i am wondering what are the conditions to rent out a scooter or moped in thailand or vietnam? do i need a license? and how much does it cost.
some of my friends just hand over there passport and pay x amount of money.
i dont like the idea of handing over my passport as i will need it when exchanging money / applying for visas, plus i feel that the passport is much safer with me than them.
thanks
Mr. Gecko,
I think by law you do need a VN driving license. Of course no visitor will have one. But, it does stop most from renting a motorbike. If stopped by the police, you will be paying a fine. I rented motorbikes in DaLat & Nha Trang, paid $4-6 for the day. These are the 100cc bikes.
Now the passport dilemma. Easily solved, rent from your guesthouse/hotel. Everyone I stayed at had bikes available or could quickly get one. The front desk already has your passport, so no big deal. They add the rental charges to your bill.
Remember, you are responsible for theft or damage to the bike. This will certainly put a serious dent in your budget. Yes, tooling around VN on a motorbike can be fun, but there is a downside. All renters need to be aware of this fact.
rent a Honda Baja 250cc. Great all around bike for touring on and off road.
I rented it in Chiang Mai for $7 a day. You can buy them here in Thailand, second hand, for around $1000.
thank you both for your feedback.