Thailand is a large and varied country with an amazing culture, delicious food, great tropical rain forests and beaches, you will be glad of the freedom to explore it at your own leisure in a rental car.

While public transport is nearly ubiquitous, many people will still want their own car for various reasons, such as exploring on their own, driving to a seaside resort, etc. Depending on the company you rent from, you might find that the condition of the cars is often not the same as with car rental companies in western countries, but the price is lower, too.

You get what you pay for. It is easy to find rental car service from major car rental company such as Alamo, Budget, Hertz or else. Renting a car in Hua Hin is a straight forward process; you will need a Thai or an international driver’s license and will have to hand over your passport or other substantive collateral before you can drive away with a rented car.

Many Hua Hin car rental outfits will ask for a large deposit, be very wary of this as it is not necessary, they will often charge you for damage done to the hire car before you rented it, check your rental car for damage first. Be aware that only Commercial First Class Insurance provides full coverage on rental cars.

Make sure you have adequate insurance through your rental company. At the least you’ll need liability coverage, but better rental companies offer comprehensive insurance. Check the dates and extent of the coverage before you sign anything.

Most international car rental agencies will offer this insurance while local companies may or may not. You may wish to request a copy of their insurance policy and ensure that it states “For Commercial Use”. Regardless, inspect rental vehicles prior to rental and drive with caution, particularly as traffic in Thailand can be quite confusing, especially the habit of Thai motorcycles drivers to drive on the wrong side of the road.

You should also check the car yourself, such as the brake fluid levels, tightness and condition of belts, engine oil, tires and pressure in the spare tire.