Thailand: Watch Out — Well-Documented Surprises — typical deposit Varies widely, sometimes passport instead of a deposit.
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Watch Out — Well-Documented Surprises — typical deposit Varies widely, sometimes passport instead of a deposit. Some smaller local agencies hold your passport in lieu of a card deposit — this is a well-documented risk (your passport can effectively be held hostage in a damage dispute). Insist on a card deposit from a reputable agency instead, and confirm exactly what liability coverage is included.
Thailand: Watch Out — Well-Documented Surprises — typical deposit Varies widely, sometimes passport instead of a deposit. Some smaller local agencies hold your passport in lieu of a card deposit — this is a well-documented risk (your passport can effectively be held hostage in a damage dispute). Insist on a card deposit from a reputable agency instead, and confirm exactly what liability coverage is included.
Thailand has a well-documented pattern of surprise charges, aggressive upselling, or risky practices — read the note above carefully and read your rental contract in full.
Check what your own credit card or home auto insurance already covers before buying extra coverage — you may already be covered for some or all of it. But confirm any legally mandatory local coverage separately, since that's not optional regardless of what else you have.
Photograph and video the entire car from every angle, including a timestamp — this is your best protection in any damage dispute, especially in destinations with a documented pattern of post-return charge disputes.