficient for most trips. And if you are not sure, then generally drive slowly and on the left side of the road (shoulder). Also, avoid dark and rainy weather at first. And while the bike may open up a new facet of Thailand for you, it may not be worth getting on it now. Remember, the traffic in the city is heavy, and the Thais fly like drunken Schumachers.

Be careful on the roads, don't drive

Motorbike driving experience

We didn't fit the bike for the first 2 months. They were afraid of both himself and left-hand traffic. But then, when they tried, they no longer imagined how they could do without it. It is really very convenient, you can quickly and with a breeze get to anywhere in the city (island), while not depending on tuk-tuk, san teo and other transport. Well, of course, it's not just about convenience, but about feeling. I can't describe it, but now I understand perfectly why people buy motorcycles.

Yes, there is a danger of an accident, as I wrote above, but since we drove very carefully and not faster than 60 km / h, everything was in order. For those who are very afraid, or for other reasons do not want to take a bike, I recommend renting a car, especially for those who will travel far.

Motorbike rental in Thailand

How Thais ride

How Thais ride

P.S. Good luck on the road! And take care of yourself!

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