RENTALS
Overwhelmed by the sheer volume of motorbike rental shops in Asia? We were too. We’ve sourced the most reliable shops so that you don’t have to.
Motorbiking Asia: The Ultimate Pre-rental Checklist [Free Download]
Pre-rental Checklist | Date Posted: 18th of December, 2023
We’ve hired motorbikes, motorcycles, mopeds and scooters across the world. Here’s our comprehensive pre-rental checklist, so that you can rent stress-free and focus on making memories.
Travelling by motorbike through Asia allows you to navigate through scenic routes, immerse yourself in local culture, and have the freedom to explore at your own pace. We consider it the best mode of transportation for any holiday in Asia.
Before renting a motorcycle abroad, there are a few things that you need to consider to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey. This can make even the most experienced renters nervous! But don’t worry, we’ve got it covered. From inspecting the bike’s condition to securing proper safety gear, this FREE and downloadable pre-rental checklist will be your guide to exploring Asia on wheels.
If you need advice on licences, insurance, and general riding safety tips click here.
1. Check Laws & Insurance
The first step on this pre-rental checklist is understanding the local regulations and insurance exclusions. Although this isn’t a fun part of travel planning, it is an essential starting point for renting a motorbike in Asia. If you don’t believe us, check out all the Go-Fund-Me pages.
Take a moment to familiarise yourself with the specifics for riding: What’s the minimum age for renting, what kind of license or permit is required, are there any unique traffic rules in the region, and will your travel insurance cover you? Some general advice is:
- Most countries in Asia require an IDP in addition to your overseas licence.
- Most insurance companies will not cover you for riding without the correct licence. Genki will.
- Many Asian countries will turn a blind eye to traffic violations, but will pull riders over for riding without a helmet.
- If you have an accident in Asia and don’t have a valid licence, you will most likely be at fault for the accident regardless of what happened.
Familiarizing yourself with these basics will help you to avoid paying fines, be covered by insurance, and have a safe journey. So, be sure to check your destination’s local driving laws before you kickstart your two-wheeled exploration.
2. Choose a Trustworthy Company
In touristy parts of Asia, there are motorbike rental shops on nearly every street corner. Checking reviews before renting is an essential part of any pre-rental checklist. You should be looking for keywords like crash, accident, scam, police and fines.
A dodgy rental company may seem okay until you put a little scratch on the motorcycle fairing and then it’s suddenly “pay $1000 to replace it or I will call the police.” And they will never actually replace the part.
Many rental companies do include third-party and liability insurance, which is a bonus. That way, if you accidentally damage property or if someone else has been injured by you in an accident, you will be covered.
Choosing a rental company that cares for its customers is a big deal! Luckily for you, we have organised our most trusted and tested rental locations in Asia here.
3. Negotiate the Price
By checking out a few motorbike rental companies around town, you will quickly figure out what the going rate is. However, some companies will provide more services like nicer bikes, insurance, moped delivery and newer helmets.
Figure out the average cost of the motorcycle you want and head to the shop armed with our pre-rental checklist. If the bike they are trying to sell you looks like it isn’t in the best condition, offer a lower price. However, if it fails any of the very basic checks in the pre-rental checklist, choose another bike altogether.
If you are planning on staying for a week or a month, definitely ask for special rates. For example, a basic 125cc moped in Thailand goes for about 250 THB per day but is about 1200 THB for a week or 2000 THB per month. Those are some huge savings!
4. Inspect the Condition
Before renting out a motorbike, it’s important to conduct a thorough inspection of the bike’s condition. Using our pre-rental checklist along with taking videos or photos will save you a headache later. So, take our checklist with you and stroll around the motorcycle to check for any existing scratches, dents, or mechanical issues. Specifically, look for:
- Any scratches, dents, cracks or imperfections (be sure to take photos)
- Check that the tires have grip and are inflated and don’t have cracks or bulges
- The headlights, brake lights and indicators all work
- The brakes shouldn’t squeak and should engage quickly
- The helmet doesn’t have dents and has a clear visor (choose full-faced, if available)
- Record the petrol level
- For manual bikes: check that the clutch and gears engage correctly
Ensure you take photos or a video of all angles of the motorbike in the sunlight.
By paying close attention to these details before renting, you will not only prevent any potential disputes about damages upon return but also guarantee a safe and smooth riding experience throughout your journey. Remember, a comprehensive inspection upfront is the key to a carefree and enjoyable ride on the open road.
5. Sign the Contract
The company will give you a rental agreement to sign and date. Read through the details for any missing or important pieces of information (like petrol, distance you can take it, deposit, insurance, repair costs, date due, etc.). Unlike hiring a car, the process for hiring a motorcycle is extremely lax. Be sure to take a photo of this agreement, even if they give you a copy.
6. Leave a Deposit
The final point on the pre-rental checklist is all about deposits. It is standard to leave some sort of deposit when renting a motorbike in Asia. The deposit is usually about $60 USD for a cheap moped, but some places offer alternative deposits.
We strongly discourage people from leaving their passports as a deposit. If there is an issue with the motorbike down the track, the company will make you pay an exorbitant amount for repairs. Companies like this know that they can make you pay more because you desperately need your passport, so they will not give you back your passport until you pay top dollar. This is a very common scam in Asia.
BOOK IT
We use these travel sites to book our life on the road.
Hotels: We find all of our best deals at booking.com and Agoda.
Hostels: To find the most budget-friendly hostels, we use Hostelworld.
Flights: Our go-to for years now has been Skyscanner.
Activities: Klook offers the best deals for fun activities in Asia.
E-sim: Airalo is a reliable source for getting connected as soon as we land.
Tours: For tours, we rely on Get Your Guide.
Insurance: We use Safetywing to cover pre-booked trips and Genki to cover medical-only backpacker trips.
Banking: We have relied on Wise for all our travel banking needs for years now.
Final Notes
To have a positive rental experience, there are a few things that need to take place before renting out a motorbike in Asia. By using our FREE pre-rental checklist, you’ll ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable journey.
RENTALS
Overwhelmed with the sheer volume of motorbike rental shops? We were too. We’ve sourced the most reliable shops so you don’t have to.
BOOK IT
We use these travel sites to book our life on the road.
Hotels: We find all of our best deals at booking.com and Agoda.
Hostels: To find the most budget-friendly hostels, we use Hostelworld.
Flights: Our go-to for years now has been Skyscanner.
Activities: Klook offers the best deals for fun activities in Asia.
E-sim: Airalo is a reliable source for getting connected as soon as we land.
Tours: For tours, we rely on Get Your Guide.
Insurance: We use Safetywing to cover pre-booked trips and Genki to cover medical-only backpacker trips.
Banking: We have relied on Wise for all our travel banking needs for years now.
Disclosure: Some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book something through one of these links, we earn a small commission. This doesn’t cost you anything! Note that we only ever recommend products that we fully endorse and have used ourselves.
