Renting a Car in Phuket: License, Insurance and Tips
A car is the easiest way to get around Phuket with family or luggage. Before you pick one up, check three things: the right license, the insurance that comes with the car, and what to do if something happens on the road.
Which License You Need
- On holiday: your national car license together with an International Driving Permit. Many rental desks do not ask for the permit, but police at checkpoints and insurers after an accident do. See International Driving Permit in Thailand.
- Staying longer or living here: the International Driving Permit is meant for short visits. If you live in Thailand, a Thai car license is the safer choice, and with a valid foreign license you can usually get one without a driving test. See converting a foreign license.
- Car and motorbike are separate. A motorbike license does not cover a car, and a car license does not cover a scooter.
What the Rental Desk Asks For
- Your passport and your driving license (plus the International Driving Permit, if you have one).
- A deposit, usually as a hold on a credit card. Some local companies also take cash.
- A minimum age, often 21. Some companies charge extra for drivers under 25.
Rental counters are at Phuket Airport, and many companies deliver the car to your hotel or villa.
Thai Car Insurance in Plain Words
Every car in Thailand carries two kinds of insurance. Ask the rental company which voluntary class your car has.
| Insurance | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Compulsory (Por Ror Bor) | Injuries to people, up to a limit. It pays nothing for damage to cars. |
| Class 1 | Damage to the rental car and to others, theft, fire and flood. Most rental companies include this. |
| Class 2+ | Damage to the rental car only in a collision with another vehicle, plus theft, fire and damage to others. |
| Class 3+ and 3 | Mainly damage to others. With Class 3 the damage to your own car is not covered. |
Also ask how high the excess is, the part of a repair you pay yourself, and whether the cover still applies if your license does not match the car. Your own travel insurance usually only pays for injuries if you drove with a valid license.
Before You Drive Off
- Walk round the car and film every scratch and dent with the rental agent, including the wheels and the windscreen.
- Note the fuel level and how the car has to come back.
- Save the rental company's emergency number and the insurer's number in your phone.
- Check that the tax and insurance stickers are on the windscreen and that the spare tyre and jack are there.
Driving in Phuket: What to Expect
- Traffic drives on the left. Scooters pass on both sides, so check your mirrors before every turn.
- The hills between Patong, Kata and Karon are steep and winding. Use a low gear downhill and take extra care when it rains.
- On the main roads you often turn right by using a U-turn lane further along.
- Police checkpoints check licenses. Keep your license, the International Driving Permit and the rental papers in the car.
- Watch the painted curbs when you park. The rules are in our guide to Thai traffic rules.
If You Have an Accident
- Make sure everyone is safe. Call 1669 if anyone is hurt.
- Leave the cars where they are unless the police tell you to move them or they block a dangerous spot. Moving them early makes it harder to decide who was at fault.
- Take photos of both cars, the number plates and the road.
- Call the rental company. The insurer usually sends a surveyor to the scene, who records the damage and gives you a claim slip.
The full checklist with emergency numbers is in Accident in Phuket: what to do.
Questions About Renting a Car
Many rental desks only ask for your national license, but the police and insurers expect an International Driving Permit together with it. For longer stays a Thai license is the safer choice.
No. The compulsory insurance (Por Ror Bor) covers injuries to people only. Damage to cars is covered by voluntary insurance, such as Class 1, which most rental companies include. Ask how high the excess is.
Not unless the police tell you to or the cars are in a dangerous spot. Take photos, call the rental company and wait for the insurance surveyor, who usually comes to the scene.
No. In Thailand car and motorbike are separate licenses. For a car you need a car license, Thai or foreign with a valid International Driving Permit.
Get a Thai Car License Without the Long Wait
We convert your foreign car license at DLT Krabi: application and tests on your first visit, the license on your second visit. Send your passport and license on WhatsApp for a free check.