Typical models of the minivan/minibus class in Chiang Mai are: Mitsubishi L300 12 Seater, Peugeot 807 7 seater, VW Kombi 8 Seater, Citroen Picasso, Toyota Minibus, Toyota Previa and others.
Standard capacity of a minivan in Thailand is up to 9 people (8+1 formula), traditionally providing seven or eight passenger seats. The capacity of a minibus may vary from 9 to 15 people.
Please note, that in order to rent in Thailand a vehicle with capacity which exceeds 8 passengers, you would need a driving license of the corresponding category.
Minivan dimensions are quite unusual for an ordinary driver, which sometimes leads to appearance of scratches and dents during unsuccessful manoeuvring or parking. Therefore, we encourage you to order full coverage of insurance franchise during your booking, or directly at the rental office in Chiang Mai.
Before leaving the parking garage in Chiang Mai, inspect the minivan for exteriour defects and other signs of damage together with the office representative and mark the found defects found in your rental documents.
OrangeSmile.com wishes you a great driving experience on the roads of Thailand!
Popular questions on rental process
Intersections remain the most dangerous sections of roads for foreign drivers. Neither the traffic light signal nor the transport moving in the opposite direction can force Thai drivers to slow down when passing an intersection. Quite often cars and two-wheeled vehicles pass each other by with the distance of just a couple of centimeters. The traffic flow at intersections is always very heavy.
Even dividing lines do not confuse local drivers. They can easily overtake using the oncoming lane and make turns in any convenient location. As it has been noted above, passing red light is also a very common traffic violation in the country.
Foreign drivers should expect absolutely anything from local motorists, including sharp braking, driving on the diagonal, constant lane changing (the division between lanes is a pure formality here), and driving on the oncoming lane.
