Stiff competition from no-frills airline companies has allowed people to travel around Thailand at a lower cost than ever before. This has led to an increase in popularity of fly-drive holidays and a mushrooming of car rental companies around the country.
There are so many car rental companies, both Thai and international, with so many tantalising product offers and services, that is can be difficult to choose which one to go with. Doing a little homework about the different operators can help keep your trip enjoyable.
You may find that many local companies offer tempting rates and are easy to deal with, but standards do vary and not all of them can be trusted. Big companies therefore are often the safest bet. There are quite a number of international rental car companies operating in Thailand today, including Hertz, Avis, Budget, Sixt and National Car Rental.
Budget is famed for its number of branches and its fleet of new cars that are kept in good condition. Its B Class cars come with ABS and airbags as standard. If you wish to use a voucher or take advantage of any special deals then a seven-day advance booking is required.
Avis offers the most attractive rental fees, both online and walk-in rates, with special rates sometimes available on short-notice bookings.
Hertz is the only international operator which has a branch in Ao Nang, Krabi, so it is a favourite brand for those who are planning trips there, but it does have a high refundable deduction rate, at between 3,000–10,000 baht. Its customer database also leaves a lot to be desired, with repeat customers often required to give personal information every time they reserve.
Sixt is the latest car rental operator to expand in Thailand following the merging with local brand Master Car. Its fleet is quite new and all upper class cars have less than 50,000km on the clock.
If you’re prepared to do the research, however, local operators may be cheaper and better suited to you than those big brands. If you travel up north to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and the town of Pai, North Wheels Rent A Car is a trustworthy agency, although its fleet is not quite as big as others.
North Wheels also does not have an office at Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai airport. Customers can, however, choose where they pick up and then return the car. The drop off charge is waived if you rent the car for more than three days.
On one occasion, I found that the rental car from North Wheels showed a warning signal when I was 60kms from where I had picked it up from. The company promptly drove a new upgraded car to replace it, free of charge. One should keep an eye out for promotions if you want to get a really cheap offer from major rental car companies. Tempting deals usually appear during low season and remain valid until high season. In major travel fairs, rental car companies normally offer special rate vouchers. These promotions usually include “buy five days, get one free” deals or special rates that can bring the rental rate down by up to 40%. For example, until July 31, Thai Rent A Car is offering a special rate starting from 399 baht per day for the Mitsubishi Mirage compact car.
Advance bookings allow you to negotiate and find the car that suits your trip and budget. Contacting rental car companies when you reach the airport or the town can be like searching to find hotel rooms without advance bookings. You can get either a surprisingly low or a shockingly high rate.
There is no guarantee that there will be cars available, however, especially during peak tourist season and long weekends. Some may even find that the booking has been cancelled. Be sure to check that you have received a confirmation email from the rental car company to ensure that the selected car will be ready for you at the destination. All international companies have online booking services.
Once you pick up your car, the very first thing to do is check the vehicle’s condition carefully. All cars should come with a fully filled fuel tank, a spare tyre and basic tools. The most important thing is to point out, or even perhaps photograph, all existing dents and scratches.
This should be done before signing the rental agreement, otherwise you will have to take full responsibility for the scratches at a later date.
If you know that your driving style may prevent you from returning the car in perfect condition, then buying an insurance package is advisable. By paying just 100-200 baht more per day you can drive away happily without the worry of damaging the car or even having the car stolen.
Apart from the rental fee that needs to be paid up front, all rental car companies require you to also pay a deposit, in the event of a crash.
The deposit ranges from 5,000-20,000 baht. In most cases, the company charges you on your credit card and then cancels the transaction or returns the payment after the car has been dropped off in good condition. You should always study the contract well in advance.
In summary, make the right selection and check the car carefully to ensure you have a great road trip.
