Joanna James
Instagram and YouTube are filled to the brim with tourists driving in Phuket, but there are somethings you should be aware of if you intend to do the same. Let's look at some of them.
Renting a vehicle in Phuket requires a license, this means that the ordinary license from your home country isn't going to be valid over here. You'll need to get something called an international license for the type of vehicle you plan on driving. Another big point you must look out for is the place you'll be renting from. Definitely look around for reputed and well-reviewed companies to avoid any negative and unnecessary experiences. A majority of the bikes in Phuket are rented out by small outfits that have no national or international reputation. For cars, however, there are a number of well-reputed companies. You'll be ideally spending around 140 baht a day for a motorbike and between 1,000 and 1,500 baht for a car. With so many tourist attractions, Phuket is quite the busy town, so definitely check into a hotel close by to most of them like the Anantara Layan Phuket Resort to wind down after a good days exploration.
Insurance coverage is an absolute must when you're renting a vehicle in Phuket. For bikes, the majority would suggest a 'third party insurance'. This variety of insurance covers damage done to other people and property by you, but it is not going to cover your hospital bills or even the cost of repairing your bike. If you're on the lookout for a car or any vehicle with a set of four wheels, always insist on full insurance coverage. If full coverage isn't provided at the place you checked with, do move on to another place. Read through all the insurance papers thoroughly.
All gas stations in Phuket are open from 8 am to 9 pm with one exception. The Shell Gas station found on Dibuk Road, in Phuket City remains open 24 hours a day. Some gas stations do choose to continue services until 10 pm or midnight at times. To avoid any possible inconveniences simply keep your tank topped up throughout the trip. The general prices for fuel per litre in Phuket is 24 baht for diesel, 26 baht for 95 octane gasoline and 25 baht for 91 octane gasoline. Check on which fuel your renter recommends for your vehicle.
When riding motorbikes in Phuket you must be aware of certain laws to keep away from an unpleasant experience. While generally acceptable in the beach areas, driving around shirtless is not allowed in Phuket city. The police could fine you up to 500 baht for such an occurrence. The locals may ease up on the law of the road when they drive, which is indeed why the streets are very chaotic, however, if you plan on driving, you better stick to the road rules to avoid being caught and fined by the police.
A common sight in Phuket is a number of roadside vendors you'll see selling gasoline. They operate using small booths and pump gas from barrels by hand or even sell it by the bottle. Unless you are in an emergency stay away from these vendors as the gasoline they offer could be adulterated or of substandard quality. Pumping such gasoline could even lead your vehicle's engine to overhaul, which won't be cheap to get out of with your renter.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
