Budget Rent A Car Chiang Mai

[pgthompson]

I would just like to inform everyone who's thinking of hiring a car to consider Budget, the one I used is opposite the Airport Shopping Centre.

I hired a Pick Up Truck on Wednesday to go to Pai, Half an hours drive before reaching Pai it started raining and as I was coming to a sharp curve in the road I started to brake, unfortunately the road was so slippy that I skidded into an oncoming Mini Bus coming the opposite way, fortunately no one was injured although, in my limited experience of mechanics, both vehicles are complete write offs, but this is Thailand so I'm probably wrong!

Within 3 hours the 2 vehicles had been towed to Pai Police Station, 2 members of staff from Budget had brought me a replacement truck and stayed with me to go through all the formalities with the Police, the owner of the Mini Bus and both Insurance Companies. They were highly professional and helpful.

I have rented vehicles from other small companies in Chiang Mai in the past but I now ask myself, would I have had the same level as service that I received? I used to pay 200 baht less per day from these local companies but there was an excess of 5,000 baht for damage and 20,000 baht for a write off vehicle. Budget was full insurance with no excess.

Highly recommend in my experience.

[BookMan]

Always worth to pay a little extra and rent with one of the big companies in my experience

[onthedarkside]

Always worth to pay a little extra and rent with one of the big companies in my experience

I completely agree. I tend to use Avis.

[dave2]

re

I would just like to inform everyone who's thinking of hiring a car to consider Budget, the one I used is opposite the Airport Shopping Centre.

here ya go

dave2

[paulchiangmai]

Did this vehicle have ABS, would ABS have prevented you from skidding into another vehicle?

[pgthompson]

Did this vehicle have ABS, would ABS have prevented you from skidding into another vehicle?

Sorry, I've no idea if it had ABS or if it would have made a difference if it had or not. The vehicle was a Toyota Vigo 2.5 Litre. It was a newish vehicle with only 6500 km on the clock.

[eden8]

thanks you for sharing.

will take note.

[Supertuktuk]

Maybe a silly question but i have no experience in Thailand.... I don't have a credit card but i will need to rent a car soon, so do you think this is possible ?

[onthedarkside]

If you want to rent from Avis/Budget/Hertz then you need a credit card. Plenty other independents will rent to you, but be careful what sort of insurance is REALLY on offer.

Maybe a silly question but i have no experience in Thailand.... I don't have a credit card but i will need to rent a car soon, so do you think this is possible ?

[pgthompson]

If you want to rent from Avis/Budget/Hertz then you need a credit card. Plenty other independents will rent to you, but be careful what sort of insurance is REALLY on offer.

Maybe a silly question but i have no experience in Thailand.... I don't have a credit card but i will need to rent a car soon, so do you think this is possible ?

Certainly not a silly question.

The first time I rented with Budget they did want a 20,000 Baht deposit with a credit card, I presume for verification purpose, now they just ask me for 10,000 Baht deposit. I think this is if you don't return the vehicle full of fuel, which it is when you receive it, they will charge you. Would they take cash instead? No idea!

As for the previous times I've rented with local companies all they ask for is your passport, which I would never give, so then a 5000 Baht cash deposit is fine.

As previous reply, PLEASE CHECK WHAT IS INSURED, Always worth reading the small print. The accident I had would have cost me at least 20,000 Baht and all the hassle with it.

Could you ask a friend to hire the car for you, using their credit card and naming you as the driver?

[Supertuktuk]

Unfortunately i have no friends here in Thailand ....however many thanks guys !!

[Sparkles]

Only ever been asked for a photocopy of my passport,done when picking up the car from the cheaper renters.usually leave 5,000 b deposit.Of course if you do happen to break down miles from home you might regret going for the cheaper option.I guess you get what you pay for.