Renting a Scooter in Thailand: What you need to know

The cool breeze flying past your body as you ride your trusty two wheeled companion through the hills into the sun is one of the best feelings. You’ve definitely heard about the plentiful amount of scooters and motorcycles zipping through the streets in Southeast Asia.

In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about renting a scooter or motorcycle in Thailand and Southeast Asia.

Best mode of transportation around Thailand

Riding a scooter or motorcycle is the best form of Transportation around Thailand and Southeast Asia. However, it comes with much greater risks that should be considered before making the decision.

And I know, you’ve seen all the travel vloggers make videos about riding around everywhere on their scooter that they rented for only $5 a day! Just know that many of them are either much more experienced, and almost all of them have a survivorship bias. You typically do not see the videos about the daily accidents and deaths that occur.

For those not ready to ride their own scooter or motorcycle, there are still plenty of affordable ways to get around in Thailand. Certain pickup services such as Grab, Bolt, and Gojek are used all over Southeast Asia. Grab is the popular choice in Thailand with services similar to Uber or Lyft, but at a much cheaper rate than in the West.

There are also many tuk-tuks and other taxi services all over the region.

Can you rent a scooter / motorcycle in Thailand

The short answer is Yes. You can just go to almost any scooter or motorcycle rental and they will rent you the bike if you have the money.

However, if you are not properly licensed, it is illegal and can have severe consequences. I am a large proponent for freedom, but I would read further to learn about the risks before you make your decision.

License needed to ride in Thailand

To legally operate a motorbike in Thailand, you will need a motorcycle license from your home country as well as an International Driver’s Permit (IDP).

What can happen if you ride a scooter without a license in Thailand

Police Stops

If you do not have the proper license, police will fine you. There are many checkpoints where police will pull over anyone without a helmet and commonly, anyone who looks like a foreigner. It is not like the United States where there has to be a proper reason for a stop.

If you do get stopped or pulled over, they will check for proper licensing. If you were doing everything right, but driving without a proper license, you will be fined. However, they will let you go after being fined and if you get pulled over again in a span of time, you can show the ticket and be on your way.

For a broke backpacker, every cent counts. Even a ฿1000 fine will take away from plenty of ฿50 meals or ฿200 hostels.

Accidents without a license

Even if you bought the proper insurance to cover any motorbike accidents, your insurance will not cover your expenses if you were driving intoxicated or without the proper license.

There are daily cases of tourists getting into an accident and owing thousands of dollars to the hospitals for medical care and having no money to cover it. At this point, you will have a rough time with your financial situation and your embassy.

Road Safety Statistics in Thailand

So you’re unlicensed but still willing to take the risk of a fine and you’re confident enough that you won’t get in an accident. Or, you may be a true experienced motorcycle enthusiast with the proper licensing and gear. Either way, the road statistics don’t care.

Riding a motorcycle or Scooter is very different from riding in the West. In Europe or North America, a motorcycle is typically a leisure or hobby activity. Traffic is also very controlled.

“No, I drive in Miami where everyone drives like a maniac and runs red lights” “ I’m used to Atlanta traffic where even my grandma goes 20 over everywhere”. It’s not the same. Traffic in a country like Vietnam where some cities have more motorbikes than people makes it very different.

The freedom to zip around on two wheels is nice until everyone does it and there is not enough enforcement to control the traffic.

Riding in Southeast Asia is a hectic experience for both first timers and experienced riders. Thailand is constantly ranked in the top for road fatalities per capita. At least 20,000 people die in road accidents every year with a high number being riders.

If you’re going to ride a scooter or motorcycle in Southeast Asia, do the bare minimum for safety and wear a helmet. This won’t save you from a car running you over, but you’re much less likely to have a fatal accident.

Many travelers also lose common sense when leaving their hometown. Those who would normally wear full leather make the decision to ride on more dangerous roads wearing no helmet and a pair of flip flops. I still believe that a scooter or motorcycle is the best way to get around in Thailand, but make sure you do your due diligence and know your risk tolerance.

Don’t know how to ride a motorcycle / scooter

Do not ride all over Southeast Asia if you have no experience and do not know how to ride a motorcycle or scooter.

If you don’t know how to ride a motorcycle, I would recommend taking the proper classes to get licensed in your country before you travel. Even with little to no experience, a safety course will teach you very important information on how to operate a motorcycle.

Safety Tip

For those who will read this and ignore this advice and ride anyways, at least know this tip. On a motorcycle, you cannot slam on the brakes like in a car. Squeezing the front brakes will have the wheel lock (if you don’t have abs) and the suspension will not be loaded to compress, causing the front wheel to turn and fall over.

When you have to emergency stop, either quickly turn with no brakes, or stay upright and straight as you slowly and smoothly grab the front brake in order to load the suspension before fully braking. In essence, grab the front brake in a linear pull instead of a quick squeeze.

Learning how to ride a scooter in Thailand

Many forums will tell you to go for it and just learn in a rural area. If you don’t have the proper license, you now know the risks and it is your decision. I do not condone breaking the law, but I cannot stop you either.

If you are going to learn, make sure to at least wear a helmet, do it in a low traffic area, and have enough funds to cover a worst case scenario. Many people on forums recommend learning in Pai, a town a few hours from Chiang Mai, away from the traffic.

Funny enough, this is also where the most accidents happen in Thailand. Who would have guessed that a town full of first time riders is going to have a lot of accidents.

What you need to legally ride a scooter in Thailand

You will need either a Thai License (for residents) or a motorcycle license from your home country with an International Driver’s Permit (IDP), and a helmet.

You will also need to wear a helmet. This is the law in Thailand and it is also very important for safety.

It is also highly recommended to purchase travel insurance that will cover motorbike accidents. There is not an insurer that will cover unlicensed riders.

Recommended to ride a scooter

You do not legally need safety equipment aside from a helmet to ride, but anyone who has seen an accident or been humbled knows that you dress for the slide and not the ride.

A helmet is legally required, but many helmets only cover the head. It does allow for better airflow, but a full-face helmet will cover your… full face. Who would have guessed. Full-face helmets have a chin guard that keeps your face looking beautiful in the case of a crash.

Sunglasses are also very important. Keeping the sun out of your eyes will help them stay on the road.

Aside from a helmet, wearing close toed shoes are recommended. You don’t have much meat on your feet and many people opt to wear open toed footwear.

If you want something easy to bring that will help, wear some gloves. They are easy to carry or throw in your helmet, and your hands will be the first thing your body will react with to break a fall.

More safety is always nice. It just depends how much you’re willing to carry. If you’re going on a 5 minute ride down a slow road to go eat, you may accept the risk of losing some skin if you don’t have to wear a jacket and pants in the tropical heat.

If you’re touring an area or country on a ride, you may want to purchase a jacket and pants made to withstand a fall on a motorcycle. There are many breathable mesh motorcycle gear that will have padding to keep your bones safe and fabric that will help keep your skin on those bones.

How to Rent a Motorbike in Thailand

There are plenty of rental shops all over Southeast Asia. Most people in the world are good, but it only takes one bad apple to ruin your trip.

Find a Reputable Rental Shop

The easiest way to not get bit by a snake is to avoid areas where snakes live.

When looking for a rental place, look for good reviews online, rent from your hostel, or follow a trusted recommendation.

Do not give your Passport

When you find a rental shop, I would advise against leaving your passport with the shop as collateral. If possible, find a rental place that doesn’t keep passports, or takes a deposit as collateral instead.

If for any reason your passport is lost or held hostage, you will be in for a headache.

A scooter rental will still ask for a photocopy of your passport, so make sure to have a few on you as you travel.

Document the vehicle before leaving

Make sure to take a video of the whole scooter and take pictures of any damages that you find. Without proof of previous damages, you will be held responsible if the shop claims you caused any damage.

This is a scam that some shady rental shops may try to do. This is also why you do not want to leave your passport with them. Even if you did not cause any damages, you won’t be able to leave. If you do not have any proof to save yourself, you’ll end up having to pay whatever ransom fee there is.

In most cases, you’ll be fine, but it’s better to do your due diligence and be safe rather than sorry