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 ?

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.

__________________
In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

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

__________________
My memory is becoming that good, I should be able to organise my own surprise party soon

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.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

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.

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

Have a good day.

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.




_____________________________________________
Find me on Facebook: MotoTed & MotoRevive.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

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




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.

_____________________________________________
Find me on Facebook: MotoTed & MotoRevive.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Well you have to get use how to deal with people in third world countrys. One ALLWAYS have to negotiate. Thats normal. Its also about the way you lock and ackt. If you look like money on legs in a place with lots of drunken idiots, they will treat you as an atm and try to get money out of you, no matter if your in a bar, at customs or in a bike shop. Thats why i prefere to travel far away from normal tourist areas :-)

True there are lots of scam going on specially on the islands of Thailand.

If you show that your not an easy victim as 99% of the tourists there and pretend to call the tourist police or make a big shout to scare away other customers in the shop they will return your passport for free in no time.
If not tell them you will go to your embassy to mark your passport as stolen WITHOUT returning the scooter, they will return your passport before loosing their scooter. A passport has 0 value for them...

With 10000s of motorbikes being rented every day in Thailand if scamming is as widespread as you are implying then why ints the internet full of complaints?

The rental shop owner is onto that one and when that happen there just ring your country embassy and report there are holding YOUR PASSPORT?
No new passport will be issued because not LOSSES?

I know what you're saying... And I'm no push over with scammers. I didn't loose a penny because I refused to. But If you have to spend every day of your holiday playing games just so not be scammed or deceived then it's just no holiday. It just gets boring.. FAST !!

I've been all around the world and I have to SADLY say that I found Thailand the most dishonest, two-faced place I've ever been to. You couldn't even get on a bus without being forced off five miles short in the middle of the night to be blackmailed into taking a mega-priced Tuk Tuk. Or told by your tour operator that there were no cash machines at the border so you had to change it from him at his rate.

I know this happens everywhere that rich westerners holiday in other people's poverty. I've been to most of them..But I genuinely had this experience EVERY DAY.. I was in SE Asia for two months and I don't think I saw I single smile which didn't have a price-tag or an ulterior motive.

I've been robbed at gun point by Soldiers in Venezuela and I felt happier about it. Because at least they were honest about their intentions.

I didn't see it all obviously and I was probably there at the wrong time of year. (December/January). But I've got no desire to go back.

Everyone's experiences are different... And everyone should go any find out for themselves..

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

I should give Thailand a miss next time Ted, Venezuela sounds more interesting?

Thats true but also an adventure and if you stay away from the normal tourist plaes the little local farmers are soooo friendly!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNlt3Y20Nrs




If they keep YOUR passport for what ever reason they steal it from you. At least a German passport cant be used as a deposit but belongs to the government...

It is !! This thread has a few of them.

Would you like me to find you some more ???

Here's just one to get you started. Happy reading.


https://www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-...articles/75907

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

You'll find the Thai police give ZERO F**KS about who owns the passport !!

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.