Renting a bike in Phuket: 2026 prices, terms and licenses
Renting a bike in Phuket in 2026 costs from 150 ฿ a day for a Honda Click and from 300 ฿ for a Honda PCX or Yamaha NMAX. By the month an automatic scooter runs 2,500-5,500 ฿. Rental shops often ask for a license, and the police check even more. If you are caught on a rented bike without one, both you and whoever rented it to you are in trouble.
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What renting a bike in Phuket costs
The prices below come from the island's published rental price lists for 2026. The final amount depends on the season, the area and the bike's year.
| Model | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Honda Click 125/160, Honda Scoopy | 150-350 ฿ | 2,500-5,400 ฿ |
| Honda PCX 160, Yamaha NMAX 155 | 300-600 ฿ | 4,000-6,000 ฿ |
| Honda Forza 300/350 | 500-1,500 ฿ | from 9,000 ฿ |
A monthly contract is two to three times cheaper than paying by the day. One shop, for example, rents a Honda Click 160 for 3,500 ฿ a month; paid day by day, the same month would come to 10,500 ฿. For 10 days or more many shops cut the price by 15-20%.
Renting in Karon, Patong and other areas
Prices are highest in Patong and Karon. According to Kalinka Thailand, the same Honda Click is 30-50 ฿ a day cheaper in Rawai and Chalong.
The tourist areas cost more than the price list. Patong, Karon and Kata have the most police checkpoints, and the road out of Patong over the hill drops steeply in switchbacks. It is best avoided in your first days, until you can brake confidently downhill.
What you need to rent a bike in Phuket
- Passport. Most shops only need a copy; don't leave the original as a deposit.
- Deposit. Usually 2,000-5,000 ฿ in cash, returned when you bring the bike back.
- Contract. Find the clauses on damage, towing and the impound lot.
- A license with category A: an IDP with your home license, or a Thai license.
Do you need a license to rent a bike
Yes. If a renter is stopped without a license, the rental shop owner has a problem with the police too, so shops usually ask for one when you rent. Some do hand over a bike without a license, but that doesn't make riding it legal.
A scooter counts as a motorcycle in Thailand, so the rider needs category A in an IDP with a home license, or a Thai motorcycle license. The full picture is in do you need a license in Thailand.
At a checkpoint the ticket goes to the person riding, and after an accident the insurer will refuse to pay. Amounts and consequences are in the fine for driving without a license in Phuket.
How not to lose your deposit
Before you ride off, film the bike from every side and record the scratches separately. Check the brakes and the tyre tread right away, not after the first downpour: most shops aren't responsible for the bike's condition during the rental.
Helmets are required for rider and passenger; riding without one is fined up to 2,000 ฿. If the bike ends up at the impound lot, the renter usually pays to get it back, so read that clause before you sign.
Renting a car in Phuket
The rule is the same: a home license with an IDP for category B, or a Thai car license. How to get one on the island is on the car license page.
When buying a bike makes more sense
According to Kalinka Thailand, a used 2022-2024 Honda Click costs 25,000-35,000 ฿ and a Honda PCX 160 45,000-65,000 ฿. If you're on the island for more than six months, buying pays off.
Buying and registering a bike needs a residence certificate from immigration, the same document as for a Thai license. So it's convenient to buy while getting your license, while the certificate's 30 days are running. A Thai motorcycle license through Phuket License is done from scratch in the shortest time on the island, or by conversion in one visit. A Russian license needs no IDP for conversion. Details on the motorcycle license in Phuket guide.
