Car Hire

[bill20038]

I am visiting Chiang Mai in December and staying at a hotel close to the night markets. I would like to hire a smallish car to get around in the city and also make a few day trips. Do they have GPS and is it a viable option in Chiang Mai anyway? Would just a roadmap (if I can find one) do the trick? Also any recommendations for a trustworthy hire company? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[Palmeiras]

I have hired a car here a few times and the best deal I usually (not necessarily always) get is from www.fastcarhire.co.uk. They are brokers/agents and the last car I had they sourced from Hertz at the airport at a price which was exceptionally good value for that company. Good car, pleasant staff, minimal bureaucracy, good all inclusive price, delivered to and picked up from the property we were staying in. You can ask Fast about the extras you want. There is GPS in Thailand and would certainly be useful if available and you're a stranger to the city.

[wolf5370]

I always use POP - however there are several in town (some have bad reviews) - I use the one next door to SpotLight (gogo bar) at Thaipae gate on the moat (between Loy Kroh and Chang Mai Road).

Small car (Honda Jazz size) is 1,100 baht a day and includes insurance. Either leave passport or 5k and photocopy of passport (just ID page).

Cheaper places available - some Thai only (there is a company that does rentals of cars that are owned by members of the public through them - did that once and had a Thai policeman's car for a week - stickers in the window proved useful - but its Thai only) - but check up on 1st class insurance! Internet based ones all want credit cards including swipe for deposit (debit cards not accepted nor is cash!) - my sister was ripped off by one of them to the tune of 1000 baht just this month! (they took the pre-deposit then decided they would not accept her Visa Debit and only refunded part of it after she had left to go home even though promised full refund!). Usual names like Hertz are expensive, $40 a day or more on small cars.

Bigger companies will have cars with GPS - some rent them for extra - they are OK in CM but in my experience they are not very up to date - telling you to turn down non-existent roads and marking you at places not on a road (to that annoying "take a U-turn at the next opportunity" over and over). Get a good map - its a small city with a fairly easy road system - all roads lead to the moat (or away from it).

[scorecard]

My family is resident in Chiang Mai, we have many times rented from the following small rental company:

- CD CARRENT

- 191/24Changklan Road

- Tel 084 9494 555 or 081 998 4703 or office phone 053 818 041

One minute walk from the Pantip Plaza (night market) buildings.

We usually rent a Toyota Vios, basic model, at 1,000Baht per day (not sure is that's a discounted rate, because we do rent from they quite often). What other cars they have I don't know.

They ask for 1,000Baht deposit on making the booking, then full payment of the whole rental when we pick the car plus 5,000Baht damage deposit when we pick up the car.

Quite professional operation, never any funny games about damage to the vehicles etc.

For December it may be wise to book early if it's in the middle of the main holidays.

[bill20038]

Thanks everybody - I will certainly book early as its dec 23-31 for visit - and will download a few maps in the meantime

[eyecatcher]

The last company we hired from was budget.

I also though, woah, expensive, blah,blah.

But wifey sorted it, they have website, and get great weekly deals. We had to drive to isaan, so we got a honda civic 2l, the deal was 5000bt a week, excellent.

Insurance fully comp included

And this is why I am glad to chosen budget.

At pitsanoluk, middle of no where, we stopped for rest....but the car never started again, flat battery or something.

At 4am we were rescued and given a mitsu pajero as replacement, no charge for the fuel we used and no quibble when we returned it.

A deposit was not charged against a credit card also.

So just a thought if you are to hire....ask yourself if you break down or have accident away from chiang mai, who will help you.

Don't always go for what you think is cheap,...1000bt a day for a small car, we paid 700bt a day....albeit the misfortune was included swell.

Sent via tin can and string after pigeon shot

[seedy]

I second the above opinions of using one of the big guys - Hertz, Avis, etc.

They have real first class insurance, and weekly specials can't be beat I have found.

Checked many smaller rental companies in CNX an other places I lived, and they could not touch the price. And free pickup and drop-off at your home/hotel.

[chiang mai]

Northern Wheels, very reliable and been here for years.

[bill20038]

Another question - this info is on the Thai Rent A Car web site - is this factual ? - With an Australian car license no International is required ?

6. DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENT

In order to rent THAI RENT A CAR vehicle, a valid driver’s license from the customer’s country of residence is required and must be presented at time of rental. International renters must present a valid license from their country of residence, if the license is in a language rather than English, an International Driver’s permit is required in conjunction with the country of residence driver’s license

And yes thank you very much - I have taken above suggestions on board - I will definitely go with the big ones - the extra baht is well worth the security

[jackr]

I would always have an IDP if using home license, but believe you can drive on that for 12 months here?

Yes, stick with the big ones. You get the insurance and less chance of them picking up on spurious dinks which were there previously.

Have used Budget and Thai Rent A Car many a time. Northwheels also good.

[FolkGuitar]

Another question - this info is on the Thai Rent A Car web site - is this factual ? - With an Australian car license no International is required ?

6. DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENT

In order to rent THAI RENT A CAR vehicle, a valid driver’s license from the customer’s country of residence is required and must be presented at time of rental. International renters must present a valid license from their country of residence, if the license is in a language rather than English, an International Driver’s permit is required in conjunction with the country of residence driver’s license

And yes thank you very much - I have taken above suggestions on board - I will definitely go with the big ones - the extra baht is well worth the security

The car rental companies don't require the International Drivers License for RENTAL of the car. But it IS a requirement under Thai law when DRIVING in Thailand, and if you get stopped by the police and don't have one, you probably will get ticketed. But getting an IDL is such a simple process and can be done by mail that there is no reason not to have one before you travel.

[seedy]

Just checked this morning for myself. Both quotes include first class insurance with I believe 10,000 baht deductible.

Toyota Vios - North Wheels - 1500 1-6 days 1275 7 days

Budget - 1906 1-6 days 1708 7 days (for Vios/Honda city, but all booked until after new year) Toyota Altis 2632 1-6 days 2335 7 days

[bill20038]

Thanks for everybody's help

[mesquite]

Consider this: Driving in the city is a nightmare. You can take song taews. And rent from Journey rent a car, near Thapae gate, where you can get a driver as well. If you have several people, it might be the way to go, rent a van and driver with them.

Driving out of town is not for the faint of heart as the Thais tend to pass on blind curves, upgrades, etc.

[anto]

Consider this: Driving in the city is a nightmare. You can take song taews. And rent from Journey rent a car, near Thapae gate, where you can get a driver as well. If you have several people, it might be the way to go, rent a van and driver with them.

Driving out of town is not for the faint of heart as the Thais tend to pass on blind curves, upgrades, etc.

The general standard of driving out side of peak hours is quite relaxed all around Chiang Mai provence ,and North Thailand .

[chiang mai]

Consider this: Driving in the city is a nightmare. You can take song taews. And rent from Journey rent a car, near Thapae gate, where you can get a driver as well. If you have several people, it might be the way to go, rent a van and driver with them.

Driving out of town is not for the faint of heart as the Thais tend to pass on blind curves, upgrades, etc.

The general standard of driving out side of peak hours is quite relaxed all around Chiang Mai provence ,and North Thailand .