SCOOTER RENTALS
Navigating Motorbike Rentals in Thailand: Tips for Savvy Travelers
Renting motorbikes in Thailand can be more challenging than in Vietnam, primarily due to higher prices and deposits. This is largely because of the influx of inexperienced tourists, which tends to drive up prices and reduce the overall quality of service.
Typically, rental shops will quote prices between 200 to 300 Baht ($6 to $9 USD) per day. However, if you’re renting for a week or more, don’t accept those rates. I recently wanted to rent a bike for 14 days, and they insisted on charging 250 Baht per day. I pointed out that 1,500 Baht (around $45 USD) for two weeks seemed excessive. Having lived in Southeast Asia since 2017, I know that the average local worker earns about $300 a month, so it’s important to keep that in perspective and not compare prices to those back home.
My goal was to rent an affordable Honda Click. Interestingly, you can buy a brand-new Click for about 1,500 Baht, or find a used one (five years old or less) for around $450 on Facebook Marketplace. It’s unreasonable for rental shops to expect to charge $45 for a bike they likely purchased for $450.
Eventually, the rental shop owner agreed to my price of 1,500 Baht, and after I mentioned I’d promote his contact on my website, he even lowered it to 1,400 Baht. This experience highlights the importance of negotiation and being informed when renting in Thailand.
Typically, rental shops will quote prices between 200 to 300 Baht ($6 to $9 USD) per day. However, if you’re renting for a week or more, don’t accept those rates. I recently wanted to rent a bike for 14 days, and they insisted on charging 250 Baht per day. I pointed out that 1,500 Baht (around $45 USD) for two weeks seemed excessive. Having lived in Southeast Asia since 2017, I know that the average local worker earns about $300 a month, so it’s important to keep that in perspective and not compare prices to those back home.
My goal was to rent an affordable Honda Click. Interestingly, you can buy a brand-new Click for about 1,500 Baht, or find a used one (five years old or less) for around $450 on Facebook Marketplace. It’s unreasonable for rental shops to expect to charge $45 for a bike they likely purchased for $450.
Eventually, the rental shop owner agreed to my price of 1,500 Baht, and after I mentioned I’d promote his contact on my website, he even lowered it to 1,400 Baht. This experience highlights the importance of negotiation and being informed when renting in Thailand.