john 111

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Good to know! Thanks!

Thanks guys, but the question is about the rental company and am I considered a local resident. If you look at the two pictures and what is required...That's what i'm trying to figure out...

Hi Everyone, 

When i go to rent a car for a trip back to the U.s, the rental companies gives two to options which

i've posted a screen shot of both options.

Has anyone here chosen the 'I'm not a local resident option"

This option is cheaper and also comes with some insurance etc, so if this is an ok option, i'd like to know if anyone

has used this option recently. 

I've tried calling the rental company call center, but i get someone who isn't familiar and they tell me to book it as a local resident, which isn't possible

because i no longer have a U.S. licence.

Thanks for your help, been spinning wheels over this.

Best,

John

Hi Everyone, 

Thanks very much for your suggestions....

Here's what i still can not figure out....

When i go to rent the car as a "non local resident,"

(i'm renting the car in California but live here)

as is seen in the picture it says,

Original, physical drivers license that matches your passport + original physical internatial driving permit.

What does it mean that it matches my passport? My passport is from the U.S.?

By the way the rates are dramaticly lower when searching via skyscanner in Thailand...

or the other option which is... you can see below....

but for this, i don't have a local licence etc....

I've tried calling the rental company call center, but i get someone who isn't familiar and they tell me to book it as a u.s. resident....

Thanks for your help. I can not get my head around this.

Best, 

John

6 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

 

 

 

 

I would think you'd have to show the passport of the country you claimed in the booking.

 

Yes, it's confusing. The price difference is substantial with economy car rentals as an example. But there's very little clarity etc.

 

6 hours ago, Robert Paulson said:

I assume that means you can legally drive a car (non rental) without an (in country) license. Is that true? If so that’s news to me. 

Yes you can use an out of country license...

Thanks very much Ginboy!!

57 minutes ago, GinBoy2 said:

I never had any problems just giving my my Thai DL at the rental desk. Never asked to show a passport

Hi Ginboy, are you a U.S. citizen?

On 1/24/2018 at 9:06 AM, GinBoy2 said:

I've rented Hertz, Avis and Enterprise using my Thai license without any issue, didn't have an International License either.

On a pricing note. I've often used rentalcars.com, and their best deals usually exclude you using your US license, so the Thai one will often get you a better price.

Hi Ginboy, do they accept that you are a Thai resident as long as you have a Thai drivers licence. I just don't want to get there and find out that I'm considered a US resident because of my US passport and then it appears the price literally doubles....

Thanks for your help.

Hi,

I'm a U.S. Citizen with a Thai Drivers License and no U.S. drivers license.

The car rental companies in the U.S. offer a much lower price to Thai residents.

I've been on a retirement visa for years and own my own place in Thailand.

The price for U.S. residents is dramatically different on the websites.

The problem is, I'm not sure whether the U.S. rental companies will consider me as a Thai resident because

I only have a U.S. Passport. 

The discount websites that find deals from the different u.s. rental companies, have said to contact the local u.s. company,

but i'm met with a call center where the person literally doesn't have a clue and there's no way to talk with the local branch.

If any U.S. citizen has experience with this, i'd really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Best,

JOhn

On 7/12/2024 at 10:25 PM, JackGats said:

I book cars in Europe and my only valid driving license is the Thai driving license. I book with my Thai address. Why would you want to book with any other address? The insurance comes with the rental. If you lie about your residence couldn't this cause problems if you have accident?

 

I never book direct with the rental brand (Hertz, Alamo, Avis etc.). I always book through third-party websites like Autoeurope. On such websites it's usually clear what the insurance covers. You can opt for total waiver etc.

 

Some providers like rentarcars.com have turned me down as a customer because  live in Thailand. Message: "sorry but we don't accept customers who live in your country of residence".

 

You should find out whether the Thai driving license on its own (without the international driving permit) is accepted in the US. It most probably is since the Thai driving license is in English.  You should print out the page where it says the Thai driving license alone is OK, in order to have something to show to the rental agency and/or to the police.

 

 

Thank you very much JackGats

Hi Everyone, thank you for your comments. So i'm about to try and book a rental for august in the U.S. I'm a U.S. Citizen but have lived in Thailand for the last 10 years, so only have my Thai licence. Do i select that i am a "Resident" of Thailand when booking. And also it seems many of the rental companies are not stating what the insurance costs are? Thank you for your help. Bit overwhelmed by this. Thanks!!

On 5/14/2024 at 2:42 PM, pgrahmm said:

It can be done but you have to go to (find) an independent broker.....

I tried to restart my AAA coverage = they couldn't but sent me to a local broker....It ended up about $800 to cover my 4Runner....We logged over 5k miles as we RV'd about...

I did get an IDP = nobody paid any attention to it, however, it's my understanding that certain states absolutely require it while others do not....

I got it just for backup & will for the next trip too....

I did take a paper copy of my TH auto insurance, so they couldn't claim I was driving uninsured. It wasn't used - but I'll continue to do this as an ounce of prevention....

Thank you.

21 hours ago, novacova said:

They sell them at the driver license shop in hangdog, pretty cheap too.

Thanks for your response. Do i need to bring proof of residence, or can i just use my thai licence as proof?

On 5/14/2024 at 10:44 AM, marin said:

5 year Thai license in English and you are good to go. I have used mine the last 3 times home. Going on Thursday and picking up a car from Dollar, no worries. 

Thank you for your response. Both my licence car and motorcycle here have the main info first in thai and then in english.  Is this what you mean? So i don't need to get the international drivers licence at all for the U.S.? Again thanks.

I'm a u.s. citizen living in thailand for many years. i only have a thai drivers licence and no u.s. licence. Do i need an international licence to drive in the u.s. when i go for a visit? Or can i use my thai drivers licence? And if i need an international licence, where in Chiang Mai can i get one, and can i present my thai licence as proof of residence? Thanks very much for your help!!

Hi All,

Wondering if anyone has a current update on travel between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai? Is it currently possible to drive

between the two as of now, or starting May 1st without quarantine for 14 days? And do you need any documents in either direction? Thank you in advance!

Thank you very much Matzzon, i sent you a private message.

Hi,

I'm living in Chiang Mai, and was wondering if there might be someone here who has any experience

with exporting from Thailand successfully and wouldn't mind sharing some knowledge. If so, please

send a message and maybe we could meet for a coffee or a meal. Thanks in advance!!

Sorry if i used the wrong language, i meant extension, and the response that i can go in up to 30 days in advance without changing my original date, was what i was looking for.

I appreciate the help.

All the best.

John

Hi

Thank you for your responses.

I'm referring to extending my retirement visa for a second year etc.

I was planning to go and do it 10 days earlier than the original date, and that was the question, ie

would the extension be for a year plus those ten days etc.

Thanks again for your help.

Best

John

Hi All

Just wondering whether my original issue date from my Retirement Visa last year will remain the same if i do the Renewal of my retirement Visa a bit earlier,

or if it will be moved forward to the date i do the renewal on?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Best

John

Yeah, that sounds about right Nancy. These days often the so called 'digital nomads' seem to feel the need to resell and repackage and monetize something with only feigned or implied 'expertise' etc. So far, we've just been creating a simple format for our small group together as we go and certainly with no cost! Maybe, because there's none of that type of motivation, it feels clean, simple and mutually benificial. Anyway, from this point on, i guess if someone here has a genuine interest in joining us or discussing it further, please just send me a private message etc.

For myself, this kind of a small group is great on a lot of levels. Meeting regularly once a week gives a perspective

on time and keeps me aware of what i'd like to remain focussed on that often inadvertantly falls by the wayside.

It gives context and perspective and seems to bring a greater awareness. Often it also has the ancillary benifit of being a great

basis for longterm and trustworthy friendship. In terms of nefarious purposes etc, because it's something that usually

builds pretty organically, in my experience it actually repells that kind of stuff.

Thanks for your comment. I think all of us have blind spots that working together can at times help dimminish.

Best

John

Hi All

Wondering if anyone would be interested in joining a Mastermind or mutual mentoring/accountability group.

We are two so far and meet weekly and our small group has been really benificial.

We are looking for a couple more people who would like to join us.

Having a meeting where we have the shared purpose of helping each other stay on track with whatever

is most important to each individual can be a great weekly anchor.

If interested or have any questions please contact me.

Thanks.

John