Cheapest place to rent a car?

[dotx]

What's the best place to rent a car for a few days/maybe a week? I don't have a credit card, only a debit card. Some places will put a U$600 hold on my card. Because it's debit, the hold actually takes the money out of the account. It then takes forever for the money to appear back in there again. Is there any place that puts a smaller hold on your card? Or maybe one that will take your card number but don't put an actual hold on the card? Hopefully a place where rentals are also cheap.

[Irish Kev]

I have always found Boy & Boom at the corner of the Temple and Soi Bintabath to be more then reasonable.
They usually have a variety of cars & 4WD's starting at 700/1000baht a day.

[Spitfire]

Click on the square with the black car in it, Hua Hin car rental, on the top right of the page, they are pretty reasonable too, 800 baht/a day I think.

[jimmy40]

There are 2 i know are ok, ones called virgin car rental, he is pretty fair i think it was $850 a day for a week, you just pay upfront. Or the one on soi 88 up from where i used to stay at markwin lodge, go past there its on your right hand side its called buddy car, its 1000 per day no card required just your passport copy,and any sort of licence, pay how ever many days and off ya go, i used to get the honda city from there, they are auto and all had fairly low k's and drove good. Hope that helps.

[Norseman]

Why not you try here?: http://www.huahinmedia.com/huahincarrental.php

Let us know if you are able to match their prices!!

[MartinJ]

I have to say the cheapest place is not always the best way, may I give you a caution.

Have you looked to use of some web site based outside of Thailand these can have the advantage and they still use company's that are local, and not always the big ones, they can meet the price of 800/1000 baht per day, depending on the length of the rental get cheaper and the type of car ,and this does give you a little more as you have the back up of a larger company. This is really good if you intent to travel any great distance. I was driving to the other side of Thailand in the North east and wanted to have a newer car as possible.

The last time I hired a car there, I got via a UK based web site with my debit card, and for a small cost I had a little more protection which I was grateful for when a motor bike rode into the back of the hire car when it was parked, I was not even in it, lucky I was near by and so was a few others so the chap could not do anything but look sorry. The Hire company had an agent there with the hour with a replacement car and no cost to me.

Have hired locally before and the cost was only slightly cheaper, the one suggested on this site ,and they only copied the card and look no money from it but the retail was needed to be paid in cash , also required was a little extra that was given back when the car was returned undamaged this was great for just going local.

But now I always as the what if questions, the bikes are just a little to crazy for my liking.

Not sure how it works in the US but if you can get an international driving permit, it may be needed to buy one for the hire company, it will help if you are driving any where near a big city , certainly helped in BKK when stopped buy any Police.

It very enjoyable to drive on the open road in Thailand ( they drive on the same side as the UK) and if you going a longer way , you can not beat being the master of where and when you go.

Best regards

[Big Boy]

Why not you try here? :http://www.huahinmedia.com/huahincarrental.php

Let us know if you are able to match their prices!!

I'd second that. Although I didn't use him in the end during my last visit, if I'd hired a car, his prices were the most competitive that I could find. The vehicles looked good as well.

[caller]

I used Budget by the Grand Hotel/Market last time I was in town.

[dotx]

Budget is one of the companies that wanted to put a hold on my card. Was that your experience?

I don't plan on driving long distances. Mostly around Hua Hin. Want to take my dogs to Sea Pines Garden for a long walk. Just a few things in the area.

[John HH]

Don't forget your International drivers license on the off chance your stopped by the BiB.

Its a real money spinner up north and you'll be hammered for about 400 baht if you can't produce one along with your current license and passport when/if stopped.

Slightly off topic but hopefully relevant. Enjoy your trip.



John

[caller]

Budget is one of the companies that wanted to put a hold on my card. Was that your experience?

Only when I got to the office, nothing when I made the reservation from the UK. But I knew about that and had no problems with it.

[dotx]

Don't forget your International drivers license on the off chance your stopped by the BiB.

Its a real money spinner up north and you'll be hammered for about 400 baht if you can't produce one along with your current license and passport when/if stopped.

Slightly off topic but hopefully relevant. Enjoy your trip.



John

I don't have an international license but I have a Thai one. Hopefully that's enough.

[dotx]

Budget is one of the companies that wanted to put a hold on my card. Was that your experience?

Only when I got to the office, nothing when I made the reservation from the UK. But I knew about that and had no problems with it.

That's really what I want to avoid. It's a big hold and because it's a debit (not credit) card, it takes forever for the money to be returned.

[mat]

If i had to rent a car, i would be curious about the insurance. A lot of car rental companies rent out cars with first class insurance, but have a look at the policy and most times you will see: "private use, not for hire/rent". As an insurance broker i know that this can bring serious problems. An insurance company will pay nothing if they find out that you had an accident with a car while renting it, if it says on the policy that it's not for hire/rent.
Go to http://www.huahinmedia.com/huahincarrental.php
I know they have insurances that are for hire/rent.

[migrant]

If i had to rent a car, i would be curious about the insurance. A lot of car rental companies rent out cars with first class insurance, but have a look at the policy and most times you will see: "private use, not for hire/rent". As an insurance broker i know that this can bring serious problems. An insurance company will pay nothing if they find out that you had an accident with a car while renting it, if it says on the policy that it's not for hire/rent.
Go to http://www.huahinmedia.com/huahincarrental.php
I know they have insurances that are for hire/rent.

That gave me thought Mat, thanks!!

Here in the states some personal auto insurances are extended to rentals if the policy holder needs to rent.

There are also special "add on" insurances that one can buy if they are doing something different, like driving to Mexico.

It gives the driver the option of the type, and amount, of insurance they want.

Anything like that in Thailand?

Thanks