Renting a Car in Chiang Mai: What You Need to Know

Are you planning a trip to Chiang Mai?

Renting a car isn’t just convenient; it’s also a fun way to explore the region, especially if you enjoy driving in mountainous areas. Fresh air, lush green scenery, winding roads, and the occasional steep incline are all part of the experience when driving here.

In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about renting a car in Chiang Mai. We’ll cover what to prepare in advance, how to choose the right car rental company, what to expect, and important tips for driving in this beautiful region.

Let’s dive in!

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Should I Rent a Car in Chiang Mai?

If you want to fully explore Chiang Mai, renting a car is the most convenient way for many reasons:

• Public transportation in Chiang Mai is mainly available within the city area.
• It is challenging to rely on public transportation when traveling outside of Chiang Mai, especially if you don’t speak the language due to limited options.
• Since Chiang Mai is big, renting a car is usually cheaper than taking a taxi.

With that being said:

• If you plan to travel only within cities, you don’t need to rent a car.
• If you plan to travel outside of the city, renting a car is recommended. Alternatively, you can also rent a motorcycle. But it’s much more dangerous. More on this later.

Is It Safe to Drive in Chiang Mai?

Although Chiang Mai is a mountainous area, it’s completely safe to drive. Roads are generally in good condition, and traffic is light most of the time, except during long holidays, weekends, and inside the city.

If you are an experienced driver, you should have no problem driving in Chiang Mai.

The main challenge is driving in mountainous areas due to sharp curves and steep roads. If you’ve never driven in this type of area before, it’s a good idea to learn how to properly use brakes, engine brakes, and gears.

Also, avoid driving during long holidays and weekends due to increased traffic.

Requirements

There are only two requirements to rent a car in Chiang Mai:

• Driving license: You need an international driver’s license. While some may say they were able to rent a car with a license from their home country, it’s not always the case. You may be stopped by traffic police and fined, or the insurance may not cover you in the event of an accident.
• Age: You need to be at least 21 years old. Some car rental companies may require you to be at least 25 years old.

Cost

The table below shows the cost of renting a car per day in Chiang Mai:

Type	Car Models	Daily Rental Cost (THB)
Economy	Toyota Yaris, Mitsubishi Mirage, Nissan March, Honda Jazz, Nissan Almera	800 – 1,000 THB
Compact	Toyota Vios Sedan, Honda City	850 – 1,100 THB
Standard	Toyota Altis, Honda Civic, Mazda 3	1,100 – 1,500 THB
Intermediate SUV	Haval Jolion, Honda HR-V, Toyota CH-R	1,200 – 1,500 THB
Full-size SUV	Toyota Fortuner, Isuzu Mu-X, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport	1,800 – 2,500 THB

There are three key points to note:

• The cost can be slightly higher during the high season (November to February).
• On the other hand, it can be lower during the low season (May to October).
• You may receive a discount when renting for more than a week.

Which Car Should You Rent?

Since Chiang Mai has many mountainous areas, you should consider renting a car with enough power for driving uphill.

If you want a comfortable ride to places like Doi Suthep, Doi Pui, and Doi Luang Chiang Dao, it’s best to rent at least a standard sedan, such as a Toyota Altis or Honda Civic.

An economy car, such as a Toyota Yaris, Nissan Almera, or Nissan March, isn’t recommended. While it’s possible to drive uphill, these cars may lack the power to overtake, which could be necessary in certain situations.

However, if you plan to drive mainly within the city, any car model will suffice.

Additional Costs

Like other places in Thailand, there are additional costs to renting a car in Chiang Mai, including:

• Additional Insurance: Full coverage typically adds THB 200 – 400 per day.*
• Child seat: THB 100 – 150 per day.
• Additional driver: THB 100 – 200 per day (depending on the insurance company).

*Rental cars in Chiang Mai usually come with basic insurance. However, without purchasing additional insurance, you may have to pay a car excess of THB 5,000 to THB 10,000 on average in the event of an accident. Here you can find out more about car insurance for rental cars.

Recommended Car Rental Companies in Chiang Mai

There are both local and international car rental companies in Chiang Mai.

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Generally, local car rental companies offer cheaper deals, but their regulations can be stricter than those of international companies. For instance, they may not provide a grace period for returns.

Notable car rental companies in Chiang Mai include:

• Asap Car Rental (local company)
• Yesaway Car Rental (local company)
• Thai Rent a Car (local company)
• Sixt
• Europcar

In addition to these companies, there are smaller-sized companies throughout Chiang Mai. They may offer more flexibility and lower prices compared to larger companies. However, their policies may differ.

How to Book a Rental Car

The easiest way to rent a car in Chiang Mai is to use Discover Car, which allows you to compare deals from various companies at once.

Once you find the best deal, you can book it directly through the site.

After booking, visit the car rental counter and follow these steps:

• Show your booking confirmation.
• Inspect the car and take pictures of any noticeable damages.
• Make the payment.*
• Make a deposit of THB 5,000 to THB 10,000, depending on the car model. It may be higher for luxury models.*

*Generally, only credit cards (MasterCard and Visa) are accepted for payment and deposits.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Location

Chiang Mai Airport is the most popular pick-up and drop-off location. Most car rental companies operate from there.

Alternatively, if you want to rent from the city center, smaller local rental companies can be found throughout Chiang Mai.

Notable companies based on Google Maps reviews include:

• Budget Catcher
• North Wheels Rent A Car
• Gondal Rent a Car

It’s also possible to arrange a different pick-up and drop-off location if it’s within the Chiang Mai city area and Chiang Mai Airport.

Returning a Car

Most car rental companies follow a similar process when it comes to returning a car:

• Return the car to the drop-off location.
• Hand over the car key.
• The car rental company will inspect the car.
• If everything is in order, you should get your full deposit back within 24 hours.

Note: Depending on the company’s policy, you may be charged THB 100 per hour for a late return.

Fuel

In most cases, rental cars come with a full tank of fuel. You should also fill up the tank before returning the car.

If you don’t, you’ll be fined, and the cost will be much higher than filling it up yourself.

Additionally, ask the car rental company about the fuel type for your vehicle. Thailand has several fuel options. Read our article on how to fill up your gas tank in Thailand for more details.

Do I Need to Book in Advance?

While you can book directly at the car rental counter when you arrive, it’s recommended to book in advance for several reasons:

• You can choose the car model you prefer.
• You won’t have to wait in line.
• Booking in advance may give you a better deal.
• If it’s high season, booking in advance ensures a car will be available for you.

More Tips About Driving in Chiang Mai

Here are some useful tips for driving in Chiang Mai:

• Don’t always trust GPS: While it’s helpful to use GPS, especially outside the city, the fastest route isn’t always the safest. Stick to the main roads and study the route beforehand.
• Don’t drive at night: Driving in mountainous areas at night can be dangerous due to poor visibility.
• Speed limit:
  • In the city, the speed limit is typically no faster than 80 km/h. Traffic often makes it hard to exceed this limit.
  • Outside the city, the speed limit ranges from 90 to 120 km/h. Always check the speed limit signs.
  • Driving faster than 140 km/h is considered reckless, and the car rental company may cancel your agreement.
• Vehicle right of way: While right of way technically exists, not many people observe it, so proceed with caution.
• Overtaking: Thai drivers tend to be fast, and overtaking (and even undertaking) is common outside the city. Be mindful of your surroundings.
• Honking: In Thailand, honking is generally used to signal when another driver is doing something wrong. It’s not well-received, so use it sparingly. If someone honks at you, it might mean you’re in the wrong.
• Parking:
  • Inside the city: Free parking spots (black-painted curbs) are becoming harder to find. You’ll often need to park in paid lots or at department stores, which offer a few hours of free parking. After that, it’s around THB 20 per hour.
  • Outside the city: Free parking is more available, except during long weekends or holidays in popular destinations.

For more detailed information, check out our article on driving in Thailand.

Alternative Options

If you don’t want to rent a car, here are a few alternative options:

• Rent a motorcycle: This is much cheaper, costing only a few hundred baht per day. However, it’s more dangerous. Many accidents occur, especially in mountainous areas, due to inexperience.
• Songthaew/Taxi: You can rent a songthaew (a modified pickup truck) or a taxi for a day tour. Prices range from THB 1,500 to THB 3,000, depending on the destination.
• Tour service: You can book a tour with companies like KKDay, which typically includes hotel transfers in the price.
• Public transport: You can go to the Chiang Mai Bus Terminal or the Van Station to take public buses or vans to various locations.

Now, on to You

If you want to fully explore Chiang Mai, renting a car is one of the best options. It provides you with the convenience and flexibility to go wherever you want.

In addition, it’s affordable and easy to drive.

You can find many rental car companies throughout Chiang Mai. If you want to quickly find the best deal and have a rental car ready when you land at Chiang Mai Airport, you can easily do so through Discover Car.