48 replies to this topic

[deepthroat]

There is an older thread about scooter rentals but it seems time for an update.

I've never rented a scooter, but I think this trip I'll try it. I want to be able to get out of Pattaya during the daytime hours and go see the beaches and areas around town, but don't want to be limited to the baht bus or where my feets can take me. Renting a scooter seems to be reasonable (100-150 baht daily average?) relatively safe if you drive carefully and wear a helmet, and a good diversion.

The earlier thread already answered the question about Passports - it was determined you should NEVER give your Passport to the rental company, only a COPY is actually necessary.

It was also determined that it's in your best interest to inspect the vehicle carefully and if there is even minor damage, photograph it - preferably with the rental guy in the photo as well - and save it for when you return the scooter.

It was also determined that an International Drivers License and insurance are not needed in Thailand if you are renting for less than 6 months, but the insurance is definitely a good idea for your own peace of mind. And always wear your helmet, you're in for more than just the 500 baht fine if you don't.

With those out of the way:

1. Where are the best places to rent in Pattaya? I'll be staying at the April Suites.
2. How safe is it to park your scooter around town? What about out at remote beaches and the like? Any chance of someone stealing it?
3. Where should I go?
4. Any other safety tips or recommendations?

Edited by deepthroat, 11 September 2011 - 10:34 AM.

[niftyjohn]

deepthroat, on 11 September 2011 - 10:33 AM, said:

There is an older thread about scooter rentals but it seems time for an update.

I've never rented a scooter, but I think this trip I'll try it. I want to be able to get out of Pattaya during the daytime hours and go see the beaches and areas around town, but don't want to be limited to the baht bus or where my feets can take me. Renting a scooter seems to be reasonable (100-150 baht daily average?) relatively safe if you drive carefully and wear a helmet, and a good diversion.

The earlier thread already answered the question about Passports - it was determined you should NEVER give your Passport to the rental company, only a COPY is actually necessary.

It was also determined that it's in your best interest to inspect the vehicle carefully and if there is even minor damage, photograph it - preferably with the rental guy in the photo as well - and save it for when you return the scooter.

It was also determined that an International Drivers License and insurance are not needed in Thailand if you are renting for less than 6 months, but the insurance is definitely a good idea for your own peace of mind. And always wear your helmet, you're in for more than just the 500 baht fine if you don't.

With those out of the way:

1. Where are the best places to rent in Pattaya? I'll be staying at the April Suites.
2. How safe is it to park your scooter around town? What about out at remote beaches and the like? Any chance of someone stealing it?
3. Where should I go?
4. Any other safety tips or recommendations?

Do not park in the yellow and white marked zones they will padlock your bike and you will have to go to soi9 police station pay 500baht then go back wait for a policeman to unchain you.
Get yourself one of those bike locks you put through your wheel for your own safety.
Just two to start with.

[icebergjr.]

DT,
I also like the fact that you understand the need for a helmet,as I've been riding for 28 years now and always wear one.
The states I've lived in and ridden in the most (AZ,SC,FL,SD) don't have helmet laws but I always wear one nonetheless, as arms(broke mine 9 years ago),legs and other various parts can heal up but your head is very important,so always protect it!

Cheers,

Iceberg

BTW-I see you've made plans to stay at April Suites on the next trip,good for you,and I promise to make a Thread about my upcoming stay at this hotel, only 19 more days until I check in @ April Suites ! Can't wait!

[Frenchsaluki]

I rented already twince a motorbike in Patts. I dont remember the name of the Company bud they do business with Canterbury Tales Guesthouse. Ask Dave and he will call the Guy with the bikes. Good prices and quality bikes, 2 helmets and insuraces and taxe payed. 1000bath deposit and no problem with return (if there are no damages)

Henri

[Solice]

Talked to a couple of BM's recently who have just been to Patts and the police are pulling farangs over for minor reasons to get payment.

With regard to an international driving license you will get fined if you do not have one.

They are fining for things such as doing a uturn in the road, riding down the outside of the traffic along the white line, turning left at a major intersection when the lights are on red. All these things were done in the presence of other Thais but as usual the police just pull over the farangs.

Carry some money with you at all times, (500) for bribes as it is much easier than making your way to soi 9 to pay the fine, it seems there is no avoiding getting fined at the moment.

Solice

[Jason_Bourne]

Have rented in Chiang Mai and Hua Hin, but Patts is another story. I have to agree with Solice that it is always better to pay off than to have to go to police station.

The only thing I saw in Hua Hin last week was a falang being waved over for his GF not having a helmet. The cop looked up at me and another Westerner on bikes and pointed to his head to show why the guy got busted.

[bob2011]

Fines for bike offences range from 400 bht to 800 bht. Most police will take 200 bht from a farang as long as you give him the money BEFORE he puts pen to paper. Thais will generally pay 100 bht. If it is very busy, lots of people standing around it may be difficult to secure the bribe, try to be discreet.

You need to carry your overseas licence. You are supposed to have your passport with you too but a photocopy is usually O.K. Don't re-size or laminate any copies because they will think it is a fake. Keep the rental agreement in the bike also. You can ride for up to 90 days with this documentation.

Always wear a helmet. Police are catching many farangs at major intersection for pulling up too far over the lines. Stop well back from the intersection or they will walk in front of you, remove the key from your bike and fine you. They sit at south pattaya/2nd road and central pattaya/2nd road intersection most days.

Not many bikes get stolen from the main areas, ask the rental guy if he has a lock for the bike.

Don't rent a big bike unless you are a wanker. I've owned a scooter for years and it is great to ride around Pattaya and you can safely get through the traffic and park it anywhere. I have ridden big bikes from time to time and found it a pain in the bum. the streets are too busy and the traffic too chaotic for big bikes. Almost every time you see a farang in a bike accident he is on a "road racer".

Rent from anyone who seems to have a few bikes available. If you are here for a few weeks, do a deal up front with the guy for the full time, you won't regret it.

Take care.

[Ass Splitter Jones]

The only thing I can add is check out you travellors insurance policy when it comes to claims from accidents. Soem will cover and some won't. I noticed a a policy from through Webjet, that they would cover up to $25,000 only, and would not cover if you didn't have a motercycle liscence from you home country. If you were on the back of one, they wouldn't cover unless the driver had a liscense from their home country.

.Other have much higher coverage, and don't limit you this way. Some I found cover just about everything incuding adventure travel.

[Slacker]

Last trip I rented a bike from Mark at Kessaya Bike Rentals. A seamless experience from the booking, delivery of bike to hotel (+ 2 helmets and chain to lock it up) and the satisfaction that you are not going to get any dubious damage claims on return. Prices start at 600 THB per week, which is a bargain. He gets very busy, so worth getting in touch as early as possible.

I let the 'missus' do all the driving - not only are the roads seemingly a free-for-all, but with a Thai driving I couldn't possibly be the cause of any accident. You really need eyes in your backside and trying to anticipate what the guy in front is going to do is harder than guessing the winning lottery numbers. Stick to smaller roads, watch out for potholes, soi dogs, drunk tourists (on other scooters too)...

[cesar67]

i have rented from the same guy for about 10 years now, you will find him outside the world wide agogo on beach road soi8.
his bikes are all spot on, 120 a day for the 100cc twist and go, which is plenty for pattaya.
he never asks for passport, never had a problem with him getting my thousand baht deposit back, also i know that he is genuine as one of my friends "lost" his bike in june, so he went to the guy in soi 8, he called the police and it had been towed away, so he is not out to con farangs.
a tip that i have started to do, is take my uk driving license with me, as even though it does not allow me to drive a moped on the streets, the thai police just see the european stars on it, and accept it, as most of them cannot read english.
think the guy's name in soi 8 is mr wirat

[misteronkel]

When it comes to cops and how they treat us, many times they just accept our europenan licences. I had a chat with a cop in a bar and he told me that if they want to give us fines they alway find a way. Except from always wearing a helmet, he told me to always bring:

1) International drivers licence plus your original licence.
2) Your passport or at least a copy of the passport.
3) The motorbike rental agreement.

If I had these three papers I would be pretty safe in a routine check. On the other hand, in many routine checks a eu-licence will be just fine. In fact, I know a guy that showed the cop a libarary card when he was pulled over in Phuket in the middle of the 90:s and got away with it.

I always bring my insurance papers too in case of an accident. If they find the insurance papers you will most likely be taken to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital or Memorial Hospital. If they dont fint any insurance papers you might end up in Banglamung Hospital where the nurses moves papers on the desk instead of taking care of the patients.

Don't expect the rental agreement to have any kind of traffic insurance. All damages to the bike is payed by you. If you crash and damage someone elses bike or car or whatever, try to settle as soon as possible. If you involve the cops you can be sure to be blamed for the accident. If a thai guy run in to you and his bike gets fucked up, just pay him and get out of there.

Drive safe and have fun!

[Rinzler]

I still think it would be awesome to get a big bike (not a scooter) and just ride all over Thailand. Just do some exploring. Maybe one day, I will.

[jmboy]

I always rent in Jomtien, I can get for 2500-3000 baht a month which I figure is pretty good. I try and get it close to where I live cos I can't be assed messing around when I take it back. Likewise I have never had a problem getting my 1,000 back and frankly if I am not in and out in 5 mins I get frustrated.

[Furryman]

Slacker, on 11 September 2011 - 03:40 PM, said:

Last trip I rented a bike from Mark at Kessaya Bike Rentals. A seamless experience from the booking, delivery of bike to hotel (+ 2 helmets and chain to lock it up) and the satisfaction that you are not going to get any dubious damage claims on return. Prices start at 600 THB per week, which is a bargain. He gets very busy, so worth getting in touch as early as possible.

I let the 'missus' do all the driving - not only are the roads seemingly a free-for-all, but with a Thai driving I couldn't possibly be the cause of any accident. You really need eyes in your backside and trying to anticipate what the guy in front is going to do is harder than guessing the winning lottery numbers. Stick to smaller roads, watch out for potholes, soi dogs, drunk tourists (on other scooters too)...

Another vote here for Kessaya, great prices and great service. I love having the bike brought to me.

Edited by Furryman, 22 January 2012 - 01:38 AM.

[niftyjohn]

Ass Splitter Jones, on 11 September 2011 - 03:24 PM, said:

The only thing I can add is check out you travellors insurance policy when it comes to claims from accidents. Soem will cover and some won't. I noticed a a policy from through Webjet, that they would cover up to $25,000 only, and would not cover if you didn't have a motercycle liscence from you home country. If you were on the back of one, they wouldn't cover unless the driver had a liscense from their home country.

.Other have much higher coverage, and don't limit you this way. Some I found cover just about everything incuding adventure travel.

The bit here about not covering you if you do not have a motorcycle licence is a good get out clause for the insurance company, one guy in australia had to pay $50.000 himself after the insurance company refused to pay because he was not licenced to ride a motor bike in australia, he had a bad accident major surgery to his leg and had international licence insurance but they would not pay because of this.

[Furryman]

niftyjohn, on 22 January 2012 - 12:27 PM, said:

The bit here about not covering you if you do not have a motorcycle licence is a good get out clause for the insurance company, one guy in australia had to pay $50.000 himself after the insurance company refused to pay because he was not licenced to ride a motor bike in australia, he had a bad accident major surgery to his leg and had international licence insurance but they would not pay because of this.

An international Driver Permit only allows you to drive abroad what you are allowed to drive at home. It does not give motorcycle endorsement if you don't have one from home.

[niftyjohn]

Furryman, on 23 January 2012 - 08:12 AM, said:

An international Driver Permit only allows you to drive abroad what you are allowed to drive at home. It does not give motorcycle endorsement if you don't have one from home.

Spot on mate, some people should take note when hiring a motor bike or scooter i will be doing my motor bike licence when back in sydney as i think obtaining a thai licence would be hard unless in thailand permanently which i might be later this year.

[bidenmark]

I still would be carefull with renting a motorcycle. I have done it numerous times, and get away alive without problems, but I have seen some nasty accidents, been pushed off the road by busses, cars, trucks, have been going through big putholes in the road and been fined about 4 times, eventhough the Thai people around me are getting away with the same offence.

That said, when renting outside of Pattaya, say Chiang Mai of less touristy areas is a bit better, the police is not especially keen for fining foreigners.

[Furryman]

niftyjohn, on 23 January 2012 - 01:25 PM, said:

Spot on mate, some people should take note when hiring a motor bike or scooter i will be doing my motor bike licence when back in sydney as i think obtaining a thai licence would be hard unless in thailand permanently which i might be later this year.

Actually getting a Thai Licence is not too hard, but it does take up a day of time at best to get done. Not so bad if you are there for a month or more but if you are only there 2 weeks it might not be worth the time. A Thai DL will also get you Thai admisson prices at a lot of tourist places, parks etc.

IIRC you need to have a visa in your passport, a visa exemption may not work. Have heard mixed info on that. I was on a 60 day tourist visa when I got mine.

You need a residence cert. from immigration, and to get that you need a note from your landlord that you have paid for such and such time and this is the address. Take that note, your passport copies of you passport and some Passport photos to immigration, fill out a form, pay some baht and get certificate.

Take that certificate, more PP photos, your passport and copies of your passport to the land transport office. Best results get there 8 am sharp, you can do everything in one day. Watch a movie, take a 'written' test on a computer take some eyesight and reflex tests. Get your paper to be ready to take driving test. About then the whole place shuts down for lunch. As soon as lunch is over you queue up for the driving test. It's a little obstacle course you drive through. You have to signal your turns and obey the signs, do a little serpintine between cones, ride a 10 meter long rail about 20 cm wide without falling off. If you pass you get another paper to take back upstairs, then you wait to be called they take your baht and take a picture (NO SMILING) and 30 seconds later your shiny new licence pops out of the little machine.

If you fail the obstacle course you get an appointment to come back 5 days later. No pressure. Yeah I failed the first time. Fell off the rail.

Edited by Furryman, 25 January 2012 - 09:38 AM.

[odotor]

bidenmark, on 25 January 2012 - 01:42 AM, said:

eventhough the Thai people around me are getting away with the same offence.

I saw it the other way around. When I was sitting at a bar on beachroad watching the BIB stop traffic sinners they stopped almost every Thai without a helmet
but didn't bother about the farangs.

Perhaps the have days going only for Thais, and other days reserved for farangs.
Probably depends on how full the cookie jar is.