Car Rental Phuket for Foreigners: Licence, Deposit, Excess
Carry your home licence together with an international driving permit, or hold a Thai licence. Budget about THB 5,000 for the deposit: National and Budget hold it on a credit card, while Phuket Wheels takes cash. Traffic drives on the left.
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If you want a car for a few days of island driving, bring your home licence and an international driving permit, and expect to leave a deposit at the counter. This page is for cars; if you would rather ride, go to the motorbike rental guide.
Which licence do you need to rent a car in Phuket?
Carry your home licence together with an international driving permit, or hold a Thai licence. A foreign licence on its own is not accepted in Thailand, and the permit is valid for 1 year. If you are British, the permit has to be the 1968 version.
Some firms are relaxed about this: Phuket Wheels accepts a home country licence but recommends a permit, and Budget Thailand accepts a foreign licence together with an international one. We recommend carrying the permit anyway, because driving without a valid licence can invalidate your travel insurance, and Island Drive’s own cover does not apply when you drive without one.
Police can fine an unlicensed driver, and the penalty is up to 1 month in jail or a fine up to THB 1,000 (as of October 2023). The legal minimum age for driving a car is 18, although the firms below set their own, higher limits. If you live here and want a Thai licence, the Thai driving licence guide covers the documents and fees.
Deposit, excess and age at four Phuket firms
Plan on a deposit of about THB 5,000 at most firms, and treat the excess as the number that really differs.
| Firm | Deposit (THB) | How you pay it | You pay after damage (THB) | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National, airport desk | 5,000 | Credit card only | Excess from 8,000 on economy, compact and intermediate cars | 21 |
| Budget Thailand, airport desk | 5,000 | Credit card hold, no debit | Non-waivable excess 10,000 to 20,000 | 21 |
| Phuket Wheels | 5,000 | Cash | Maximum 10,000 for bigger damage | — |
| Island Drive | 5,000 to 10,000 | Card, payment link or cash if agreed | Maximum 10,000 per incident if you are at fault | — |
Checked November 2026. Prices and terms change by season; read the contract before you pay.
National and Budget at the airport
Both international brands have a desk at Phuket airport, which suits you if you land in the evening and want the car before you reach your hotel. National’s desk sits on the first floor of the Domestic Terminal between doors 1 and 2, and Budget Thailand’s counter is in the arrival hall. Because both take the deposit on a credit card, bring one in the driver’s name; at Budget the collision waiver costs 200 baht a day on top.
National also asks for a licence held for at least 12 months, and it advises renters to check whether local authorities require foreign drivers to carry an international permit. That is a fair hint to carry the permit even when the desk does not ask.
Phuket Wheels and Island Drive, delivered
Local firms deliver the car instead of making you queue. Phuket Wheels delivers free to Phuket airport and lists cars from THB 890 a day, with unlimited mileage and a 3-day minimum. Island Drive quotes the Yaris Cross at THB 1,700 a day for 2 to 6 days from 1 November to 15 December, and says airport delivery and insurance are included.
The trade-off is range and rules. Phuket Wheels keeps its cars to Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga and Khao Lak, with no ferries, so pick National if you plan to cross to another island with the car. Island Drive’s cover is void without a valid licence, which is one more reason to carry the permit.
Which side do you drive on, and what do police check?
Traffic drives on the left.
Since 1 April 2026 traffic police have enforced 10 main charges strictly, and having no licence is one of them. Keep your licence and permit in the car, not in the hotel safe, and read the safety and scams guide for who to call after a stop or an accident.
When does a car beat Grab or a scooter?
A car wins when you plan several day trips, because Phuket Wheels includes unlimited mileage. For a single airport transfer or an evening out, a ride-hailing app is simpler: see Grab vs Bolt in Phuket and the airport to Patong and Kata options.
If you are choosing between a car and a bike, remember that a scooter needs its own licence class and its own cover, which the motorbike insurance guide explains. For the full list of ways to move around, start at getting around Phuket.
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Step by step
- Get the permitPack your home licence and a valid international driving permit, or hold a Thai licence.
- Choose a firm and a deposit methodMatch the deposit to what you can pay: card at National and Budget, cash at Phuket Wheels.
- Check the excess and the areaRead what you pay after damage and where the car may go.
- Drive on the leftTraffic drives on the left.
Common questions
Can I rent a car in Phuket with only my home licence?
Some firms will hand over the keys on a home licence alone, and Phuket Wheels is one of them, though it recommends a permit. The rule you drive under is different: carry an international permit or a Thai licence.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car?
At National the deposit must go on a credit card and cash is refused, and Budget Thailand does not accept debit cards. Phuket Wheels takes a cash deposit instead.
How old do I need to be?
The legal minimum for driving a car is 18, but National and Budget at Phuket airport rent from 21.
Can I take a rental car on a ferry?
It depends on the firm. National permits ferry crossings within Thailand, while Phuket Wheels keeps cars to Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga and Khao Lak and rules out ferries.
Is insurance included in the price?
At Island Drive, yes, along with airport delivery. At Budget Thailand the collision waiver is an optional extra.
Read next
Sources and reader comments
Official sources:
- Government of Canada, Travel advice Thailand, Driving (updated 13 Oct 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- Phetchabun Provincial Immigration Office (Immigration Bureau), "Getting Your First Thai Driving License" (page undated) (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Thailand, "Driving in Thailand" (page modified 19 Sep 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice for Thailand, "Safety and security" (page date not shown) (opens in a new tab)
- Department of Land Transport legal office, summary of the Motor Vehicle Act B.E. 2522 (explanatory note, published 30 Oct 2023) (opens in a new tab)
Show 9 more sources
Company and press pages (not official sources):
- National Car Rental, Phuket Domestic Airport (HKT) location page, "Key Facts & Policies" (page undated) (opens in a new tab)
- Budget Thailand, Phuket Airport branch page, terms and conditions (page undated) (opens in a new tab)
- Phuket Wheels, home page (page undated) (opens in a new tab)
- Island Drive Phuket, Yaris Cross rental page (pricing by season, page undated) (opens in a new tab)
- Island Drive Phuket, Frequently Asked Questions (page undated) (opens in a new tab)
- Island Drive Phuket, Insurance page (page undated) (opens in a new tab)
- Island Drive Phuket, Security Deposit Policy (page undated) (opens in a new tab)
- Phuket Wheels, Toyota Yaris page (page undated) (opens in a new tab)
General information checked against the sources listed above. Prices, opening hours and other details change; confirm them with the provider before you act. See how guides are checked.
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