Tips for renting a car?

[Dezmo]

Sorry - was not sure where to post this....

I have my IDL (from USA) and may travel to Chiang Mai with a local Thai friend, and maybe rent a car to drive to her home town a few hours away.  

Any tips on car rentals:

• I assume shop for best price as it could vary (wonder if posted online)
• Do they accept credit cards (or does it vary)?
• Assume insurance is part or rental agreement
• Would it be better for her to rent the (and would they allow me to drive it) or for me to rent?
• I assume NEVER leave my passport with them
• If I get a ticket.... say speed radar (does that exist here?).... what may happen?
• Anything else I should know....?

Thanks!

[Jaggg88]

You have an IDP, not an IDL, which is essential if stopped by the police or you are in an accident but it is not a requirement for renting. Speed traps do exist and I think the fine is 500 baht although there is some new rules about deducting points but I don't think that will affect foreign licences. The larger companies accepts card payments. As for the question about who should rent then only the rental company can tell you that. With non rental cars a class 1 insurance covers all qualified drivers of that vehicle but I don't know about rentals so ask them. Never leave your passport but give them a copy and fully inspect and film the car with the rental employee so there is no issues on return.

[Faz]

I'd go for a reputable company, not a backstreet hire co.

If the car is taxed (check), then it will be covered by the mandatory government Insurance, but not necessarily comprehensive Insurance, so enquire.

[Chaimai]

I have used Chic and Thai Rent a Car from Chiang Mai. 

 

No problems with either. 

[Dezmo]

Thanks for all the info. Yes I have a IDP :) 

[Marc26]

I have rented a car in a ton of places in Thailand

 

I use https://www.rentalcars.com/ and https://www.vipcars.com/

 

Not all rentals offer full insurance but these sites will usually have the option to choose full insurance

 

I have never had an issue renting using these two sites, actually they have been fantastic

 

I have ever had 2 accidents and both covered by insurance, didn't pay anything

 

 

You don't need to leave your passport, they will take a copy of it

 

Renting at CM airport will be very easy..........

Actually renting at any airport in Thailand has always been very easy

Usually you will go to their counter booth and they pull the car right up in front of the airport exit in Arrivals

[Dezmo]

16 hours ago, Marc26 said:

I have rented a car in a ton of places in Thailand

I use https://www.rentalcars.com/ and https://www.vipcars.com/

Not all rentals offer full insurance but these sites will usually have the option to choose full insurance

I have never had an issue renting using these two sites, actually they have been fantastic

I have ever had 2 accidents and both covered by insurance, didn't pay anything

You don't need to leave your passport, they will take a copy of it

Renting at CM airport will be very easy..........

Actually renting at any airport in Thailand has always been very easy

Usually you will go to their counter booth and they pull the car right up in front of the airport exit in Arrivals

THanks... vipcars.com looks like an aggegator working with different companies. I'll check it out and maybe with the company directly

[Marc26]

6 hours ago, Dezmo said:

THanks... vipcars.com looks like an aggegator working with different companies. I'll check it out and maybe with the company directly

Yes both VIP and rentalcars.com are but I have rented about 20 cars in Thailand and found this is far easier than renting directly with the companies.......

[cowslip]

It depends what you mean by "full insurance" - most companies will cover you, the car and third party. Their is often an "excess" that you have to pay.

Medical insurance for yourself my=be limited and you need to see how your personal insurance covers you.

Small or cheaper companies may not have such goos cover as the more expensive international brands.

Most want a credit card, some accept a debit card.

All the ones I've dealt with take a deposit.

 

 

[Marc26]

18 minutes ago, cowslip said:

It depends what you mean by "full insurance" - most companies will cover you, the car and third party. Their is often an "excess" that you have to pay.

Medical insurance for yourself my=be limited and you need to see how your personal insurance covers you.

Small or cheaper companies may not have such goos cover as the more expensive international brands.

Most want a credit card, some accept a debit card.

All the ones I've dealt with take a deposit.

full insurance= Price includes zero excess 

I can't speak for Isaan but every airport I have rented in Thailand and off-airport as well, have been with the major international companies

 

I have had 2 minor accidents in Thailand with rental cars, returned with no money paid out of pocket

And actually the companies were fantastic, they sent out an insurance person to the accident right away

In one instance, the other party was demanding I pay them cash and the insurance man stepped in and told them it would be paid by the insurance in the process

[cowslip]

25 minutes ago, Marc26 said:

full insurance= Price includes zero excess 

Not necessarily - both in Thailand and elsewhere many companies have "compulsory excess" these days.

You can choose to pay extra to have it waived or some people's personal insurance  carry an excess protection clause.

I've had one incidence years ago when I dented a car and the company didn't bat an eyelid.

If you have a ding on the road the absolute first thing to do - no matter what vehicle rented or not - is to ring the INSURANCE company - they will quickly send and agent to the scene. They will act as intermediary etc with the third parties and police. If you don't do this you are more likely to have problems. I've found incidents are solving very quickly this way.

Edited July 14, 2023 by cowslip

[Marc26]

Just now, cowslip said:

Not necessarily - both here and elsewhere many companies have "compulsory excess" these days.

 

Again I have rented cars in Thailand in the 50x range, always with "no excess"

Have had 2 accidents, didn't pay any money out of pocket

I always get in writing that I pay nothing out of pocket if there is damage

 

 

I have rented cars in probably 20 countries, I always pay for "no excess', no deductible outside of the US and Canada because I don't want the hassle of paying and submitting my claim

 

If they don't have "no excess, no deductible" available I usually don't rent it

I just did last month in Dominican Republic, with a $1000 deductible

Rented with my Visa, which would cover damage but I did so reluctantly

 

I am quite experienced in all of this.............

[cowslip]

51 minutes ago, Marc26 said:

Again I have rented cars in Thailand in the 50x range, always with "no excess"

Have had 2 accidents, didn't pay any money out of pocket

I always get in writing that I pay nothing out of pocket if there is damage

I have rented cars in probably 20 countries, I always pay for "no excess', no deductible outside of the US and Canada because I don't want the hassle of paying and submitting my claim

If they don't have "no excess, no deductible" available I usually don't rent it

I just did last month in Dominican Republic, with a $1000 deductible

Rented with my Visa, which would cover damage but I did so reluctantly

I am quite experienced in all of this.............

You don't  seem to understand my post - I'm sure you can rent without excess - although I"m not sure you are really aware of how this is done. That's not the point I"m making.

 

Repeatedly saying how many times you've rented is singularly unimpressive as you are but one of the tens of thousands who rent cars in Thailand.

 

BTW - I have far more personal experience than you.

[Marc26]

1 hour ago, cowslip said:

You don't  seem to understand my post - I'm sure you can rent without excess - although I"m not sure you are really aware of how this is done. That's not the point I"m making.

Repeatedly saying how many times you've rented is singularly unimpressive as you are but one of the tens of thousands who rent cars in Thailand.

BTW - I have far more personal experience than you.

Dude, believe what you want...........if that gives you a boner

 

I will go by my own experience of doing many many times

[cowslip]

51 minutes ago, Marc26 said:

Dude, believe what you want...........if that gives you a boner

I will go by my own experience of doing many many times

Your post has nothing to do with my posts, you are ranting about nothing.

[oldschooler]

“I always get in writing that I pay nothing out of pocket if there is damage”

no, you don’t, you get std contract terms, selecting std options, like everybody else.

nobody gets a special note or letter departing from std terms. Rental office would not have this authority….but you know that don’t you ……oh you don’t ….such note would in any event have no legal value.

driving around a dunghole like Dominican Republic says a lot about your sense of judgement.

why on earth spend time & money travelling to and around a nothing dump like that …….

[cowslip]

On 7/14/2023 at 5:16 PM, Marc26 said:

Dude, believe what you want...........if that gives you a boner

I will go by my own experience of doing many many times

unfortunately personal experience can be very misleading especially if it is repeatedly misinterpreted. It is far better to look at the experience overall of many people to get a better picture.

[Marc26]

12 minutes ago, cowslip said:

unfortunately personal experience can be very misleading especially if it is repeatedly misinterpreted. It is far better to look at the experience overall of many people to get a better picture.

That is true

 

Reason why I do my research 

 

For instance I visited Mexico a lot and instinctively would think to rent from one of the big International rental companies (Budget, Avis, etc...)

 

 But they seem to all have sketchy reputations there

 

Found a local place in Cancun with a great reputation and have rented with them about 8x

[oldschooler]

9 minutes ago, Marc26 said:

You have said you live a "tropical lifestyle" while you live in basically a concrete jungle with rush hour traffic 5555

This is what tropical looks like.   

Agreed. Looks exactly like Karon Beach Phuket !
I live outside any city- like problems.

Phuket Traffic IS Bad now.

But I’m not affected as riding motor bike on “perpetual motion” setting.

Caribbean highly unsafe outside Western- controlled islands.

[cowslip]

 

 

2 hours ago, Marc26 said:

Reason why I do my research 

one of the favourite cliches used by the foil hat brigade.

They don't know the difference between search and research

[Marc26]

8 hours ago, oldschooler said:

Agreed. Looks exactly like Karon Beach Phuket !
I live outside any city- like problems.

Phuket Traffic IS Bad now.

But I’m not affected as riding motor bike on “perpetual motion” setting.

Caribbean highly unsafe outside Western- controlled islands.

Yes I do agree that Caribbean is much more unsafe than Thailand

 

That's for sure

As well as Central America 

 

And I love Phuket but it's just too busy for me at times

 

I always say

Phuket is great if you are where you want to be

If you got to go anywhere it sucks

 

My wife has a famous line, after flying in from Samui coming from airport

 

 

"Phuket make me lose my relax"   

[oldschooler]

23 hours ago, Marc26 said:

Yes I do agree that Caribbean is much more unsafe than Thailand

That's for sure

As well as Central America 

And I love Phuket but it's just too busy for me at times

I always say

Phuket is great if you are where you want to be

If you got to go anywhere it sucks

My wife has a famous line, after flying in from Samui coming from airport

"Phuket make me lose my relax"   

Have a Car ….. only my Lady drives it. Have zero patience with Car Traffic & Parking rigmarole.
Motorbike for me …. with Extreme Defensive Driving Mitigation …..inc No Night or Wet Riding.

Lady & Son Banned from Motorbike …. but then it’s “ just the Shops …or “ just down to  the Beach ……”.ffs…