If you’re heading to Thailand’s party island you need to get a pair of wheels to explore it to the full. There are loads of bike hire shops all over the island, but if you want to get the best deals and avoid any dodgy dealings it makes sense to follow recommendations. That’s where I come in, here’s everything you need to know about Koh Phangan scooter rental in 2024.

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A Quick Guide to Scooter Rental in Koh Phangan

If you can’t be bothered to read a whole post about motorbike hire on the island, here’s the key info you should know before renting a scooter in Koh Phangan…

How much does it cost?

Prices change depending on the season but you should be paying about 200 THB per day to rent a scooter in Koh Phangan. That’s for a standard 125cc bike, usually a Honda Click.

The best place to rent from

My favourite place to rent a scooter in Koh Phangan is Budget Two. If you can’t be bothered to shop around, just head to them.

Get the right licence

To ride legally you should have an International Driving Permit. Think of it as the driving licence you need everywhere outside your home country. It’s not free. But it is cheaper and less stressful than paying a fine to the local police, it lasts for years and is valid pretty much everywhere you can travel to. Not got one? The guys at International Drivers Agency will email you one.

Protect yourself out there

When zipping around paradise on two wheels it’s easy to get carried away and feel invincible. But it doesn’t take long to see the bandages and hear the horror stories from other travellers to remind you otherwise. Helmets help and so does insurance. World Nomads offers cover and free quotes online but there are plenty of options out there, just make sure your policy covers you for riding scooters. 

Your Ultimate Guide to Koh Phangan Scooter Rental in 2024

If the super quick guide has left you wanting more, fear not, as I have plenty more info for you to get your teeth into. Let’s start with the best places to rent a scooter in Koh Phangan.

Best Scooter Rental Near The Pier

Most travellers want to get riding as soon as they set foot on the island. These two are the best places to rent a bike near the pier in Koh Phangan.

Budget Two – My Personal favourite

It makes sense to start with my favourite place to rent a scooter in Koh Phangan. Budget Two gets a lot of business thanks to its location right next to the pier, but they keep their customers thanks to their great prices and amazing service.

You’re likely to pay around 200 THB per day for a Honda 125cc click. They rent more powerful bikes too, usually up to 350cc but the owner did say that they plan on getting some bigger ones in soon too.

You can choose between leaving your passport or a cash deposit of 5,000 – 7,000 bht deposit. The cash deposit depends on the bike you rent. But don’t worry, the family who run the business are super-friendly and trustworthy.

If you want to prearrange your bike so you’re not disappointed send them a message on +66616851455

Opening times: 07:00 – 18:00

Address: 64/8 Thong Sala Pier Koh Phangan, Surat Thani 84280, Thailand

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Lala Agency – Best for big bikes

Let’s start with the most modern bike hire store on the island: Lala Agency. Located opposite the immigration office you can walk there in about 20 minutes from the pier. You’ll see plenty of other bike rental options along the way, but if you want to rent from the most reputable company, keep walking. I’ve only had great service from them, and so has everyone else if you check out their Google reviews.

In fact, there’s no need to walk at all if you don’t want to, as the owner, Lazlo, will have your bikes waiting for you as soon as you step off the boat if you contact him on Whatsapp beforehand.  You can message him on +66635894743.

Not only do they have plenty of standard 125cc bikes, it’s also the best place to rent big bikes in Koh Phangan. Bikes up to 500cc are available. I always stick to 125s but other more experienced riders might want something a bit bigger between their legs.

Opening times: 09:00 – 12:00 & 14:00 – 17:00

Address: 8/23 Moo 2 Thongsala, Ko Pha-ngan District, 84280, Thailand

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Best Bike Rental near Long Beach, Koh Phangan

If you find yourself sunning it up on Long Beach and want to rent a scooter from somewhere local, this is the place…

Mr Tom – No deposit is needed

When people go on about how lovely Thai people are, they are, in essence, all talking about Mr Tom. What a guy this man is. 

He’s one of the very few bike rental stores I’ve ever come across that doesn’t ask for a cash deposit or a passport. Not even a copy of one!! Mr Tom believes in trusting people, and considering he’s been in business for five years now it’s obviously working out for him.

Not only is there no deposit needed, but the prices to rent his bikes are amazing too, probably the cheapest on the island. Well, the cheapest from any reputable place anyway. There are always a few bad eggs out there trying to offer something too cheap to be true!  

Mr Tom’s scooter rentals aren’t limited to the Long Beach area, he can also arrange delivery to you. It’s best to WhatsApp him +66922709987 and see what he can do for you.

He’s also a taxi driver and will take you to the pier when you drop the bike off.

Address: Unnamed Road, Ko Pha-ngan, Surat Thani 84280, Thailand

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Best Scooter rental in Ban Tai

Here’s the best choice for motorbike rental in Koh Phangan’s Ban Tai area. 

View Shop Motorbike rental – One of the only stores in Ban Tai

Rental rates are a bit pricier than other places as standard, but that’s because there’s little competition around the Ban Tai / Thong Nai Pan Yai Beach area. But if you just want a bike for a day or two to adventure around this corner of the island, what’s a couple of dollars more to you really?

The owner is a really friendly guy who made the whole experience smooth and fun. I had great service and so does everyone else by the look of it on Google.

Message on +66 87 267 5393 

Address: 258/24, Ban Tai, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani 84280, Thailand

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Best scooter rental in Koh Phagnan’s party corner – Haad Rin

Charly Rent Motorbike

There aren’t many bike hire stores down in Moon Party Land, aka Haad Rin. But if you want to use a local scooter rental company check out Charly Rent Motorbike.

125cc bikes usually cost 250 THB for 24 hrs, which is 50 more than most, but as with in Ban Tai, you don’t have much choice unless you use one of the other options elsewhere on the island and get your scooter delivered to you.  

This is a small but professional place with quality bikes at standard prices. You’ll be well looked after by Charly

Opening times: 08:00 – 20:00

Address: Sunsets Road Ban Tai, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani 84280, Thailand

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Koh Phangan Scooter Rental – The Rules

Let’s clear something up before we get started on the rules. There’s a big difference between what you need to rent a bike and what you need to ride a bike. The scooter rental companies mentioned above, nice as they are, don’t care if you have the right license, that’s your problem.

Get the right licence 

So, to legally ride a bike you need an International Driving Permit. I know laws and documents aren’t fun or adventurous, but with so many travellers renting scooters in Koh Phangan, local police know that setting up a roadblock or two will boost their pocket money substantially.

It’s a fact that if you get stopped and don’t have a license you are very likely to have to pay a fine. How much depends on how much cash they see you have and your smooth-talking ability. 

It’s also a fact that if you have an IDP you should be waved on without having to pay a penny. That’s because it’s the only thing they want to see from a traveller riding a scooter. 

So, how do you get one? If you’re still at home the Post Office is the best place to start. If you’re already travelling, thanks to the wonders of modern technology you can get one emailed to you from the International Drivers Agency. It’s not free, but it’s cheaper than a fine or two.

Use the code IDPSketchy10 at the checkout stage to get 10% off.

Get insured

Hopefully, you’ll have travel insurance sorted for standard things like medical bills etc. But do you know if your policy covers you for riding a scooter in Koh Phangan? And if so, does it cover you for bikes over 125cc? All policies are different and it’s worth checking because accidents are all too common while travelling, so it’s worth it.

World Nomads has different options available. You can get a quick quote on their site to see if it’s a good option for you too. Remember, if the scooter rental company offers insurance that’s only likely to cover damage to the bike. If you want to protect yourself you need your own policy.

The cost of scooter rental in Koh Phangan

In Koh Phangan’s busy areas, you can get a standard 125cc bike for around 200 THB per day. In some of the more secluded beach areas, you’re more likely to pay 250 THB per day.

As with scooter rental anywhere on your travels, the longer you rent the scooter, the cheaper your price will be. But don’t expect much discount for anything less than two weeks. 

In regards to a deposit. This will vary from place to place. Most bike hire companies in Koh Phangan will take your passport as a deposit, something that always seems risky to me but plenty of people do it. A cash deposit between 2000 – 5000 THB and a photocopy of your passport is the most common deposit when renting a bike. The more powerful the bike the pricier the deposit. 

Is it safe to rent a scooter in Koh Phangan?

This probably should’ve been the first question on this post. Imagine if, after all that reading, I now tell you that renting a motorbike is the most dangerous activity in the world and you should never do it.

It would be a bit mad I reckon. So, it’s good news that I highly recommend renting a scooter on the island. The quiet coastal roads are a joy to ride around, and if the weather’s good and dry, then it’s a great place for inexperienced riders to get some miles under their belt.

If, however, the rain is bucketing down, those roads become more dangerous. That’s because is hilly and as soon as those roads get wet it can be a bit slippery. So please do bear that in mind. Experienced drivers will be fine but if you’re a novice keep off the wet roads.  

And of course, always wear a helmet.

Have you checked out Hostelword yet?

If you haven’t booked your hostel yet check out this gem on Hostelworld – Hideout Hostel. It’s one of the best hostels I’ve ever stayed in.

If your Koh Phangan accommodation is already sorted you should have a look at Hostelworld for your next stop. It is the best online platform for hostel booking anywhere online. Well, I reckon it is anyway.

So there you have it, your ultimate guide to Koh Phangan scooter rental. Have fun out there. And if you’re heading over to Koh Samui too, check out my guide to renting a scooter there.