One of the most exhilarating things about coming to Thailand is the opportunity to rent and ride a motorbike. Not only it is incredibly affordable, costing as low as 150 baht ($5 USD) a day, but it’s also an excellent way to independently explore town. Here’s everything you need to know about how to rent a motorbike in Thailand.
The variety of motorbikes available for rent in Thailand is fantastic. We’ve seen everything from goofy scooters, comfortable cruisers, to powerful motorcycles. And what’s great is that they are inexpensive and incredibly easy to rent.
Although we own our own motorbike in Chiang Mai, we’ve had a several experiences renting a motorbike throughout our Thailand travels. Our first time renting a motorbike was when we first visited Chiang Mai on our honeymoon over two years ago. Since then we’ve also rented one in Hua Hin, Koh Chang, and even on our recent road trip in Laos.
Contents
- 1 What to Bring to Rent a Motorbike in Thailand
- 2 What to Expect from Motorbike Rental Shops
- 3 What to Expect from Really Good Motorbike Rental Shops
- 4 Before Zooming Off
- 5 Motorcycle Rental Insurance
- 6 Do I have to surrender my passport to rent a motorbike?
- 7 Motorcycle Safety
- 8 That’s It! Now You’re On Your Way to Exploring Thailand
What to Bring to Rent a Motorbike in Thailand
- Passport
- Contact information, such as your Thai telephone number or address, or your hotel
- Cash. Budget roughly 150 to 450 baht ($5 to $15 USD) per day, depending on your motorbike preference. Credit cards are rarely accepted.
- At least a little motorbike riding experience
Most motorcycle companies don’t ask to see proof of a driver’s license, and some don’t even ask if you’ve ever ridden a motorbike before. As long as you can drive away from their shop without toppling over or crashing into something or someone, you’re as free as a bird.
Keep in mind, though, that you are driving at your own risk (and others on the road) if you don’t have much experience!
What to Expect from Motorbike Rental Shops
- Rentals are in 24 hour increments for daily use
- Discounted rates are given for weekly and monthly rentals. You can expect to pay about 1,000 and 3,000 baht, respectively.
- Basic helmets are provided (most often they are visorless and not full-faced)
Sometimes the longest part of the process is picking out which bike you want!
Once you’ve chosen a motorbike, all it takes is a few minutes to fill out a contract with your name, passport number, and address of where you are staying in Thailand. The shop will take note of the return date and how much you paid up front.
Then you’re handed the keys, a helmet, and are ready to go.
What to Expect from Really Good Motorbike Rental Shops
In addition to the above list, excellent motorbike rental shops will also provide:
- Motorbike Insurance: We don’t recommend driving around without it! Although some repairs can be cheap, serious damage may not be within your budget.
- Health Insurance: Health insurance should cover both the driver and passenger(s).
- Copy of Passport: In lieu of handing over your passport, some places will only ask for a passport photocopy and/or a cash deposit.
Before Zooming Off
- Inspect the motorbike before getting on. It is wise to take pictures of or take note on the original contract of any existing dings, scratches, or broken bits. This is especially important for newer motorbikes.
- Hold on to a copy of the contract so you know exactly where the rental shop is and when the drop-off date and time are.
- Ask were the nearest gas station is and immediately fill up on either gasohol 91 or 95 (just ask the rental company) for about 30 baht ($1 USD) per liter.
TIP: There is no need to return the motorbike with a full tank of gas.
Motorcycle Rental Insurance
We highly recommend renting from a company that offers insurance. Look for motorcycle insurance that covers loss or damage and accident insurance if the driver or passenger gets hurt. We do not recommend driving a motorbike without insurance. Ask for this upfront, and if the motorbike rental company does not have it, politely decline and look for another one.
Do I have to surrender my passport to rent a motorbike?
It you want to rent a motorbike in Thailand, some rental companies ask for your passport while others don’t. We’ve noticed that shops located along the main touristy roads seem adamant about handing over your passport. It seems as though the smaller businesses on the less traveled side streets are more accepting to a passport photocopy or a cash deposit instead.
NOTE: Be aware that no matter what happens, your passport cannot be withheld from you. Some rental shops ask for it as leverage if there is damage to the motorbike, or worse, the motorbike is lost or stolen. However, a motorbike rental shop cannot legally withhold your passport.
Motorcycle Safety
Thailand has some pretty staggering motorcycle injury statistics. To prevent yourself from becoming one of those statistics, keep in mind some safe driving practices. But for the bare minimum,
- Wear your helmet! The majority of motorcycle deaths can be prevented if drivers and passengers wore helmets.
- Cover up! Wear more than just a sleeveless Chang beer t-shirt, cargo shorts, and flip-flops. This does not save you from disfiguring road rash.
- Take a songthaew or tuk-tuk if you’ve been drinking. Don’t risk wobbling down the road and crashing into something.
That’s It! Now You’re On Your Way to Exploring Thailand
Did you think it would be that cheap and easy to rent a motorbike in Thailand? It’s good news that it’s much more laid back, quicker, and definitely cheaper than renting a vehicle back home.
hi , i have my country’s drivinig lisence but not Thai could is it lawful to rent a bike here. without thai driving lisence
You can rent a motorcycle in Thailand legally if you have a motorcycle license in your home country. It is also advised to possess an International Driver’s Permit, too. Otherwise, if you get in an accident, your health and/or travel insurance will not cover your medical expenses. If you are caught without the proper license you may be fined anywhere from 300 to 1,000 THB on the spot with no further punishment.
Im planning to fly into Chiang Mai and want to rent a motorcycle to drive down the entire country to the Phi Phi Islands and finishing up in Bangkok. Any ideas or direction you could point me for something such as this? (Trip is in November.)
Sorry, wish we had a recommendation but we don’t!
Hi, I would like to rent a motorbike in Pak Chong. Saw a website for a rental company there and it stated there 300 Baht rental fee per day including “standard insurance”. Do you have any idea what does it mean by “standard insurance”? Thanks.
You will have to ask them specifically. To err on the safe side, it may be liability insurance. That typically covers repairs on the OTHER person’s vehicle but it does not cover damage to YOUR vehicle or to you.
Just rented a tourist scooter type motorbike driving around the beaches by Patong on Phuket – great day out.
But Thai police stopped us and it seem they targeted all foreigners and charged us 500 baht since we didn’t hold a motorbike license !!!
Not so much disappointed about the money just about the unclear rules and targeting of foreigners who support the country
It’s ILLEGAL to ride a motorbike in Thailand without a motorcycle license whether you’re a Thai person, an expat, or a tourist in Thailand. Aren’t the laws the same in your own country? We understand having the correct license it’s a bit of an afterthought when you’re vacationing abroad (most people are trying to get their passports and visas squared away). However, as an international traveler, it’s important to check the driving laws of any country you visit. Police DO seem to target foreigners and pull a lot more over than Thais but that’s because they know that so many… Read more »
Hello, I had a great experience with my motorbike renter (Pao, information to find him below) that reflects on the kindness of the people here. I returned the bike after cruising around the island all day, only to realize that I returned the WRONG motorbike! Somehow the key fit two motorbikes that were parked next to each other and I didn’t realize I was driving the wrong one! I created a huge mess for both motorbike owners. We fixed the problem together. I offered to compensate them by paying a tip of half the rate but they would not accept… Read more »
What is the age requirement to rent a scooter?
You must be 16 years old to drive a motorbike in Thailand. But you still must comply with your international insurance requirements (your home country has its own age mininum to be properly license) just in case you get in an accident.
The bike shops have two different insurance one is the third party insurance and other insurance will be used for theft , accident to the bike and other purpose.. But it’s pricey (2500 bhat).. Is there way I can get this insurance for cheaper price if I plan to rent for short duration ?
Really not sure, but we it all depends on the business you’re dealing with. It is best to shop around and ask them directly.
Very useful .. Thank you so much
Thank you. Very happy to assist!
Has anyone rented a motorbike in Bangkok and returned in Phuket? Thinking of spending next December hand railing the coast and taking my time on a motorbike. Any advice would be awesome
That’s a nice write up. Can you please let us know the area/locality famous with these Bike rental agencies in Bangkok and Samui? Thanks in advance :)
No – Bangkok and Koh Samui are HUGE and we don’t know where you’re staying. Maybe start by asking your guesthouse’s front desk staff if they recommend something, or Googling for a shop once you know what part of town you’re in.
Hi,
I just wanted to know, if it is possible to rent the bike in Chiang Mai and return it in Bangkok.
We don’t know off the top of our heads. It’s probably best to ask the specific rental agency you have your eye on – some may say yes and some may say no – so we don’t want to give you the wrong answer.
Hi, thanks for the very well written article. I’ll be heading to Bangkok in a few weeks and am thinking of renting a scooter, but I’ll be taking it to Vietnam via Cambodia. Do you envisage any problems with two border crossings on a Thai registered scooter? Thanks.
You’re welcome – glad you liked the article. We’ve never crossed borders with a vehicle (scooter or car). We’ve had friends who’ve done it on motorbikes but they owned them – not rented. Also, will you still have your passport? A lot of rental companies want to keep your passport, so it’s important to find a place that won’t take yours. GT-rider.com has some good information on the subject. This site specializes in bike rides, so maybe you can find what you need there. Have a great trip!
This was a great read and definitely cleared things up for me. One thing I’m still not sure of is the vehicle classes. Motorcycles, scooters, and ATV’s are all classed differently in Canada. Anyone with a valid drivers license can drive a scooter or an ATV but you have to have an M license to drive a motorcycle. Is there something similar to this in Thailand or do they go by a different system?
Good question. Yes there are different vehicle classes. To legally drive a car in Thailand you need an international car license (obtained in your home country). If you want to drive a motorbike legally, you need to have an international motorcycle license. Although thousands of travelers ignore this and drive around with their hone country’s license (and to be fair, most rental companies don’t care what license you have), the big trouble happens if you get into an accident and try to file a claim with your insurance company… you’ll be denied.
Hi guys, great post. Quick question – I’ve ridden plenty of scooters before, mostly in Central America, but I’ve never really thought about this till now…my Canadian driver’s license doesn’t cover scooters or mopeds (apparently very few licenses around the world do, other than the odd European one), and I think this means that any insurance I get, be it for the scooter or my health, would then be void. Do you know this to be true? I figure there’s no point getting insurance from a rental place if it will be void due to lack of license in the… Read more »
Great question! You’re right about getting travel insurance through a Canadian company and then it not covering you for a motorbike accident since you don’t have a motorcycle license back home. (Travel insurance also doesn’t cover damage caused by drunk driving or if you aren’t wearing a helmet when its mandatory, such as in Thailand.) As far as getting insurance through a Thai rental company? Well, it costs pennies… like, 50 baht per day. Since we don’t know for sure, that’s something you must ask the rental agency directly… (and get it in writing!) Let us know what you find… Read more »
Hello, great article, thank you!
I`m in Phuket and will stay for 1 month at least. I would have rented a motorbike already if I wasn`t concerned about the the law here. Looks like they dont permit you drive if you dont have a thai dirver`s license. Despite that I see many posts about doing it. So, we would need to run into the risk? And if they get you, how big would be your trouble?
We haven’t been to Phuket but we don’t why the driving rules would be any different there as the rest of Thailand. If you are on a tourist visa with a license in your home country or if you have a in international driver license, you can drive. If you have a Non Immigrant Visa, they want to see an international license or a Thai license since you’re in the country for a long time. If you are caught driving without one, you may pay a *hefty* bribe of a few hundred baht.
Thank you for the article! I’ve just been told by a British guesthouse owner in Pai that motorbike insurance they sell at the rental places is a scam. He had rented one of those and they refused to cover the damages when he had an accident. Do you know if that’s true?
We don’t know if the motorbike insurance in a scam in Pai. Was there some odd circumstance (i.e, not wearing a helmet, or driving while intoxicated) that made the insurance null and void? Do any other readers know? Chime in if you do!
“Wear your helmet!” After witnessing first-hand a serious motorbike crash on Koh Lanta, I can’t believe people, especially newbies, ride without one! The guy riding in front of us drove straight into a parked truck…We can only assume he became overwhelmed with checking around for oncoming traffic and worried about others who were passing him. Good thing he was wearing a helmet because he knocked himself the **** out. Literally, snoring when we rushed to check on him. I can’t imagine what the outcome would have been if his noggin were not protected. Good, informative post! :)
Gah! It makes us cringe to see people zipping around without a helmet, particularly Thai children riding with their parents and tourists who have little experience riding the roads here. We’re glad to hear all you saw was that guy get knocked out and not his brains smeared everywhere. C’mon people!
Great post. Do you know whether any documentation other than a passport (e.g., a driver’s license, motorcycle license, or international driver’s permit) is required to legally ride a scooter in Thailand?
If you have a visa-exempt stamp or a tourist visa, a passport will do. But if you have a long term non-immigrant visa (business, retirement, education, etc) you need to show either an unexpired international driver’s license (good for one year) or a Thai license. Good question!
Awesome post! Great suggestions!
Thanks!
Hi Guys, I’ve rented and ridden motorbikes for months in Thailand and here in Bali. We’re so blessed to nail down a cheap, dependable form of transport. As is the case for most riders we had one crash so we got it out of our system, in Bali, 2 years ago, in the town where we’re living now. Oil slick. Not a speed issue since I ride like a grand pa lol. I figure if I can zoom around for less than 60 dollars a month I am beyond golden, and those are the moto rates in Bali. Super cheap… Read more »
Glad to hear your accident wasn’t serious. And indeed, we suspect we’ve seen a few Thai youngins driving on our back street who are not technically old enough for a license. We’ve witness a bit of a change in Chiang Mai Old City’s drivability since moving here two years ago. Some tourists (and yes, even local Thai) are absolutely abominable on a motorbike!