Car Rental in Bangkok

Renting a car in Bangkok, Thailand's capital city, is a very simple procedure, and many of the international and local car rental companies offer some very attractive rates for either self drive or chauffeur driven vehicles.

One question you should ask yourself though is whether you are brave enough to drive in Bangkok? We say this because driving in Bangkok can be much more of a daunting experience than in other major capitals around the world. Most signs are in English and Thai, but the overwhelming number of motorbikes on the roads can put many people off driving.

Most travellers do not really need a car in Bangkok, there is the Skytrain, the underground and thousands of taxis and other forms of public transportation all readily available. Having a car can be a nice option though, if you plan to play golf or explore some of the areas around Bangkok. Perhaps drive to Suphanburi, or Lopburi, Pattaya and Hua Hin are also easily accessible by road.

The major International car rental companies such as Avis and Hertz have offices in Bangkok, and most of the major companies will offer you the option of picking up the car at the airport or at a downtown location. More local car rental companies can easily be found by looking in the classified section of the Bangkok Post, Thailand's premier English language newspaper.

Generally all you will need to rent a car is your passport, driving license that should be at least one year old, and a credit card. Do check exactly what insurance is included in the rental and what liability you could have in case of an accident. Also try to make sure the rental price includes unlimited mileage as there is nothing worse than paying by the mile.

If you have never been to Bangkok before we would advise you to choose a chauffeur driven car. Chauffeur driven cars can be found almost anywhere around Bangkok and unlike self drive, where you may be better off working with a reputable International company, the local companies are often cheaper and just as reliable.