A scooter is the cheapest way to get around Koh Samui, and rental shops line the main road from Chaweng to Lamai. What the shops rarely explain is that the daily price is the smallest part of the decision: the deposit, the licence you hold and the insurance on the bike decide what happens if something goes wrong. This guide covers 2026 prices, what shops ask for, and the legal rules for foreign riders, with sources for each figure.
How much does a scooter cost on Koh Samui?
A 125cc Honda Click, the most common rental, costs 140–350 THB per day, 900–1,800 THB per week and 2,000–4,000 THB per month in 2026, according to the price survey published by Byklo. By model, one Samui rental company lists the Honda Click 125 at 250 THB per day, the Click 160 at 300 THB and the Honda PCX 160 at 450 THB (Samui Scooter Rental).
Location changes the price as well: shops in Chaweng and Lamai sit at the top of the range (250–350 THB a day), while Maenam, Nathon and Lipa Noi are cheapest (140–250 THB). A weekly rental typically saves 10–25% against paying the daily rate seven times, and a monthly rental 50–65% against thirty daily rates (Byklo), so if you are staying more than a few days, ask for the weekly or monthly price straight away.
Deposits: cash and passport copies
The usual deposit on a 125cc scooter is 500–3,000 THB in cash plus a copy of your passport. Reputable shops accept a copy; some cheaper shops near the piers still ask to keep the original passport (Byklo). Avoid leaving your original passport: you need it for hotel check-in, immigration and banks, and a shop holding it has leverage in any damage dispute.
Before you ride away, photograph or film the scooter from every side, including existing scratches, the tyres and the fuel level, and make sure the shop's phone number is on the rental agreement.
Which licence do you need?
Thai law requires a motorcycle licence for every motorised two-wheeler, including 110cc and 125cc scooters. An International Driving Permit (IDP) only covers motorcycles if it carries the motorcycle category (A). If your home licence covers cars only (category B), your IDP does not allow you to ride a scooter in Thailand, however small (The Thaiger; see also Driving licence in Thailand).
Rental shops in tourist areas rarely check this, but if you have an accident without the right category your insurer can treat you as an unlicensed rider. ASEAN nationals can ride on their domestic motorcycle licence without an IDP (Byklo).
Fines and police checks
The standard fine for riding without a helmet is 500 THB, and if your passenger has no helmet, a further 500 THB fine is issued to you as the rider (Siam Visa Services). Riding without the correct licence is also an offence; the larger risk is the insurance consequence described below.
Helmets are required for both rider and passenger at all times under the Land Traffic Act. Rental shops supply them; ask for one that fits and fasten the strap.
Insurance: what is and is not covered
Ask the shop in writing what its insurance covers and what you pay if the scooter is damaged; without damage cover, repairs come out of your deposit or beyond it.
More important is your own travel or health insurance. Insurers commonly refuse claims when the rider had no valid motorcycle licence or was not wearing a helmet (The Thaiger, Siam Visa Services). Read the motorcycle clause in your policy before you rent, not after an accident.
Riding on Koh Samui
The main ring road carries trucks and minivans, and the island's steep hill roads are demanding for inexperienced riders. If you have never ridden before, Samui's hills are not the place to learn; a taxi or a car may cost more but is far safer.
Returning the scooter and getting your deposit back
Most deposit disputes happen at return, not at pick-up. Bring the scooter back with the same fuel level you received it with (many shops hand bikes over nearly empty, so check and photograph the gauge), and return it during opening hours so someone can inspect it with you present. If the shop claims new damage, compare it with the photos and video you took at pick-up before agreeing to any deduction. Ask for the cash deposit back in full before you hand over the keys, and make sure the passport copy is returned or destroyed.
Renting through your hotel or a booking platform is usually slightly more expensive, but it gives you a second party to complain to if the shop refuses to return the deposit. For longer stays, a monthly contract with a written condition report protects both sides.
Scooter rental elsewhere and buying instead
If you are also travelling to Phuket, our Phuket motorbike rental guide compares prices there, and you can browse motorbike rental companies in Phuket listed on Tukitini. For stays of several months, buying a used scooter can work out cheaper than renting; see tips for buying a used motorbike in Thailand. Tukitini also lists local services on Koh Samui, from boat charters to gyms.
Checklist before you rent
- Check that your licence or IDP includes the motorcycle category.
- Agree the price per day, week or month and the deposit in writing.
- Ask what the shop's insurance covers if the scooter is damaged.
- Leave a passport copy, not the original.
- Film the scooter's condition before leaving the shop.
- Wear a helmet, and make sure your passenger does too.
- Read the motorcycle clause in your travel insurance.
Prices and rules in this guide were checked against the linked sources in October 2026. Shops change their prices with the season, so confirm the current rate before you pay.