CAr Hire and Insurance

[Rhoel 2]

Looking at plans for my next trip - I want to hire a car for 4-5 days, maybe longer. Is there a good place for car hire in Pattaya, roughly what costs are involved and is insurance included.

 

I assume my UK licence will not be enough and I will have to carry my international?

 

Are there any pitfalls/scams I need to consider before hiring.

 

TIA

 

Rhoel

[Shooter 864]

Rhoel,

 

I don;t know the answers to your questions.  Well, maybe some.  But, first I would suggest NOT renting a car unless you really need to.

 

If you only need to travel once or twice, it  might be cheaper to rent car and driver for those trips.  If you only  need it to get to the golf courses there are alternatives.  Just trying to figure it out.  It certainly doesn't make sense to rent one for around town unless you are physically limited.

 

I am against it if one can avoid it becasue of the insanity on their roads.   And if you hit or get hit by a thai you WILL probably pay something.  It is too likely the way they drive.

 

If you do have to rent, one option in Budget rent-a-car.  I think it is next to Diana Inn on Second road.  Set back a ways in the walking mall there.  Same side as Diana Inn.

[Rhoel 2]

Thanks shooter.

 

The reason for renting is that I will probably be carrying camera kit with me ... having my own car means more freedom to go when and where I want, plus I can leave tripods securely in the boot when unattended.

 

As for the crazy driving - the Brits, Aussies and New Zealands have one big advantage over the Yanks and mainland Europeans - we drive on the same side of the road as the Thais [okay, let me rephrase that, the same side of the road they are supposed to drive on  :)). That means that our safety swerve side is the same as theirs in an emergency ie, we go to the left to get out of danger, whilst everyone else dives to the right. Its subliminal and you can't think it when shit happens, you just do it without thinking. So it gives us that edge.

 

I drive 1800 miles a week and mostly without mishap - tonight I went left when I should have gone right and now have a dent in my bumper  ;D Shit happens. Guess I was a tad slow in the reactions after 450 miles nion-stop (all of it in very heavy rain).

 

So any information about the insurance and licence stuff would help swing it one way or 'tother