You’re heading to Asia and you want to rent a scooter, but you’ve never sat on one before. How do you start it? How do you give it gas? Does a scooter have gears? We’ve put together a simple guide on how to ride a scooter in Asia. And also a warning that it’s really not a great idea.
A scooter is the most convenient way to get around Asia — but also the most dangerous
In Thailand and other Asian countries, a scooter is the easiest way to get around if you’re planning to stay in one place for a while, but you always have to keep in mind that it’s also the most dangerous form of transport.
Thailand ranks second in the world for road deaths, right after Syria — and most of them happen on scooters. Riding a scooter for the very first time in Thailand is not a good idea at all. But if you’ve made up your mind, we know there’s nothing we can do to stop you. So at the very least, read our guide carefully.
Driving in Asian countries comes with a few differences that might catch you off guard. In most countries they drive on the left, drivers often won’t give way to scooters, and it’s not unusual for other riders to brush right past your handlebars.
Before we get into the actual how-to, here are a few tips for those of you who’ve never sat on anything like this before.
Is it a good idea to ride a scooter for the first time in Asia?
Of course it isn’t. The roads in Asia are absolute chaos, and if you’re not experienced, you’re gambling with your own life. The website Farang Deaths documents fatal tourist accidents in Thailand. And there are, frankly, a horrifying number of them.
On top of that, you now need a category A motorcycle licence — a regular car licence is no longer enough. So at least for riding in Thailand, you’ll need to complete proper motorcycle training back home before you go.
Tips for renting a scooter in Southeast Asia
- Practise riding off the road first! Car parks, side streets or even a football pitch are ideal.
- ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET.
- Learn to ride slowly. Riding at higher speeds is actually much easier — the tricky part is going slowly, where you have to focus far more on your balance.
- Rent NEW, lightweight scooters without a big engine (ideally 110cc). The newer, the safer.
- If you lose control at low speed, jump off and let the scooter fall to the ground. Better a scratched scooter than a broken leg.
- Don’t touch the exhaust! Passengers in particular can easily get burned.
- Don’t ride off the tarmac.
A step-by-step guide to riding a scooter
- Get on the scooter. Keep both feet on the ground; if you’re short, at least keep one foot down. That gives you stability.
- Unlock the ignition with the other end of the key, insert the key and turn it to the ON position.
- Flip up the kickstand with your left foot, and grip the handlebars with both hands.
- To start, squeeze both brakes (or at least the left one = rear) and press the button on the right handlebar (IGNITE / IGNITION). The scooter should start. If it just sputters, press the button again and add a little throttle (twist the right grip towards you), but keep holding the brake.
- You’re ready to go! Slowly release the brakes and add throttle. You’ll feel the scooter start to roll forward gently.
- As soon as you feel yourself moving, lift your feet off the ground and rest them on the scooter.
- Turning is easy — just lean slightly in the direction you want to go. It’s exactly like riding a bicycle. At higher speeds, turn by leaning; at lower speeds, use the handlebars too.
- Always use both brakes when stopping. The front brake is more effective, but it throws all the weight forward and the scooter can jerk unpleasantly or skid. So always brake with both and never take your hands off the brakes!
- Start out carefully and ride slowly. We recommend keeping it to 30 km/h max until you really get the hang of it.
Now you know how to control a scooter. But that’s only part of what you need to learn. Far more important is behaving in a way that keeps you out of accidents.
Tourists end up in hospital every single day. A friend of ours fell off his scooter in Thailand while riding slowly (around a corner), broke his leg badly, had to undergo several operations and still isn’t fully recovered.
Don’t take safety lightly! Here are a few basic tips to help you avoid the worst.
Safety rules for riding a scooter in Asia
- ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET! Half the tourists you’ll see on the road ride without a helmet. They reckon they’ve got their scooter 100% under control. What they forget is that an accident doesn’t have to be their fault. Plus, riding without a helmet is an easy way to land a fine (200–300 THB, roughly 5–8 €, in Thailand).
- DON’T RIDE WITH ALCOHOL IN YOUR BLOOD. Riding down to the beach, having a few beers and heading home in the evening sounds like a dream holiday — but 25% of all accidents in Thailand are caused by drunk riders. If you’re planning to drink, use Grab (the Asian Uber).
- SOLID SHOES AND LONG TROUSERS. Flip-flops can fall off while you ride, and if you’re not wearing long trousers, you’re asking for a “Farang Tattoo.” That’s what the locals call the burns tourists get on their legs from the tarmac or the exhaust. Never dress like Lucie does in the photo!
- INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMIT. Even if nobody asks to see your licence when you rent, the law says you must have one. And a category B (car) licence isn’t enough — you need category A too. If you can’t prove to your insurance provider that you were legally entitled to ride the scooter on the day of the accident, they won’t pay out a penny.
- CHECK THE SCOOTER’S INSURANCE. Police checks may ask you to show that the scooter is insured. Only rent from places that insure their scooters, and ask them to show you where the certificate sticker is.
- BAGS GO IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT. Backpacks, handbags and anything else you carry should go in the storage space under the seat before you set off. This saves you a lot of trouble — like thieves who can rob you even while you’re riding (and probably cause a crash in the process).
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to ride a scooter in Asia?
There isn’t, most travelers know at least someone who wiped out on a scooter.
Is it safe to ride a scooter in Thailand?
It’s not. Thailand is one of the most dangerous countries for getting around by scooter.
IMPORTANT: the previous attempt left part in CZECH. Translate ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING, not even ONE Czech word may remain.
Is it hard to drive a scooter?
Riding a scooter isn’t difficult.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
🚗 Car rental on the roadVerified rental cars in ThailandSearch with the DiscoverCars comparison engine — it compares prices from dozens of local and international rental companies, and most bookings come with free cancellation.
Compare car prices in Thailand →Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
