Renting a scooter on Samui — prices, terms, rules

Samui is a calm, unhurried, picturesque Thai island with gorgeous nature. And the most convenient and enjoyable way to explore its beauty is to ride around it on a scooter on your own, feeling completely free. A scooter is fairly easy to ride and economical, which makes it the most popular means of transport not only on Samui but all over Thailand. Where you can rent a bike on Samui, what you need for it, and what to pay special attention to is what this article is about.

Where to rent a scooter on Samui

Samui is full of rental shops, with rows of motorbikes of every kind and color lined up out front under a RENT sign. What's more, most hotels and apartments offer scooters for rent, so you may not even need to go anywhere — just ask at your hotel's front desk. You can also rent a bike online, and it will be delivered wherever you say.

Scooter rental prices on Samui

The cost of renting a motorbike on Samui varies, but on average it will cost you 150–250 baht a day. That applies to basic models of 110–125 cc. The most popular of them are the Honda Click, Scoopy, Airblade.

More powerful and bigger models, such as the Honda PCX, Yamaha T-MAX, will cost from 400 baht.

Many rental shops raise the price during the high tourist season (December–February, July–August) to almost twice the normal rate. At that time it will be hard to find anything cheaper than 250 baht. However, you can save if you take a bike for a long period. For example, a scooter that costs 250 baht/day may come to just 3000 baht for a month.

But if you've decided to live on this paradise island for more than three months or, like us, to travel all over Thailand and the neighboring countries, it will be more cost-effective to buy a scooter and then sell it before you leave. We described how to do that in detail in the article Buying and selling a scooter in Thailand.

What you need to rent a scooter on Samui (rental rules)

To rent one, all you need is your passport and cash (credit cards are accepted almost nowhere). You will also be asked to leave a deposit. Usually it is either your passport or a sum of around 3000 baht. You can, of course, try to find a place that doesn't require a deposit, but there are few of them. If a shop doesn't inspire confidence, it's better not to leave your passport. And remember that whatever happens to the bike, rental shops have no legal right to hold on to your passport.

Do you need a license to rent a scooter on Samui?

The most frequent question about renting a scooter on Samui is whether you need a license to rent one. At most rental shops, nobody asks for it. And of course, you'll be able to rent a bike without one. However, if you ride without a license, you risk a fine of 1000 baht. By law, to ride a scooter you must have an international driving permit with category A or a local Thai driver's license. We explained how to get one in the article Driver's license in Thailand.

If you've come for a couple of weeks of vacation and don't plan to stay long, there's no point in bothering with a license. Just follow the traffic rules, always wear a helmet, and don't drive drunk. Don't attract the attention of the traffic police, and everything will be fine.

What to pay attention to when renting a scooter on Samui

• Before you set off, be sure to check the bike. It should have a road tax payment sticker, and the scooter should come with its registration documents and mandatory third-party insurance.
• It won't hurt to take photos of it from all sides and capture any exterior damage (scratches, chips, dents). This will protect you from groundless claims by the owner that you damaged the vehicle.
• Take a test drive. Make sure the scooter runs smoothly, doesn't jerk, makes no unhealthy noises, and the brakes work. Inspect the wheels — the tires shouldn't be worn.
• Rental shops are required to provide helmets along with the motorbike — for both the driver and the passenger. If you can, don't take the first one that comes to hand — choose the helmet that is most comfortable for you. It's best if it has a brim, which will protect you from the sun, and a visor (a clear shield), which will save you from wind and rain.
• Take the shop's business card with its phone number and address, and call the owner if you need to.

Useful information for motorbike riders on Samui

• Fines. The most common violations tourists get fined for are not wearing helmets and not having a driver's license. In one day you can't be issued more than one fine for the same violation, so if you're stopped again, just show the police officer the ticket you've already been given, and he'll let you go. As of 2019, the fine for driving without a license for the right category is 1000 baht, for a driver without a helmet — 600 baht, and for a passenger without a helmet — 400 baht.
• Gasoline. 91 gasoline on Samui costs 29 baht a liter (as of January 2019). Average fuel consumption for a scooter with a 110–125 cc engine is 2.5 liters per 100 km.
• Roads and traffic. The main roads on Samui are in excellent condition. Traffic drives on the left, and you should pass on the right, even if there is room on the left — nobody expects to be passed on the left, and they may unintentionally squeeze you. The exception is traffic jams — there you can maneuver however you like, but be careful: other bike riders don't always look back before suddenly darting out from between the cars.
• Friendliness. When dealing with traffic police, be patient, calm, and friendly — this will help you avoid fines for minor violations. Believe us, a polite smile can go a long way in Thailand; at worst, you'll pay a token sum for taking up the officer's time.

If you get a flat tire, don't despair: there are plenty of local repair shops around where you'll get help. Just ask the local Thais which way to push your scooter. As a rule, getting the bike to the repair shop will take you no more than 10 minutes. A new inner tube with labor will come to about 200 baht, and if the tire needs replacing, that's another 800 baht.

Useful phone numbers on Koh Samui in case of an emergency:

• Samui Tourist Police — 1699 or 1155
• Ambulance on Samui — 1669 or 191
• Single helpline number for tourists in Thailand — 1111

Riding a scooter on Samui is a great experience and a lot of freedom to get around. This beautiful island has lots of lovely roads with amazing scenery, and a scooter is the best way to ride them all. Have a pleasant and safe trip around Samui!

And here's the video we made from our journey by scooter through the countries of Southeast Asia: