Where to Rent a Car in Phuket?
Renting a car in Phuket is one of the most practical ways to explore the island and visit places that are not always easy to reach by public transport. If you want to explore remote beaches, visit attractions in the north or even drive to Phang Nga in the mainland, having your own car gives you the freedom to set your own schedule. Finding a car rental company is simple, but it’s important to follow some basic rules to avoid trouble and bad surprises. We strongly suggest booking in advance with a reputable international brand to prevent unnecessary surprises or hidden costs. See our recommendations for reliable companies below. There are five common ways to rent a car in Phuket.
While each one is convenient, choosing the right option is important, especially for proper insurance coverage. An international driving licence is required for all rentals. Keep in mind that driving in Phuket, and in Thailand generally, can be challenging. Rules on the road differ from those in your home country, as drivers may stop unexpectedly or change lanes without warning. Roads can become especially busy in the southern part of Phuket, with underpass and overpass construction causing more delays at rush hour. Read this page through to prepare for a safer and easier driving experience.
Five Ways to Rent a Car in Phuket
Orange Car Phuket
Sponsored
We offer easy and secure online car rental.- We will deliver the car to any point on the island and pick it up at the place of residence.
- We have a convenient payment method: we accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
- Your safety is our priority. We offer insurance coverage of 400 thousand baht in case of an accident.
- With our cars, you can travel around Phuket.
- Rent an economy-class car starting from 450 baht per day (the price depends on the number of days and the rental season).
1. Book with an international brand
Our advice to avoid any bad surprises is to always book in advance with an international brand. And this is for several good reasons:- Booking in advance makes sure the car type you prefer is available. If you arrive during the low season, this will not be much of a problem, but you might have to rent a model more expensive than you originally had in mind during the high season.
- You could also contact several companies before getting a car for the planned dates. This is particularly true if you plan to book for a relatively long period.
The Insurance You only find out how good or bad insurance is when something has happened, and it is too late to change your mind. Most international brands have long-standing proof of record, and you can expect the promised insurance to kick in when needed. Usually, there is a margin that will not be covered, but you can buy an extra cover. We always take that additional coverage for peace of mind, but it is not compulsory. Most companies have a booth at both domestic and international terminals. We tried most of them with more or less satisfaction. Everyone’s experience will be slightly different, especially during the high season. Thai Rent a Car, a Thai company, had good prices, but cars were older than they looked, as they seemed to be painted often, and the first models often lacked power. Other international companies were more or less equal in service provided, but we were mostly pleased by Europcar for service and car condition. No bad smell, often brand new cars, occasional upgrades and friendly staff. (not a sponsored story!)Price comparison for major companies
We search for cars for the same dates, use Pay at Booking + pick up and return at Phuket Airport + automatic vehicles. Here is what we found (prices change all the time, and these are rather for you to compare the range of each company)
HERTZ
Website: http://www.hertzthailand.com/ Mini Car (Toyota Yaris or similar): 773 THB Economy (Toyota City or Vios or similar): 911 THB B-SUV (Honda HR-V or similar): 1,142 THB
BUDGET
Clear website, easy to use and fast. 
Website: https://budget.co.th/ Economy (Toyota Vios/Honda City or Similar): 1,487 THB Compact (Toyota Altis 1.6 or Similar): 1,594 THB Intermediate (Toyota Altis 1.8/Honda Civic or Similar): 1,701 THB
EUROPCAR
Website: https://www.europcar.co.th/ Mini (Nissan Almera 1.2): 1,251 THB Economy (Toyota Yaris or similar): 1,251 THB Compact (Toyota Vios or similar): 1,439 THB Standard (Nissan Sylphy 1.8 or similar): 1,635 THB Intermediate (Toyota Altis 1.6): 1,470 THB SUV (Honda CR-V or similar): 2,880 THB
SIXT
Website: https://sixtthailand.com/ Economy (Toyota Yaris 1200 cc or similar): 746 THB Compact (Honda City or similar): 770 THB Standard (Toyota Yaris 1600 cc or similar): 1,306 THB Intermediate (Honda Civic 1800 cc): 1,090 THB
The sites below may not be functioning
AVIS
Website: https://www.avisthailand.com
Mini (Toyota Yaris or similar ): 981 THB Economy (Toyota Vios or similar): 1,188 THB Standard (Toyota Altis 1.8 or equivalent): 1,402 THB Full-Size Van (Toyota Innova or equivalent): 1,916 THB Premium (Toyota Camry or similar): 2,056 THB
NATIONAL CAR RENTAL
This website doesn’t seem to work for Phuket, even though they suggest it on the list. 
Website: https://www.nationalcar.com Mini (Nissan March 1.2): 841 B Economy (Toyota Vios or similar): 894 B Compact (Honda Jazz JAZZ 1.5): 912 B Intermediate (Nissan Sylphy 1.6): 1,089 B SUV (Nissan X-TRAIL V 2.0): 1,627 B
2. Renting a car directly at Phuket Airport with international brands
Ideally, you booked your car in advance, as advised above, and all you will have to do is pick it up upon arrival. The time it takes to collect the vehicle varies a lot, even if all the documents are in order. Just be patient; it never speeds up the process if you get angry 😉 If you didn’t book, most companies would probably have a car for you, but your choice might be limited; the vehicle could be old or worse if you arrive at peak season: no more cars available! Staff at car rental airport counters can appear moody, but you have to understand they often have to deal with grumpy people landing after a long, uncomfortable trip and queuing at immigration for a long time. (You can probably rent a car at your hotel, but you will end up with one of those international brands, and you will have to pay the hotel commission on top.)
Below are some of the companies you will find at the terminal; they are easy to find, and all are next to each other.
3. Rent a car with a local company
Orange Car Phuket
All cars come with an automatic gearbox and 1st class insurance. They will deliver your vehicle to your hotel. Website: https://rentcarphuket.shop/
- Toyota YARIS 2018: 700 THB per day
- Toyota Sienta 2018: 1000 THB per day
- Toyota Fortuner 2018: 1500 THB per day
Braun Car Rental Phuket
A long-established and locally run car rental with a good history of quality and service. Website: https://www.braun-rentacar.com/
- Economy (Honda Jazz – Compact hatchback): 1,200 B
- Economy (Honda City – Sedan Saloon): 1,200 B
- Premium: (Toyota Avanza 7-seater MPV): 1,400 B
Thai Rent a Car
Website: https://thairentacar.com/
- Economy (Toyota Yaris or 1,200 Cc): 1,080 B
- Economy (Toyota Yaris or 1,500 Cc): 1,360 B
- Premium: (Toyota Camry Sedan or similar): 2,120 B
Nina Car Rent
Nina Car Rent is a French company based in Rawai that also rents all kinds of motorbikes with insurance. Website: http://www.ninas-car.com/- Mini (Mitsubishi Mirage or similar ): 750 B
- Economy (Toyota Vios or similar): 840 B
- Compact (Honda Jazz or similar): 840 B
- 7-Seater Sedan: (Toyota Sienta or similar): 1,650 B
4. Rent a car with a driver
5. Renting cars on the streets
You can also rent cars or bikes on the roadside. They usually always have cars available. The demanded price may sound attractive at booking time, and things could go fine in case of an accident, but there is no consistency or way to tell which is reliable and which is not. It’s a lucky draw, and you are on your own. Apparently, you don’t need an international driving license to rent from them, just your national license. It sounds a little dodgy, and we’ll do further research about this. Having good travel insurance and an international driving licence is legally necessary.More Practical Info about Phuket
