Is it recommended to hire a car in northern Thailand? From whom?
My partner and I are going to be traveling in the north of Thailand for a few days next month.
Is it a good idea to hire a car while there? If so, where? I have heard that some car rental services in Thailand run a scam where they notice minor faults in the car (present when renting) when you return it, and charge exorbitant fees. Please recommend a good and reliable car-hire service in Chiang Mai.
If a car is not needed, is it possible or desirable to take automotive day-tours in the area?
Best Answer
I agree with Tom. Songthaews and tuktuks will make you appreciate Chiang Mai more, and they're definitely a more affordable option. If you have to deal with a car rental company, be very wary and make sure to Google it up and contact the best ones. You might wanna check out EasyTerra.
Pictures about "Is it recommended to hire a car in northern Thailand? From whom?"
Is it safe to hire a car in Thailand?
Thailand officially has the second-highest road fatality rate in the world. You will get a copy of any damage to the car as you would in any country when you rent a car. Keep it safe as it will be required when you return the car.Do I need a car in Chiang Mai?
Honestly, we recommend renting a car only if you're travelling outside of Chiang Mai to places like Chiang Rai, the Golden Triangle, etc. If you don't need to travel outside the City, stick to the other modes of transportation mentioned above. Taxis are available, but they usually just take you to and from the airport.What do I need to hire a car in Thailand?
To rent a car in Thailand, drivers should usually be at least 21 years old, although some agencies like National will accept drivers from 20 years and up. An International Driver's Permit (IDP) is always required, along with a valid domestic driver's license.Is car rental expensive in Thailand?
The cost for renting a small, standard budget car starts at 700 baht per day and runs all the way up to 3000 baht per day for a luxury model. You could pay as much as 5,000 baht per day for a large, luxury car with a few added extras. Below is an average daily price for popular models.Car Rental in THAILAND | Tips \u0026 Advice on Car Hire
More answers regarding is it recommended to hire a car in northern Thailand? From whom?
Answer 2
I would certainly recommend renting a car when you're planning on visiting sights outside the city centre. As others have pointed out, inside the city centre is a pain when it comes to traffic jams and parking, but the first also applies to taxis and other modes of transportation that are wider than a motor bike (and those tend to be more dangerous).
My advise would be to take a hotel room inside the city centre for the days you're planning to do stuff there and to rent a car and use hotels on the outskirts of town (or out of town if you're doing a multi-day road trip) to explore the other sights. And yes, there are many other sights (Doi Suthep, Doi Inthanon, one of the many waterfalls, etc.) and there are many overpriced tours from the city centre but those tend to be less flexible than driving yourself.
As for where to rent your car, I recommend the international companies that have offices all over Thailand (most airports and some city centres). Using one of those rather than a smaller company means that they probably have services in place to help you should you need roadside assistance. Small companies may have that too, but it's easier to contact those larger companies and get help when you're further away from your rental location (or when it's outside office hours).
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Yaroslav Shuraev, The Lazy Artist Gallery, Ketut Subiyanto, The Lazy Artist Gallery