You need an IDP — sort it before you fly

Your Australian state licence isn't valid on its own for a motorbike in Thailand. You need an International Driving Permit (1949 Geneva Convention) with a motorcycle class (R or RE depending on your state).

Get one from your state auto club — AANT, NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAA, RAC, RACT. About A$45, issued same day at a branch. You can't get a 1949 IDP after you've already left Australia, so don't leave it to the last minute.

Trap: your car licence doesn't automatically cover bikes. If you haven't done the R-class learner test back home, you technically can't be issued a motorcycle IDP — which means no insurance pay-out if anything goes wrong.

Travel insurance — read the bike clause

Most Aussie travel insurers (Cover-More, Allianz, Southern Cross, InsureandGo, Fast Cover) exclude motorbike riding above 50cc by default, and several exclude it entirely regardless of IDP. Even on policies that do cover it, they almost always require a valid 1949 IDP and a helmet on at the time of the incident — and many won't pay if you'd had a single drink.

Providers that handle scooter rental reasonably: World Nomads (Explorer plan), Cover-More with the motorcycle add-on, 1Cover Adventure. Add roughly A$30–60 on top of a standard policy.

Deposits and passports

Never hand over your passport as a deposit. It's technically illegal under Thai law but it's the single most common rental scam in Phuket and Koh Phangan. Skoot holds deposits in escrow and verifies ID digitally in the app. Full details in our deposit guide.

Which scooter?

For most Aussies arriving on a beach holiday: Honda Click 125 — plenty for Phuket and Samui loops. If you ride back home or want to handle hills and longer days, a Yamaha NMAX 155 or PCX 160 is a much more comfortable pick.

Phuket, Samui, Chiang Mai

Phuket is the default Aussie destination and accounts for about 80% of Skoot rentals. Chiang Mai and Samui are close behind for Australians doing longer trips. See all cities Skoot covers →