Scooter Hire in Thailand: Everything You Need to Know

There is a massive range of things you need to know for scooter hire in Thailand. And, it pays to be prepared when hiring one of these vehicles as we are all aware of just how dangerous they can be!

Renting a scooter gives you an incredible amount of freedom and gives you the opportunity to explore a place far and wide, and at your own leisure. Besides, it’s a cheap way to travel and offers you a truly authentic experience of Thailand.

From safety tips to the process of renting a scooter in Thailand, these factors will be thoroughly discussed throughout the blog post. I want you to walk away feeling ready and confident to hire a scooter and get out on those adventures.

Besides, I have about six months of experience and have rented scooters all over parts of South East Asia. I’ve gotten to know the way things work and have hired my fair share of scooters.

So, let’s dive in and get you all worded up on everything you need to know about renting a scooter in Thailand!

How Much Does It Cost for Scooter Hire in Thailand?

Scooter hire rental price in Thailand changes a fair bit depending on your location. Moreover, the islands can be a little pricier and some of the cities tend to charge a little more. I tend to find it’s cheaper in the smaller towns.

For the most part, scooter hire in Thailand will set you back anywhere from 150-350 THB per day. And, you will get the scooter for an entire 24 hours, so plan the timing right to get the most out of the hire.

Therefore, do some research on your location and try to find the best deal so that you can get the lowest priced scooter.

Tip: You may get a discount if you ask to hire the scooter for a number of days. So, definitely have a chat with the store owner and see if something can be figured out. I would recommend hiring the scooter for at least a week to get some sort of discount if you plan to do a number of days worth of exploring.

Is It Safe to Ride a Scooter in Thailand?

Well… let’s be realistic, it is safe, but you can get yourself in some sticky situations. And, you need to keep in mind that it is one of the most dangerous methods of transport, but is also the most thrilling and freeing.

You can get to so many cool sights, and locations and do tonnes of exploring with the use of a scooter. Besides, some of my best days out were when I went on solo rides on my scooter. I couldn’t get enough of the wind in my hair and the freedom to go anywhere!

When it comes time for renting a scooter in Thailand there are plenty of ways that you can ride safely and responsibly on a scooter, so let’s dive into some of my best tips.

Tip: Ask the store owner for recommendations on the safest roads to drive. They may give you an idea of which roads to avoid and how to get around town safely.

Tips for Riding a Scooter Safely

Riding a scooter safely is absolutely crucial. Keep in mind, that these are very dangerous vehicles, and a simple mistake can result in absolute disaster.

Nobody wants an accident especially while travelling or on holiday, so let’s discuss some of the ways that you can ride safely.

Always ride with a helmet and protective clothing/gear

I think this goes without saying, but you’d be surprised at how many people don’t wear the correct protective gear. It’s so easy to make a mistake or slide on some dirt, and if you come down, you can hit your head and do some damage.

Also, wearing protective clothing like long pants, long shirts and tied-up shoes will protect your skin from the sun and save you from dreaded gravel rash.

Practice in an open space

Don’t jump onto your bike for the first time and head straight into traffic. Spend some time practising in a back street or a large open and safely sealed spot. Moreover, this gives you the chance to get comfortable with balance and gives you a feel for the bike and all of the controls.

This is the perfect time to practice braking, turning and using indicators.

Lean the bike, not your body

Learn to lean correctly by tilting the bike and not your body when you take corners. This ensures a better centre of gravity and means that you will be less likely to fall off. However, do not sit awkwardly perpendicular to the road. Be sure to have a natural and smooth flow, it’s all in the hips!

Additionally, do not take corners quickly as you can slide very easily on sand. And, braking when taking corners is usually a bad idea.

Take it slow in the beginning

There is absolutely no harm in driving slow, especially if you’re in a location that doesn’t have a lot of fast riders. So, take it slow and get the hang of riding around other drivers.

Besides, it can be pretty daunting and make you feel uncomfortable, so it’s best to start slow and gain confidence.

Never become overly confident

After you’ve ridden a few times, it can be pretty easy to become overconfident and then result in making a mistake. Honestly, it can take years to become an excellent rider, and even then, they still make mistakes resulting in terrible injuries.

Sometimes, when people hire a scooter in Thailand, they get comfortable way too quickly and it can cause disaster! Always ride confidently, but stay aware of your surroundings.

Avoid riding in the rain

One of the worst times to ride is during a rainstorm. The roads become incredibly slippery, rain hits your body hard (which hurts!) and visibility is terrible.

It’s honestly one of the worst times to ride and is much worse than riding in the dark. So, if you can, pull over and allow the rain to pass before jumping on the bike again.

Be wary of the road rules

Before you jump on the bike, you should know the road rules, and which side of the road you need to drive on. If you aren’t aware of these, you could find yourself in some trouble pretty quickly.

So, take plenty of notice of how other riders are getting around, and try to follow suit as you gain more experience.

Ride with a friend

If you have the option, I highly recommend that you ride or go on your day trip with a friend. This ensures that if you or the other person find yourself in danger, you are much more likely to get help faster.

Also, never take a passenger on the back of your bike if you don’t feel confident. This could be disastrous if two people get injured.

Driving with an International License

It’s crucial to drive with an international license. And, if you get pulled over, you may be fined up to 1,000 THB for not having an international license.

However, for the most part, you won’t get pulled over often if you are wearing a helmet. Typically, the police tend to set up checkpoints, especially in Chiang Mai. And, they are quite visible, so you can usually turn around to avoid getting in trouble.

Nonetheless, applying for a license is always a good idea and ensures you have the correct license to ride on the roads.

However, you will need to organise an international driving license in your own country before heading overseas. This is near impossible to get ahold of once you’ve left to go overseas!

Tip: Do not give the police money as they are likely wanting a bribe. Sometimes, you can be given a fine, and they won’t chase it up!

How to Check If a Scooter Is Safe to Ride

There are many things you need to do to check if a scooter is safe to ride before jumping on. So, take note of all of these things to check:

Confident and genuine store owner: The store owner should be happy with you taking any of their bikes and should happily take you through anything you need to know.
Don’t pick a dodgy bike: A dodgy bike could result in disaster, if you need to spend a little more to get a safer ride, then do it! Better to spend an extra 100 THB on a bike than thousands in hospital bills.
Check store reviews online: A great way to see if the business operates fairly is to do a Google search of the shop. You’ll get an idea of their legitimacy of them and see past experiences in reviews.
Ask for a test ride: Most of the time, owners will be happy for you to do a test ride. This gives you the chance to see if everything runs smoothly and you can see if you are happy to hire it.

Now, in terms of actually doing checks on the bike, these are some of the things that you need to consider for scooter hire in Thailand:

Headlights: Do they turn on, are they broken?
Brake lights: Do they work? Are they bright enough and visible?
Indicators: Can other drivers/riders see me indicating?
Mirrors: How many mirrors are on the bike? Can you adjust them to see behind you?
Ignition: Does it turn on easily or are there some motor issues?
Handles: Is there enough grip?
Tires: Are they well-inflated? Do they have plenty of tread?
Brakes: Is it easy to brake? Are they responsive?
Acceleration: Is it responsive? Does it jerk uncomfortably?
Fuel: Check how much fuel is left in the tank and be sure to refuel accordingly, don’t get left stranded!
Seat: Does the seat unlock? Does it lock up securely?

Check out this website for some more safe riding tips.

The Hiring Process

The hiring process is a significant and crucial aspect of scooter hire in Thailand. Moreover, knowing how this process is going to run is best to ensure you are entirely prepared.

Firstly, they are going to ask what you’re looking for. This is the right time to let them know where you’ll be heading so that you can get the correct type of bike. For smaller females, I recommend the smaller bikes like a ‘scoopy’, and for boys, you might want to consider getting a ‘click’.

Also, knowing how much power you need is important. You want to be able to make it up any steep hills if you decide to take it around some mountains, so that you don’t get stuck halfway.

Secondly, once they’ve figured out a bike for you, they’ll show you some options. Depending on how busy they’ve been, there might only be one bike available or there could be ten! Try to pick the best one suited for your needs and then go over the safety checks mentioned above.

Thirdly, once you’ve decided on a bike, it’s time to put a payment and deposit down. This is usually the chance to pay for your first day of hire and time to put some money down.

I DO NOT recommend handing over your passport as a deposit. If they lose it, you’re in trouble! I much prefer to put down a 2,000 THB deposit. Additionally, make some photocopies of your passport so that you can give them a paper copy and they will usually hand it back to you at the end of the hiring. Also, you will always receive your 2,000 THB deposit back in full, or they will take off any additional hiring days.

Last but not least, is to take images and or a video of the bike before you leave the shop. This is absolutely crucial as then you have photographic evidence of marks, scratches, ruined panels etc. Also, I recommend taking photos if there are any broken lights or warning lights that have come up.

Finally, scooter hire in Thailand is a reasonably easy process. Just keep the above things in mind and be sure to go with your gut feeling! If it feels too dodgy, then it probably is!

Tip: I recommend allowing a minimum of 30 minutes for the hiring process. It can sometimes be much quicker, but also can be longer. Be sure to add this time into your schedule if you have a busy itinerary.

Do I Recommend Hiring a Scooter in Thailand?

Personally, I believe, that if you feel comfortable, you should absolutely experience riding on a scooter in Thailand. However, you must have the confidence and knowledge to ride before getting on the road.

The first time I rode a scooter was in Vietnam, and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face! I felt incredibly independent and free; It was truly an amazing experience.

Besides, scooters can take you to so many places and you can see so much of a country. I think it’s entirely worth it as long as you play by the rules and ride safely.

Finally, scooter hire in Thailand is well worth the experience, and I think everyone should give it a crack at least once in their life.

Additional Ways to Get Around

Walk

Walking is a great way to get around, especially if you are close to some sights or things around town. I don’t think it’s necessary to ride a scooter into town when you could simply go for a walk! Besides, this saves a lot of money on scooter hire in Thailand.

Hire a Rider

Another great way to get around is to hire a rider on a scooter. This is one of the cheapest ways to get around and you can get to your location reasonably fast.

Tuk Tuk or Taxi

Check out tuk-tuks and taxis for ways to get around cities or to go slightly further. These are reasonably affordable but can rack up a hefty bill if you use them to get around constantly.

Public Transport

My favourite way to get around for long distances is by using public transport. Moreover, you can pay for some pretty cheap bus, train and ferry tickets and get around in no time!

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, these are just some of my tips and things you should know before hiring a scooter in Thailand. Besides, a lot of it comes from experience and knowledge that you will pick up during your travels.

All in all, take the most notes from my safe riding section. This is the most important area to ensure you arrive at your location safely every time. After all, if you arrive 15 minutes late to something, it’s much better than having an accident and getting yourself into some trouble.

Finally, take it easy on the scooters in Thailand and practice heaps! There is nothing wrong with taking it slow and gaining experience and confidence.

If you would like to read more about Thailand, check out this section of my blog for all things Thai-related. I have plenty of travel guides, hostel information, the best sights, waterfalls and activities to do. Happy reading!