bike damage insurance for thailand

[andrew burton]

hi all
hire motorbikes (650cc) regularly in thailand and cant find anyone reputable to sell me property damage ins. -- ie if bike gets damaged
.. any suggestions ?

[Snakeboy]

I dont think there is such an insurance on those rental bikes or that you can buy it anywhere. Vehicles have mandatory third party kind of insurance, but if you damage the bike - you pay. If somebody else damages the bike - they should pay. Bit beware - this is Thailand and it might not happen.

[Bucket1960]

I've never been able to get it through any renter.
Take lots of photos before leaving, preferably with time & date stamp turned on & I always get the renter who did the paperwork, to pose for a photo too.
It works a treat later on, if they try the fake damage scam
I've frustrated a few operators with that one

[*Touring Ted*]

Renting bikes in Thailand is a risky business. But It doesn't stop many people doing it.

I rented a few offroad scooters (don't laugh) and it was a pain in the arse..

They will take your passport. Usually no way around this.

Then they will try and scam you for every scratch on it. At twice the price it actually costs.

No one else will touch a rental bike if you damage it because it's a cultural 'fix'.. Usually !!

Like said, you want to take lots of photographs of all damage you can see. Check everything on the bike before you leave. Oil, brakes, lights etc.

You will need a thick skin and be able to stand your ground.

I'm sure there are some honest rental companies out there.


Insurance ????????? I don't think it exists.

[Nuff Said]

Sorry, Ted when was the last time you rented a bike in Thailand? and were?
surely you are confused between jet ski rentals and motorbike rentals.

I have rented bikes in Pattaya, Chiang Mia and Chiang Ria and have found what you are saying is not the case generally.

It is true to say that some rental shops will ask for your Passport, but most will just take a holding deposit.

Companys like POPs in Chiang Mai has not built up a very good business by not conning people like you have implied.

Most rental shops work on the basis scratches are accepted but broken parts need to be replaced and paid for.

And most shops will have a price list from the manufacturer of parts for the bike you have rented.

I have 2 friends who own and run 2 off the largest rental shop in Chiang Ria.

1. ST motorbike rentals. http://www.st-motorcyclerentals.com/

2. Chaing Rai big bikes. http://crbigbikerentals.com/reserve/

Both owners would be very upset to hear your views concerning rental companies in Thailand.

As for insurance, ALL Rental bikes come with a legal 3rd party insurance, which doesn't cover much but it is insurance?

Sorry again to point out these facts but I find your post a bit misleading and incorrect.

No one else will touch a rental bike if you damage it because it's a cultural 'fix'. Usually !!

Most rental bikes have had some type of "FIX" in some way or another?

Have a good day.

[ta-rider]

Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*

Then they will try and scam you for every scratch on it. At twice the price it actually costs.

Yes i also heared storys like that but never had any problems my selfe. Way easyer and cheaper to rent bikes insted of shipping them. Even if you drop a rented bike all the parts are available and cheap to replace. We are talking about bikes worth only $500 total. Also my bikes allways came with a helmed. In laos and India they did not even take my passport so i could have sold the scoter as spare parts insted of returning it. In Thailand you can buy a passport for $5 at every second corner so no need to give your real passport.



Just take photos of every side of the scooter before you leave WITH the owner on them then everything is fine

Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*

Insurance ????????? I don't think it exists.

It does exist but then the scoters are double the normal price =$10 per day.



http://schoene-motorradreisen.de/?re...and_chiang_mai

[*Touring Ted*]

Originally Posted by ta-rider

Yes i also heared storys like that but never had any problems. In laos they did not even take my passport so i could have sold the scoter insted of returning it. In Thailand you can buy a passport at every second corner so no need to give your real passport.



Just take photos of the scooter before you leave WITH the owner on them then everything is fine




It does exist but then the scoters are double the normal price =$10 per day.



http://schoene-motorradreisen.de/?re...and_chiang_mai

I was travelling around with an American couple in the South. She scratched her mirror. It cost her $100US to get her passport back. We went around all the shops to buy a mirror and they all refused to sell us one..

Another mate of mine overstayed his rental by 45 mins. The shop had twenty other available scooters and charged him a full days rental plus a fine to get his passport back.

Maybe its a problem with the south. Lots more drunken teenagers.

Maybe im being a little negative.

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[*Touring Ted*]

Im sure they would be sad... Because they rent bikes in Thailand. And you're their friend so I'm sure your opinion isnt totally indifferent.

I rented them down in the South Islands a lot. And that was the case in EVERY rental place I went to. And I spent days going around.. It was a scam after scam after scam.

I tried renting in Chiang Mai too but it was far too expensive for me. The woman in Pops DID ask for my passport too. They also couldn't supply a helmet that either wasnt a plastic skateboard helmet or a twenty year old enduro helmet which was either XXS or XXL.

I should have brought my own.. But I didn't. As is life...

As in my post, I said there probably are reputation rental companies. I know people who rented from pops with their own gear and were happy. But I couldn't find anything I was happy about.

To say renting in Thailand is a easy, hassel free experience with no risk is being a little biased isnt it..

That was my experience and that of many people. I didn't say it was the ONLY experience.




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Find me on Facebook: MotoTed & MotoRevive.