Ask Honest John

Honest John Ask Honest John » Family Thais
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks

Family Thais

My wife and I are going to the Chaiyaphum area (Thailand) to visit her family for 3 weeks at Christmas. I intend to hire a pickup in Khon Kaen for the duration of the holiday. What insurance and CDW do I need to purchase to best cover myself? I am a fairly confident UK car driver of 35 years and have been a passenger of a Thai friend on other trips. I think I can’t be any worse. Any advice on driving in Thailand?

Asked on 26 December 2009 by

Answered by Honest John
I always use Budget. Pick-ups are usually the cheapest things to hire but gobble more fuel than a Vios, City, Yaris or Jazz. About 30 mpg v/s about 40 for the cars. They are also usually king cabs, not double cabs, so back seat passengers don't get much legroom. Take out the full insurance package offered. If a car or a truck hits a motorbike (and there are about 30 million in Thailand) the car or truck driver is
automatically blamed. Use your mirrors ALL THE TIME. (I drive about 8,000 miles a year in Thailand.)

We give you the low down on how to save on insurance, little-known tricks and tips, what insurance groups mean and how to use insurance aggregators to beat insurers.

Insurance group finder and how to save on insurance
Similar questions
I will be collecting a pre-booked Europcar hire-car from a French airport this Summer. My current UK paper driving licence does not expire for a few years yet (I am in my early sixties). Please would you...
My Brother is working in Canada and has purchased a flat in this country. He will be able to take two 3-week holidays every year. He is considering purchasing a vehicle rather than hiring one as he feels...
I would appreciate your thoughts. Just returned from hols in Menorca where I rented a Corsa for 5 days. I only had to show my plastic card type UK driving licence to the hire company and was not asked...