Frequently Asked Questions
Our daily rates are as follows:
• Honda Click 125cc Automatic – 250 Baht per day, including up to two helmets
• Electric Bicycle - 250 Baht per day, including one helmet
• Mountain Bicycle - 100 Baht per day, including one helmet.
2. Does the rental charge include insurance coverage?
We offer optional protection cover on top of the rental charge, depending on your budget, this cover should not be seen as a replacement for comprehensive travel / personal insurance:
• Full Bike Coverage: for an additional 200 Baht per day, Full Bike Coverage means anything that is scratched or damaged on your motorbike or bicycle is covered, including flat tires which are a common fact of life here on Koh Tao. Although the majority of the roads are now paved, there are still potholes, stones, and other debris on the roads that can cause flat tires.
Please note cover options are for your rental bike from Oli’s Motorbike Rentals only, and not for scratches or damage you may cause to yourself, other motorbikes, bicycles, vehicles, buildings, people, etc. They are not a full insurance cover. Please ensure your travel / personal insurance covers you for motorbike rentals.
Here at Oli’s Motorbike Rentals, we don’t try to scam our customers with sky-high repair charges. We make our money from motorbike rentals, not from inflated repair bills! If you’d like further information on our policy, please ask us and we’ll be happy to explain it in more detail.
3. What is the rental deposit/guarantee?
As a guarantee for our bikes, you're required to bring your passport which we'll take a photo of for our records. You'll also be required to deposit one of the following for the duration of your rental period:
- Original Passport
- Original National ID Card
- Original Driving License
- 2,000 Baht.
4. How do I make a reservation?
We like to offer our customers flexibility, so for this reason, we don’t offer reservations.
If you're on the island, you can contact us anytime on either our mobile no. +66 (0) 983578178, WhatsApp or Line to check what bikes we have available. We can pick you up (please read the section on our Pick-Up / Drop-off Service for more details), or keep a bike for 30 minutes until you arrive at our shop. The best time to call us is around 10.00 AM as this is when most bikes are returned to us.
If you wish to extend your rental period, there's nothing extra you need to do! Simply keep the bike and pay for the additional days when you return it to our shop.
5. Do you offer longer-term rental rates?
• Honda Click 125cc: 6,000 Baht per month
• Electric Bicycle: 5,000 Baht per month
• Bicycle: 2,000 Baht per month.
6. I’m catching the morning ferry! What time do you open?
If you’re catching either the 06.00 Lomprayah Catamaran or the 06.30 Seatran Discovery ferry, you MUST return your bike the day before as we don’t open until 08.30!!
Our shop closes at 17.00 (we want to go home and have dinner too!), so ensure you get it back to us on time. Thank you!
If you’re booked on either the 09.00 Seatran Discovery ferry or the 09.30/10.15 Lomprayah Catamarans, we open at 08.30 - we have vague opening times here!
Our experienced team needs just 5 minutes to do the checks and take the bike back from you. We’re a 3-minute walk from the Seatran Discovery Pier and a 4-minute walk to the Lomprayah Catamaran pier (we’ve tested it and checked on Google Maps!).
If you’re one of those people that needs to be ready and waiting for your transport at least an hour in advance, let us fill you in on a few details. The check-in desks for both ferry companies open 45 minutes before departure time (and not a minute before, even in High Season), so if you want to get there a little earlier to be at the front of the queue, you’ll still have plenty of time to get the bike to us. If you’re travelling as a couple or group, get one person to check in with the ferry while the drivers bring the bikes back to us.
If you’re still concerned that you won’t have enough time in the morning, or if you simply don’t function until at least midday, then drop the bike off the day before your departure.
For those catching the afternoon ferries, enjoy your morning, take a last dip in the sea or pool and we’ll see you at your leisure.
If you’re catching the night ferry to Chumphon, boarding time is from around 9 pm and departure is at 23.00. Please ensure you bring the bike back to us before we close at 17.00!
7. Do I have to wear a helmet?The simple answer is YES! It’s the law in Thailand to wear a helmet. We provide all our customers and passengers with a helmet, so please wear it. You’ll see lots of locals on Koh Tao not wearing helmets, but don’t copy them!
8. What are the roads like on Koh Tao?
The roads on Koh Tao are mostly paved, but be aware that they are not always in the best condition. Potholes are common and after it rains, there are always new patches of sand and debris on the roads. All our customers receive our free Info, Traffic Rules & Hazards leaflet to make themselves aware of the rules of driving on Koh Tao.
9. Why do you only rent to experienced motorbike drivers?
Koh Tao is not a place to learn to ride a motorbike. Even experienced motorbike drivers and bicyclists fall because they’re not used to the amount of sand and debris on the roads here. Plus the way the locals drive here is different from your home country. So for your safety, we only rent to experienced motorbike drivers. Please note that one day of riding elsewhere doesn’t make you experienced!
As well as providing you with a free Koh Tao map, we'll provide you with an Info, Traffic Rules & Hazards leaflet to make you aware of the rules of driving on Koh Tao and how to avoid accidents so you can explore our beautiful island of Koh Tao in a safe and informed way.
10. If I damage a bike, what should I do?
If you have an accident that doesn’t involve any other vehicles/people and you can still drive it, bring the bike back to the shop. If you can’t drive it, call us and we’ll pick up the bike.
If you’re in an accident with another person or vehicle (regardless of whose fault it is), you first need to call the Police. You may want to call the Tourist Police as well. You must submit a report to the Police, particularly if you’re not at fault and want the other person to pay for the damages.
11. How much will I be charged for damages?
We have fixed and fair prices for every spare part for each type of bike on the back of our Rental Contract so you can see what the charges may be at the time you rent our bikes. We don’t like to hide these costs from our customers.
12. What if someone else damages my rental bike?
If you know who has damaged your rental bike, go to the Police to make a report so that the other person has to pay. If the damage occurs while you’re away from the bike (e.g. at the beach or out for dinner), the damages will be your responsibility. Full details are in our Rental Contract.
13. Can you bring the bikes to our accommodation?
Unfortunately, we can’t deliver the bikes to your accommodation. We are, however, one of the few rental companies here on Koh Tao to offer a Pick-up / Drop-off service!
For our customers staying on the west side of the island, we'll come to your resort or villa, pick up the driver of each bike, and then at the end of the rental period, we'll drop the same drivers back at the resort or villa.
Currently, we're unable to provide this service from Mango Bay, Hing Wong Bay, Tanote Bay, Ao Leuk Bay, Sai Daeng Beach, and Sai Nuan Beach. If you're staying in any of these locations, please contact us so we can make alternative arrangements for your bike rental.
For the Pick-up / Drop-off Service, please call +66 (0) 983578178, or contact us on WhatsApp, Line, or Telegram.