How to rent a motorcycle in Thailand

Travel in motorcycle through Thailand is a experience very cool and from our point of view the best way to get to know the country. In this article we bring you a detailed guide based on our personal experience, with all the tips that we have come up with to make this process easier for you.

Where to rent motorcycles in Thailand?

You can usually find premises from rent Motorcycle rentals, known as 'Moto rent' or 'Bike rent', are available in strategic locations near bus and train stations and in city centers. It's best to search for Google Maps And while you're at it, take a look at the reviews. We've tried a lot of places and never had any problems, but it doesn't hurt.

Deposit and documentation. What do they require?

Generally, motorcycle rental stores They request a deposit of 3000 baht, or sometimes your passport or driver's license. I strongly recommend leaving the deposit in cash and never your passport. It's not worth the risk of losing your documents or worse.

Is it mandatory to wear a helmet in Thailand?

You will realize that almost no one wears a helmet there, perhaps in Bangkok, but in small towns and villages it's very difficult to see. Even so, we recommend you do so. It makes no sense to drive with a helmet in Spain but not in Thailand.

All rental locations have free helmets available to customers, if they don't give it to you, ask for it and also make sure that it is in good condition and have one visor Functional so the wind doesn't bother you. Sometimes we had helmets that were very old and the visor was very scratched or wouldn't stay up on its own when you lifted it, making it a pain to drive like that.

How much does it cost to rent a motorcycle in Thailand?

Rental prices vary, generally around between 250 and 400 baht per day For 125cc motorcycles, these are perfect for two people to explore the country. If you're planning to rent a motorcycle for a shorter period, try bargaining. Keep in mind that during high season, it can be more difficult because they're usually interested in renting motorcycles for longer periods, and they almost always rent them all (at least during high season). So, be careful; if you're renting a motorcycle mid-morning in a busy area, you may have few options.

Fuel policy in Thailand

As for fuel, the rule is to return the bike with the same amount of fuel you received it ("same same"). Filling them with fuel is not rocket science, they are usually 91% gasoline which is no longer seen in Spain and is paid directly in cash to the one who fills your tank.

Where to leave the helmet?

Both helmets don't fit under the front seat, but you can leave one without any problem and hang the other one hooked inside the seat on some iron poles, with the motorcycle chain if they give you one, or hang it on your backpack and take it with you on a ride (because they weigh nothing).

Many people leave them directly on the motorcycle, hanging from the rearview mirror because since no one wears a helmet, it won't get stolen, but we're not taking any chances. The backpack, in case you're wondering, fits perfectly between the rider's legs because most motorcycles are scooter-style.

Renting motorbikes by the minute in Thailand

In some of the most touristy places, like Phuket, you also have this option. We didn't use it because we discovered it late and we had already rented our scooter, but we'll leave you a photo showing the name of the app that worked in the country. It's considerably more expensive than a regular rental (about 3 baths/minute) but for a short trip it may be worth it.

Is it difficult to drive in Thailand?

Driving on the left is a bit strange until you get used to it, if you have never driven a motorcycle we do not recommend you start doing it in Thailand, but if you have some experience there is no problem, especially in smaller cities like Ayutthaya, Chiang Rai or one of the islands. In Chiang Mai or Bangkok, it will be more difficult because you'll encounter more traffic.

In Bangkok, for example, we only took grab, metro and tuktuks.

Tips for riding a motorcycle in Thailand

For us the most difficult thing about driving on the left were the right turns because in the first ones your head explodes. As for the traffic lights, many Thais do not respect them in smaller towns although there are some that you can legitimately skip when turning left, it is usually indicated by a sign FREE LEFT.

During circulation by roads more large Motorcycles usually pull over to the far left and onto the hard shoulder to let other cars pass. If you're going fast enough, you don't need to do this, but keep it in mind.

Taking long trips on a motorcycle

For longer trips between cities we do not recommend using a motorcycle since the roads are not very good and it is quite tiring. During our stay we used this search engine that we leave below a lot to find private transportation at a good price:

If you want to read other articles ideal for your trip that complement How to rent a motorcycle in Thailand you can visit our posts about Thailand.