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Dr Coolbreeze
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I rented a quaint old Suzuki Samurai (quaint = 15 years old, rickety, and most functions non-functioning) from an outfit on Koh Samui back in March 2005. What really had me worried was that the woman wanted to hold my passport as security. I sure let her know I didn't feel good about that, and offered to give her a cash deposit, or my driver's license, or whatever. She was adamant - no passport, no car. Her deal was that a runner would deliver the passport to my hotel and pick up the keys at the end of the contract period, and she promised no funny business. I'm not totally naive - I know an enterprising person can get a couple Gs for a good US passport on the black market. I was thinking of telling her to forget it, but my sweet candy pie was telling me "don't woooooorry, go ahead, their not going to do anything bad". Well, I gritted my teeth, swallowed my brain, and handed over my passport. I rented the car for one day, and made sure the woman understood that I seriously expected my passport to be at the hotel at 8 am sharp. (I made a mental 'note-to-self' to come back and trash the place if my passport wasn't promptly returned). Then the anxiety was nagging at the back of my mind all day and all night.
But in the end, at 8 am sharp I got a knock on the door, and there was a smiling teenage Thai boy with my passport in his hand.
I'm not sure what the moral of this story is:
a) Thailand is really a wonderful place where most people can be completely trusted, and you don't have to lock your doors at night, or;
b) Renting a crappy car is not worth the anxiety of wondering how you're going to get home without your passport.
Has anyone else had to hand over their passport? Is this a common requirement? Anybody had their passport stolen?
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:07 pm on May 23, 2005
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ColoradoGuy
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They took your passport because then they have you over a barrel if you return the car with (that they think is) damage. If you had got into a minor accident, you would have been in trouble on two fronts:
1. You do not have your passport when the police come, and
2. You will be at their mercy on what to pay for the damage. Until you pay what THEY want you to pay, you don't get your passport back.
When renting a car or a motorbike, offer a copy of your passport and a copy of your drivers license and a card from your hotel. If they do not accept this, it is a red flag. I have rented lots of motorbikes and lots of cars in LOS, and never had a problem. I would never hand my passport over as security.
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 9:52 pm on May 23, 2005
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bkkfella
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Many will rountinely ask for your passport as identity or security. I live in Bkk and usually have to say two or three times, here is my drivers license which identifies me. You do not need my passport. Passport number, ok. But the Thai DL should be good enough. And it is.
I would never give anyone my passport for something like a car rental security, especially if I was a tourist. A copy, no problem. But the passport stays with me.
On the other hand, if you are not a tourist who needs it to be able to leave in 4 days, a new passport can be obtained at the Embassy in a few weeks I am told. So it really is not security for the rental company in that case.
Were they the only rental company available ?
Doubt it.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 10:02 pm on May 23, 2005
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DrLove
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It might be even illegal to hand over your passport...
Mine says 'it is forbidden to hand over this passport to third-parties if there is no legal obligation to do so'.....
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 10:08 pm on May 23, 2005
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Dr Coolbreeze
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Very good points, you guys. I will be back in LOS in late June/early July for another 10 days: Pattaya, Khoen Kaen, Koh Chang. I'll probably rent something here or there, so I'll follow your advice about DL and copy of passport, hotel card. They'll have to peel my passport out of my cold, dead fingers! Live and learn.
BTW, if anyone wants to hook up in any of those three places for a beer, let me know.
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 10:18 pm on May 23, 2005
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CalEden
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I've rented from Avis (numerous times) and National. When doing the paperwork they will make a copy of your passport and return it. Never had any rental agency keep my passport for security. I would not do business with them if it was a requirement.
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 8:56 pm on May 24, 2005
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