Rental Cars

Thailand

Rental Cars A wide selection of cars is available for rent in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket and Hat Yai. Car rental firms with an international network are considerably more expensive than local companies. In Pattaya, for example, it’s not only specialized companies that offer cars for rent but also many private owners who just park their vehicles along Beach Road, place a sign For Rent on the roof - and sit nearby, waiting for a customer. Rates for cars rented from private owners are typically considerably lower than for cars from specialized companies. Cars are rented out as self-drives as well as chauffeur driven. Luxury limousines are often only available chauffeur driven, and they can be hired by the hour.

Budget Rent a Car
We can offer car hire from all of the locations opposite and you have the option of a "One-Way Drive" where you collect the car from one location and drop it off at another, for no extra charge! Your car can be delivered to you free of charge for deliveries in the Budget locations listed. Budget carry one of the "youngest" fleet of cars in Thailand, with the average age of their vehicles being less than 12 months. Also, for your peace of mind, Budget provide a 24-hour breakdown service which covers the whole of the country. Please note all cars in the fleet below have air-conditioning, front and rear seat belts and radio/cassette player as standard. Locations of Budget's rental outlets are as shown on the map above. Budget Renta Car offers the following cars in Thailand (please note verhicle types may differ within a catogory [mentioned only as indication])

Suzuki Caribian 1.3 Manual /4WD code: MFMR
Toyota Soluna 1.3 Automatic code: ECAR
Toyota Corolla 1.6 Automatic code: CCAR
Suzuki Vitara 1.6 Automatic /4WD code: CFAR
Toyota Corona 2.0 Automatic code: ICAR
Honda Accord 2.3 Automatic code: FCAR
Honda CRV 2.6 Automatic/4WD code: IFAR
Toyota Hiace 3.0 Manual 12 seat minibus code: MVMR
Prices include Vehicle insurance and VAT (currently 7%) Please note a minimum hire period of 3 days applies!

Driving Licence

Unlike what is the case in most countries of the West as well as several neighboring countries (for example the Philippines), foreign drivers’ licenses are not recognized in Thailand. Foreigners staying in the country as tourists or non-immigrants can drive with a valid international drivers’ license. Foreign residents have to apply for a Thai drivers’ license at the Police Registration Division, either at Phahonyothin Road (Tel 513-0051 to 5) Mon-Fri 8:00-16:30 or a suburban or provincial branch office.

For foreigners, to get a Thai drivers’ licence is more than just a formality, even if they are in possession of a valid license from their home country. Among the papers required is a medical certificate as well as a letter from one’s employer. Though the requirements seem somehow unclear, the Thai authorities may require that a foreigner passes either a full test or at least a written test.

Third party liability insurance is not obligatory in Thailand. Traffic laws are pretty much the same as in the West though damages awarded to injured parties are ridiculously low by Western standards. Escaping the scene of an accident is construed as admitting that one was at fault.

Gasoline prices are fairly low in Thailand, less than half a US Dollar per liter (around 2 US Dollars per gallon). Caltex, Esso and Shell have wide networks of gasoline stations covering the whole country. Gasoline stations along main roads in Bangkok as well as cross-country highways operate 24 hours a day. Day-time stations usually open very early (around 5:00) but do not stay open long in the evenings (until about 20:00). Gasoline stations only seldom have full repair shops but are equipped to vulcanize tyres or change oil. Most car assemblers also operate their own large servicing workshops.