Car Rental in Phuket Without a Deposit: Is It Possible?

There is always a deposit, but your passport stays with you

The deposit is a refundable sum held while you have the car. It is not part of the price and it is not a fee. You get it back at the return.

What we do not do is keep a passport instead. You need it on you anyway: every driver shows a passport, a national driving licence and an International Driving Permit.

A deposit is also not the same thing as an insurance excess. The deposit comes back to you; the excess is the share of a damage bill a policy leaves with the renter. How the two are linked in your contract is explained before you sign. For the insurance side, see what insurance is included and zero-excess car rental.

How much the deposit is, by class

The sum depends on the model, not on how many days you rent. In our live search:

• Economy cars: 5,000–7,000 ฿.
• Crossovers: 5,000–10,000 ฿.
• Minivans and seven-seaters: 5,000–7,000 ฿.
• Pickup trucks: 5,000–15,000 ฿.
• Large SUVs such as the Ford Everest: 8,000–15,000 ฿.
• Electric cars: 9,000–12,000 ฿, and 30,000 ฿ for the most expensive one.

If you would rather not carry cash

The usual way is cash at handover. If you don't want to bring that much cash, say so in your first message. Non-cash options exist, but they are agreed before delivery, not standing next to the car.

The deposit can also be paid in roubles by bank transfer, and it is returned the same way. More in car rental without a cash deposit.

When the deposit comes back

Cash comes back at the return, right after the inspection. A hold on a card is released by your bank, which can take several days.

Speed camera fines reach the rental with a delay, so part of the deposit can be held until it is clear none arrived for your dates.

Two habits make the return quick. Bring the car back with the fuel level written down at handover. And keep it reasonably clean: a wash costs 300 ฿ if the car comes back dirty. The full process is in how the deposit works.

Laguna, Bang Tao and other areas: the same rule

The deposit works the same way wherever the car is delivered. We bring cars to hotels and villas in Laguna and Bang Tao too; for a gated complex such as Laguna, the security team is told in advance. See car rental in Bang Tao and car rental in Laguna.

Delivery goes anywhere on the island at any hour and is counted separately from the daily rate. Send your dates, the place and the car you want on WhatsApp, and the deposit for that exact car comes with the total.

Cars and prices

The two lowest-priced models of each class in our live search, per day for three days, a week and a month, with the deposit for each model. Each name opens the page of the car. See also prices and rental terms for every model.

Lowest price in our live search for pick-up in Patong, rentals starting 1 November or 15 November; checked 18 October, Phuket time. Delivery is counted separately; the search shows the exact total for your dates.

Rental terms

• Deposit: refundable and separate from the rental price, from 5,000 ฿ for most economy cars and up to 30,000 ฿ for the most expensive electric car. Left in cash at handover; a non-cash option is agreed in the chat before delivery.
• Insurance: first-class commercial insurance is included, a policy for commercial use, so the insurer accepts a claim on a rented car. Damage to third parties is covered up to 800,000 ฿; a copy of the policy on request.
• Documents: a passport, a national driving licence and an International Driving Permit for everyone named in the contract. Licences from ASEAN countries follow a different rule: name the country of issue when you book and we confirm in the chat.
• Age: 21 with a year of driving; premium cars and large SUVs from 23.
• Delivery: to your hotel, villa or the airport exit at any hour, night flights included. It is counted separately from the daily rate; the sum for your address is named in the chat.