Car Rental at Phuket Airport

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Car Hire at Phuket Airport

Phuket International Airport is the only airport handling flights from and to the Province of Phuket and the third busiest aviation hub in Thailand. Expectantly, it houses a wide variety of car hire providers. International companies and local agencies have desks inside the airport, having large fleets of various vehicles and providing top-rated services at affordable prices. HKT car rentals are widely favored by passengers for numerous reasons. So, why should you rent a car at Phuket Airport?

• Enjoy freedom and independence during rides

No other mode of transit can offer the same level of independence during your rides as a car rental from Phuket Airport. With a Phuket airport car rental, you can plan your travel itinerary exactly as you like, make last-minute changes, and explore destinations at your own pace. Without having to rely on tedious bus lines, expensive and uncomfortable tuk-tuks, and hard-to-find taxis, you can explore the island in the most autonomous way.

• Opt for Off-Beaten Destinations

If you don’t want to limit yourself to the popular tourist sights and beaches in Phuket but wish to fully explore the island, taking in its rugged landscapes, exotic countryside, and coastal beauty, a Phuket airport car rental is the only way to achieve your goal. Indeed, remote locations around the island are inaccessible via public modes of transit (buses) and even hard to reach by taxis. Moreover, with an HKT car rental, you can easily cross the bridge connecting the north part of Phuket to the Thai mainland and learn more about this majestic country during your stay.

• Remove Hassle from your journey

A network of relatively effective buses offers connections around the island of Phuket. Still, their routes are often unreliable and always time-consuming, as they make a lot of in-between stops. Moreover, they link only the most popular locations of Phuket, while traveling to remote areas requires multiple changes of lines and a lot of patience. In addition to the previous downsides, buses in Phuket usually get crowded during rush hours. On the other hand, taxis are available around the clock and provide door-to-door services, but are also hard to find. Indeed, hailing a metered taxi from the street is a long shot. What’s more, some scamming incidents occur from time to time, while many unlicensed drivers circulate Phuket trying to overcharge visitors. Thus, it is evident that car hire at Phuket Airport is one of the most hassle-free options for your ride from the airport and the journeys during your stay in Phuket. 

• Tailor your ride to your exact needs

The main reason why many HKT passengers settle on a car rental at Phuket Airport is the customized services. Verily, all car hire companies present at Phuket Airport provide a wide array of amenities and have fleets consisting of various types of vehicles. Therefore, depending on your exact needs, you can opt for the car rental of your preference (compact car, SUV, a luxury model, even motorbike or van) and add extra amenities (such as luggage racks, GPS, children’s seats, etc.) to optimize your journeys around Phuket.

• Save money on your transit expenses

Besides the autonomous HKT car rentals, buses are another alternative. Nevertheless, they are cheap but tedious and time-consuming, as already mentioned. On the other hand, the traditional tuk-tuks may offer a unique experience but are expensive and recommended only for short rides. Finally, ordinary taxis are affordable. Still, they’ll certainly become costlier than car rentals if used for all your rides during your stay in Phuket.

Car Rental at Phuket Airport: The Available Options

Phuket International Airport houses several car hire providers. From international chains to local agencies, all Phuket airport car rental companies have their desks located next to each other either on the first level of the Domestic terminal (Arrivals area) or the same level of the International terminal. Expectantly, all the car hire counters are situated landside in the Arrivals halls of both terminal buildings. Explicitly, the car rental agencies that are present at the airport in Phuket are:

Our Tip: Several car hire companies offer their services in Phuket Airport even though they don’t have desks inside the HKT terminals. As a result, they provide shuttle rides from and to the airport. Those companies are claimed to be slightly cheaper than Phuket airport car rental companies. On the other hand, their services lack comfort, whereas Phuket airport car rentals can be conveniently picked up from the airport’s car parks.

Helpful Info About Car Rental at Phuket Airport

• Early bookings are recommended. Indeed, travelers who book their car rental at Phuket Airport in advance often benefit from lower fares and are certain the vehicle of their preference will be available.
• Once you reach the counters at the airport, you’ll be asked for certain documents. Hence, if you are to drive the vehicle, you’ll have to hand over your ID/passport, your driver’s license, and a credit card. The credit card must always be in the main driver’s name. Moreover, if your license isn’t written in English, you must issue an International Driving Permit as well.
• You have to be at least 21 to rent a car at Phuket Airport. In fact, higher age limits apply to certain categories of vehicles. In any case, drivers between 21 and 25 years of age are typically obligated to pay an extra fee.
• Do you want to save money on gas? The fuel-to-fuel policy is highly recommended. Therefore, if you refill the vehicle before dropping it off, you’ll probably pay less than what Phuket airport car rental companies charge for gas.
• Your Phuket airport car rental company will charge you per day. Thus, plan your drop-off carefully to avoid additional charges.
• If you plan to travel a lot and even explore the Thain mainland, you should check if your rental car has mileage restrictions.
• One-way car rental is usually an option. Hence, you can pick up the rental car at Phuket Airport and drop it off at another location. In any case, you should check the policy of the selected provider.
• Do you want to customize your ride? Extra amenities, such as luggage racks, child seats, etc., are available. What’s more, GPS is recommended as not all signs in Phuket are written in English. That being said, add-ons increase the cost of the rental vehicle.
• Traffic levels around the island’s most popular locations are often high. In fact, roads tend to get congested from 08:00 am to 09:00 am and from 04:00 pm to 07:00 pm (rush hours in Phuket).
• It’s important to remember that local drivers often don’t respect traffic laws. Thus, you should drive carefully.
• Motorcycles and tuk-tuks usually have the right of way (or act as if they do).
• Most HKT passengers rent economy cars at Phuket Airport, as they are easier to handle on narrow roads and easier to park. On the other hand, SUVs are recommended for exploring the rugged areas of the island. Overall, the Kia Picanto, the Toyota Yaris, and the Nissan Almera are some of the most popular car rentals at Phuket Airport.
• The average price of a compact car rental at Phuket Airport is THB 1000-1100 ($29-32/€27,40-30,30).
• Minimum insurance is included in the car rental’s price. Still, you should opt for a full package to be covered in case of damage or accident.
• Drivers in Phuket use the left side of the road.
• The alcohol limit for drivers in Phuket is 0.05. Still, a stricter limit applies to novice drivers (0.02%).
• The use of seatbelts is mandatory.
• Children under six years of age must be seated in children’s seats.
• You can use your cell phone as long as you have a hands-free device.

FAQs

How much does it cost to hire a car at Phuket Airport?

Several factors affect the cost of a Phuket airport car rental. Hence, the time of the year, the selected company and model, any additional amenities, and the car rental duration determine the final car hire cost. In general terms, the price of an economy car rental at Phuket Airport is around THB 1000-1100 ($29-32/€27,40-30,30).

Is it cheaper to rent a car from an airport or a local location?

Overall, Phuket airport car rental companies are considered somewhat pricier than agencies that don’t have desks inside the airport premises. That being said, this isn’t a rule, while if you opt for an early reservation, you’ll find low prices and deals in both cases. Moreover, the convenience of picking up the rental vehicle from the car park right next to the terminal building often makes up for the extra cost.