# Is It Safe to Ride a Scooter in Phuket's Rainy Season? Page URL: https://kolesio.com/en/faq/scooter-in-the-rainy-season-in-phuket/ In dry windows a scooter is fine in Phuket's rainy season; in a downpour it is many times more dangerous than a car, because the first rain lifts sand and oil to the surface and grip falls sharply. The rule that works is simple: pull over and wait, since a tropical shower here passes as a band within twenty to forty minutes. Where the answer changes is a long stay in the wet months, when a car as the main transport and the bike for dry windows is the calmer plan. **A week from 5 145 ฿ total** — an economy car, 735 ฿/day · a crossover from 9 555 ฿ · refundable deposit from 5 000 ฿ · live search for a 7-day rental starting 2 November, pick-up in Patong. [Ask on WhatsApp: Is It Safe to Ride a Scooter in Phuket's Rainy Season?](https://kolesio.com/go/wa/?p=%2Fen%2Ffaq%2Fscooter-in-the-rainy-season-in-phuket%2F) ## In short - Twenty to forty minutes — how long a downpour usually lasts - First minutes — the most slippery part of the rain - Mornings — usually calmer than the afternoons - Shelter — the right move on a bike, not the dash home Kolesio Car Rental Phuket — car rental in Phuket. Booking and support by Kolesio on WhatsApp +66 99 647 8676. Checked 19 October. ## So, can I ride a scooter in the wet months? Yes, between the showers. On two wheels a downpour is far riskier than in a car. The first rain brings sand and oil up onto the tarmac, and the tyres lose grip quickest on painted lines and metal manhole covers. In the dry windows a scooter is fine. The wet months are not one long storm. Most days have a dry morning, a band of rain and a road that starts drying soon after it, so riding here is mostly a question of timing rather than courage. For the same question in a car, see is it safe to drive in Phuket. ### Why the first minutes are the worst Those opening minutes are the slickest of all: dust and oil float up first and only later get rinsed off. A road that looked ordinary five minutes earlier now has a film on top, and a scooter has two small contact patches to hold it. ## What do I do when the rain catches me on the road? Caught by rain on the bike? Get under a roof straight away instead of pressing on to the hotel. A petrol station canopy, a shop front, a cafe: any roof will do. Then sit it out. Showers cross the island as a band and are usually gone within twenty to forty minutes, which is why locals wait under a canopy rather than ride through. A squall on a pass can be shorter still, about fifteen minutes. A rain cape from the nearest shop solves the comfort problem but does nothing at all for grip. Keep a cheap poncho under the seat anyway: squalls arrive fast with no warning, and the choice on a bike is between being soaked and pulling over. > Do not race the rain home. The first minutes of a downpour are the most slippery of all, and visibility during the worst of a squall is genuinely poor for everybody on the road. ## How do the hill roads change after rain? They keep the rain longer than the flat. In the wet season the slopes around Kamala wash sand and mud onto the bends; it collects on the outside of corners and at the bottom of gradients, and a thin layer is enough to take a scooter's front wheel away. Technique covers the rest: brake before the bend and not while leaned over, and on a descent squeeze both brakes in short, firm bursts. After a shower expect a gritty strip of sand and mud on the outer edge of corners. - Check the sky before a longer ride — bands of rain are visible from a distance - Ride in the morning when you can — the afternoons bring most of the rain - Stop at the first drops — the surface is at its worst in the first minutes - Wait under a roof — the band usually passes within the hour - Expect sand on the outside of bends after rain — slow down before the corner - Park on high ground for the night — water at the bottom of a slope reaches the wiring ## How do I plan scooter days in the rainy season? By the clock more than by the forecast. Rain bands tend to come after midday and into the evening, while mornings are usually calm, so the longer rides fit best before lunch. Where you ride matters as well. Showers are patchy: Patong and Kamala on the west coast take most of the water, while Chalong on the east side often stays dry in the very same hour. On a long stay through the wet months, the calmer setup is a car for everyday driving and the scooter for dry spells. On a short trip a rainy afternoon simply becomes a taxi day, and if rain keeps spoiling the plans, switch to a car. The comparison of whether to rent a car or a scooter in Phuket goes through the rest of the year. Tell us who is riding, where you are based and which roads you have in mind. If a scooter looks like the wrong tool for that plan, we say so and suggest a car. Bookings go through WhatsApp or the booking form, and the scooter is brought to your hotel, villa or apartment wherever you stay on the island. ## Where should the scooter stand overnight? High and, if possible, covered. In the wet season park the bike on high ground, so it is not standing in water at the bottom of a slope after a heavy shower, because water where it should not be is how electrical faults start. A bike under cover survives sun and rain far better, and a heavy scooter should not be parked facing downhill on wet ground. At the handover we look the scooter over together, brakes, lights, tyres and mirrors; the lights and the brakes decide a ride in rain or after dark. One rule does not change with the weather: a scooter needs category A on your licence, and our page on the motorcycle licence to rent a scooter explains the categories. ## Cars for this question If a car makes more sense than a scooter here, these are easy to start with: - [Mazda 2: a compact car for short island trips](https://kolesio.com/en/cars/mazda-2-rental-phuket/) - [Nissan Note: a hatchback for daily runs in town](https://kolesio.com/en/cars/nissan-note-rental-phuket/) - [Honda City: an economy sedan for rainy days instead of a scooter](https://kolesio.com/en/cars/honda-city-rental-phuket/) - [Suzuki Swift: a small automatic that is easy to park](https://kolesio.com/en/cars/suzuki-swift-rental-phuket/) ## FAQ ### Is it safe to ride a scooter in Phuket during the rainy season? In dry windows, yes. In a downpour a scooter is many times more dangerous than a car, so stop and wait under a roof until the band of rain passes. ### How long should I wait out the rain on a scooter? Usually twenty to forty minutes, the time a band of rain takes to pass. A squall on a pass can clear in about fifteen minutes. ### Does a rain poncho make riding in the rain safe? No. A poncho solves the comfort problem, but it does nothing at all for grip on a wet road with sand and oil on top. ### What time of day is best for scooter trips in the wet months? The morning. Rain bands tend to come after midday and into the evening, and the first half of the day is usually calm. ### Where should I park a scooter overnight in the rainy season? On high ground and under cover if you can. Water at the bottom of a slope after a heavy shower is how electrical faults start. ### Should I switch to a car for the rainy months? For a long stay, yes: a car for everyday driving through the wet months and the scooter for dry spells. For a short trip, a taxi covers the odd wet afternoon. --- Source: kolesio, https://kolesio.com/en/faq/scooter-in-the-rainy-season-in-phuket/. 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