For the best Chiang Mai Car Rental and best Chiang Mai Motorbike Rental visit
Chat Car Rent.


Before you rent a motor vehicle in Chiang Mai do yourself a favor and read over our Driving in Chiang Mai web page which will alert to driving habits of Chiang Mai residents that would surprise or shock Westerners.


Driving in Chiang Mai


Thai drivers run red lights, jump green lights, pass down hill and uphill when they cannot see upcoming traffic and more..

Once you get used to it or know what to watch out for it becomes second nature and you know what to watch out for and expect. I thought I would never want to drive in Chiang Mai or be able to drive in Chiang Mai but after trying it out and knowing what to watch out for I was fine.

As to buying a car in Chiang Mai and insurance we have a web page to cover these topics as well.


Buying a Vehicle


Auto Insurance


Most vehicles on the road in Chiang Mai are motorbikes. I had never driven one or even been on one until I came to Chiang Mai. The automatic is a breeze to drive and you can drive all day and go where you want and do what you want for about $10 US for motorbike rental and fuel.

Just wear your helmet for safety reasons and because of the possibility of getting a ticket of about 200 baht for not wearing one. Often around 8 am and 5 pm.. rush hour in Chiang Mai the local police pull over motorbike drivers for not wearing helmets and car drivers for not wearing seat belts. Are they doing this out of consideration of your safety?? NO.

They do this as from what I have been told they receive 50% commission of the tickets issued. The police do not get paid that well so this is their chance to earn some extra money and they do this part very well.

Drivers can sped, run red lights, pass illegaly, jump green lights do just about anything they please and they will never get a ticket but when it comes to issuing tickets for helmets or seat belts the police are there IN MASS.

Chat Car Rent offering Jeeps, 4wd, Sedans, Vans, Pickups, and motorbikes with insurance

Chat Car Rent is located on 5/1-2 Moonmuang Rd.,
their telephone number is 01 888 27489

Just e-mail - chatcarrent@hotmail.com with your Chiang Mai car or motorcyle rental requirements

Chat Car Rent offering Jeeps, 4wd, Sedans, Vans, Pickups, and motorbikes with insurance

The tickets issued to for example a motorbike driver and also to the Passenger can amount to more than a days wages. FAIR?? Not in my opinion.

The motorbike drivers are much better drivers than most Thai car drivers. I do not think that most Thai car drivers could do a three point turn or even park between 2 cars if they life depended on it. But they will speed and make up their own rules when it comes to driving. So if anyone deserves a ticket it is the Thai car driver.

Getting back to car rental I think that you can save yourself some money IF you know your way around and know the THAI driving rules. Other than that best to use a red taxi or a tuk tuk if you can put up with their atrocious driving and propane fumes.


So our recommendation for car rental and motorbike rental in Chiang Mai is Chat Car Rent. Remember that you drive on the left side of the road here, the steering wheel is on the opposite side of the car as what you have in North America and that most motor vehicles here are standards.