Renting a Motorbike in Kanchanaburi

The last time I was in Kanchanaburi I was told that it is the policy of all motorbike rental businesses to keep the renter's passport while the motorbike is being rented. After checking with about 5 or 6 places, I finally found one rental business owned by a westerner that would copy my passport and took a deposit.

Most other places in Thailand that I have rented motorbikes Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Udon Thani, will only take a copy of my passport. I am VERY reluctant to give up my passport to anyone.

Suggestions??????

Only use motorbike renters that don't hold your passport, easy as that, you will always find one or more, nothing wrong with just paying a deposit, but if they got your passport you could end up in the doo doo big time.

If they ask for your passport vote with your feet and walk away. If you do happen to hand over your passport and have an unfortunate incident with the rented motorcycle.
The renter will simply hold your passport to ransom and thus you may be subject to extortionate fees.

Your passport is your most valuable asset overseas.

Never give it to anyone.

Why don't you go back to the same shop that you rented before that was satisfied with the copy???? That is my suggestion.

Make a color copy of your passport data/photo page. Rent a car using credit card?

You're not even allowed to give your passport to anyone other than an "official", I would never ever give my passports to anyone but custom/immigration officials or police.

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Originally Posted by stillakid

The last time I was in Kanchanaburi I was told that it is the policy of all motorbike rental businesses to keep the renter's passport while the motorbike is being rented. After checking with about 5 or 6 places, I finally found one rental business owned by a westerner that would copy my passport and took a deposit.

Most other places in Thailand that I have rented motorbikes Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Udon Thani, will only take a copy of my passport. I am VERY reluctant to give up my passport to anyone.

Suggestions??????

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Yes I agree with you. Never ever let your passport out of your hands. Especially difficult for someone who does hand over their passport to a rental company is if they have a dispute about damage to the bike with the owner. Even if it is not their fault they will not get the passport back until they hand over heaps of money. And if it goes to court (that can take a long time) they are likely to be subject to an overstay fine with the immigration department, 500bht/day up to a max of 20,000 baht for a 40 day overstay. No further overstay fees after 40 days.

Cheers

seht1912

AGREE, dont give em your Passport, Ive been that feked around with small companys in BKK, delaid for hours over a car once, walked out in discust!