The questions we get most often about comparing offers, documents, deposits and picking a car across Phuket, Samui, Krabi, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Bangkok.
We built this page from the questions travellers actually ask us before they book, not the generic list every site copies. If something below is not covered, our contact page has a direct way to reach us. For a wider look at how the comparison itself works, see our about us page, and if you want to read what other travellers found once they picked up their car, check reviews.
Yes, and this is worth taking seriously. Thai law requires an International Driving Permit alongside your national licence for foreign drivers, and police checkpoints - especially around Phuket and Pattaya during high season - do ask for it. Local suppliers vary on how strictly they check the IDP at pickup, but if you are stopped without one, that is between you and the police, not the supplier. Get it sorted before you fly.
No, a UK licence alone is not sufficient for legal driving in Thailand. You need the International Driving Permit issued in the UK before departure (the Post Office issues these) paired with your UK licence. The good news for UK visitors doing car hire here is that Thailand drives on the left, same as home, so the road position itself needs no adjustment - just the paperwork.
Left-hand side, same as the UK and Australia. British and Australian travellers usually find this the easiest part of driving here - no mental flip needed at junctions. Visitors from continental Europe or North America should expect a short adjustment period, particularly at roundabouts and when a scooter overtakes on the side you are not watching.
Most local suppliers we compare do not hold a credit card deposit the way international chains do. Many ask for a small cash deposit instead, or none at all, depending on the car category and the supplier's own policy. This is a real difference from renting in the US or much of Europe, and it is one reason travellers like booking with local suppliers here. Exact terms are always shown on the individual offer before you confirm.
You typically pay a small amount online to confirm the booking, then settle the remaining balance with the supplier directly at pickup, in Thai baht cash or by card. This is standard practice across the resort belt and keeps things flexible if your plans shift slightly.
No. We compare car rental and car hire offers from independent local suppliers in Phuket, Samui, Krabi, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Bangkok, so you can see prices and conditions side by side before choosing one. Once you book, your agreement is with that local supplier, not with us - we simply help you find and compare the offer.
Yes, hotel delivery is normal practice with local suppliers across every resort we cover, often at no extra charge within the main tourist zones. Airport meet-and-greet is also widely offered at Phuket (HKT), Samui (USM), Krabi (KBV) and both Bangkok airports. Pickup and delivery details are listed per offer.
For Phuket, Samui and Krabi's flatter roads, a compact automatic like a Toyota Yaris or Honda City covers most needs comfortably. If you plan to explore Samui's steeper interior roads, or you are travelling with more luggage, a compact SUV such as a Honda HR-V handles the hills with less strain. On the mainland around Bangkok and Hua Hin, road quality is generally good and the same compacts work fine unless you need extra seats.
Automatic transmission is the standard configuration across nearly all local suppliers in Thailand - manual cars are the exception, not the rule. If you specifically want a manual for some reason, check the offer details, as availability is limited.
Honestly, yes, at peak hours it can be brutal, and many visitors are better off using a car with driver for city days and renting a self-drive car only once they leave for Hua Hin, Pattaya or beyond. If you do rent for city driving, an early start avoids the worst of it.
Scooters, without question. They appear from every angle, weave between lanes, and are the most common cause of minor incidents involving rental cars. Defensive driving - checking mirrors constantly and never assuming a gap is clear - matters more here than road quality or unfamiliar signage.
Ko Lanta is the main exception, reachable by car ferry from the Krabi area, so a rental car can cross with you. For most other islands, the standard approach is to leave the car with the supplier on the mainland and take a passenger ferry across, then arrange separate transport or a fresh rental on the island side if needed.
Green season - roughly April to June and September to October - brings the lowest rates, sometimes 25-30% below high season pricing on economy cars. November through March is peak dry season and the most expensive, along with Thai and Chinese holiday weeks, so booking a little ahead during those windows helps secure both price and availability.
Not really - 91 and 95 gasohol petrol is sold at similar prices nationwide and is inexpensive compared to Europe or Australia. Petrol stations are common along main roads in Phuket, Samui, Krabi, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Bangkok; it is mainly on quieter island roads that you should not let the tank run too low.
Yes, the expressways around Bangkok (routes such as 7 and 9) charge tolls that are normally paid in cash at the booth, so keep some small baht notes handy if your route touches the capital's motorway network. Outside Bangkok, tolls are far less common.