There are some Thai locals who live in Bangkok without entertaining the thought of owning or renting a car, the majority of them actually prefer going about their daily activities using public transportation systems, and there are definitely reasons behind their preferences.
If you are reading this then you must have given a thought to the necessity of renting a car on your next visit to Bangkok. However, there are a few things to take into consideration as well as other options before making up your mind.
The answer to this question absolutely depends on your preferences, and just as there are advantages of renting a car in Bangkok there are lots of downsides too, especially when you don’t live there. But if you are visiting Bangkok and you are familiar with the city, and also used to driving in it, then sure why not rent a car. But before you do, either as a newbie or a frequent visitor, here are some factors to take into consideration.
The Traffic in Bangkok
The traffic in Bangkok is undeniably one of the worst in the world. There are always serious traffic jams in the early hours of the day, by 11 am it breaks off only to pick up by 1 pm, and that’s it, it runs throughout the rest of the day.
If you plan on renting a car on your arrival to go about your daily activities in Bangkok, do you intend on spending long hours stuck in traffic that moves less than a mile an hour? Or would you rather take the sky train or underground train systems, motorcycle taxis, or boats designed to safely transport you to your destination (be it a tourist attraction site, business meeting venue, family, and friends) with ease and on time?
The Street Signs in Thailand
The street signs in Thailand and all through Bangkok are written in both Thai and English, however, this does not in any way make driving in Bangkok as easy as it seems, especially when you are not sound in these two languages. The street signs written in English are directly translated from Thai but are not always consistent in spelling. For example, you could see Paholyotin Road, Pahonyothin Road, and Paholyothin Road – these writings all indicate the same place but are spelled differently.
If you should see a sign spelled a certain way, and then further up you see a sign spelled in a completely different way, definitely you will be confused and left wondering if you are actually on the right path. There are some Bangkok visitors who leave their rented vehicles at their hotels because dealing with Thai street signs is just impossible.
Parking Lots Can Be Expansive
After going through terrifying traffic having rented a car, parking in the streets of Bangkok is quite difficult and expensive as well. This is typical in a city with over 13 million people. At some point, it will seem like everyone owns a car and they are all attempting to park in the same parking lot of the mall same as you are. Parking on the streets is also impossible in the major areas of the city.
Parking could cost quite a fortune in some parts of the city of Bangkok, that’s if you even get the opportunity to park in one. Some supermarkets and malls demand a hefty fee after parking for a few hours, with rates beginning at $8, an equivalent of 277 Thai Baht. For the same amount you can move around the city using a sky train or underground transport systems, a boat trip will even be cheaper. You can as well rent a car if you can afford a daily rental fee, an expensive parking fee, and the cost of gas.
Motorcycles
Just as cars flood the streets of Bangkok so does motorcycles. Being small in size they often zip in and out of traffic and also manage to squeeze up on both sides of you when you can barely move your rented vehicle. On top of that, many of them ride with up to three passengers at a time or with oversized loads. This just makes driving in a city you are not familiar with even more difficult, especially while trying to be careful so as not to hit motorcycles with a vehicle that’s not yours.
What Are The Different Car Rental Companies In Bangkok?
There are lots of different local and international car rental companies to choose from in Bangkok, some of them are situated close to the airport for easy accessibility. Rental rates, types of vehicle, and insurance coverage differ with each company, as such, using a comparison site could land you the best deals.
Below are some of the best car rental companies in Bangkok if you desire one on arrival.
Chic Car Rent (Local Company)
This is a Thai-based company and can be found at every airport in Bangkok. This car rental company is supported by the top-tier Honda dealer in all of Thailand, and delivers different Honda models – from full-size SUVs to economy models, to its customers.
The average starting rental price is just 800 Thai Baht per day (23 USD), making Chic Car Rent one of the most affordable car rental companies in Thailand. With their regular vouchers and promotion, one could even rent a car at a lower cost.
Avis (International Company)
Avis is one of the leading international car rental companies in Thailand, with offices not just in Bangkok but in Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Hat Yai, Samui, Krabi, Chiang Rai, and Phuket. They offer lots of car models from which customers are able to choose from base on their preferences. Compared to other companies, their daily rental rates is a bit higher.
If you plan on staying longer you can always go with their long-term rental plan which seems to be a good deal. However, always endeavor to inspect the rented car to see if it is in good shape before settling for the contract.
Thai Rent A Car (Local Company)
Compared to others in this list, Thai Rent a Car is known to be the biggest and most popular car rental company in Thailand. They are quite experienced having been in the business for over 30 years with more than 32 branches all over Thailand.
