Minister Supamas conducted a thorough inspection of car rental businesses in Hat Yai in preparation for the Malaysian holiday tourist season, emphasizing that contracts must be fair, without exemption or liability limitation clauses, and must not alter conditions to impose extra burdens on consumers.
On 2 September 2026, Ms. Supamas Isarapakdi, Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office and overseeing the Consumer Protection Board (CPB), along with Mr. Pradermchai Boonchuaileua, Ministerial Advisor, and Mr. Ronarong Poolpipat, Secretary-General of the CPB, visited Hat Yai-Lan Pho Car Rental near Hat Yai International Airport, about 200 meters away, which offers free airport transfers. Coordinating with Songkhla Provincial Office, the Songkhla Transport Office, and related local agencies, they inspected contract preparation, vehicle documents, insurance, and vehicle readiness.
Ms. Supamas stated that the government, led by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, prioritizes consumer protection in all aspects, emphasizing proactive measures to "prevent problems before they arise." Given the extended holiday for Malaysia’s National Day, many tourists are visiting Hat Yai and Songkhla, making car rental services critical to regulate in terms of safety, vehicle readiness, and contract fairness.
“The government wants both Thai and foreign tourists to receive safe services with clear, verifiable prices and conditions. Operators who comply will earn consumer trust. Those using exploitative contracts, renting out defective or unready vehicles, or unjustifiably withholding deposits will face investigation and legal action,” Ms. Supamas said.
As of 30 August 2026, the Songkhla Provincial Consumer Protection Subcommittee had not received complaints regarding car or motorcycle rentals in the province. This inspection is a proactive measure to maintain standards, prevent disputes, and build consumer confidence before any harm occurs.
The inspection covered rental contract preparation, delivery of contract copies, rental fees and deposits, vehicle details and condition, vehicle documents, tax payments, and insurance. Each agency checked within its authority, comparing operators’ actual contracts against standard templates. If clauses violate CPB contract regulations, facts will be collected, operators summoned for statements, and legal procedures followed.
The 2025 CPB contract regulation for car and motorcycle rental businesses mandates contracts be in Thai with clear, readable text and essential terms per the standard template. Written contracts must be made in two identical copies, one delivered to the consumer immediately after signing. Electronic rentals must comply with electronic transaction laws and provide consumers with the agreed contract.
Contracts must specify vehicle details, rental duration, delivery and return locations, rental fees, payment methods, deposit amount, late return penalties, taxes, insurance, and replacement vehicle terms. If a vehicle becomes unusable due to accident or maintenance over one day, operators must provide a same or similar model replacement unless the renter caused the issue.
Upon vehicle return, operators must inspect and note any damages at handover. If no damage exists, the deposit must be fully refunded. For damages caused by renters, operators may charge only actual, verifiable repair costs and must refund the remaining deposit within legally specified timeframes.
Contracts must not include clauses exempting or limiting operator liability, altering terms to increase consumer burdens, terminating contracts or withholding deposits without valid cause, or authorizing improper use or disclosure of personal data. Operators who fail to provide contracts that comply with CPB regulations face penalties under the Consumer Protection Act 1979, including imprisonment up to one year, fines up to 200,000 baht, or both.
Mr. Ronarong Poolpipat, Secretary-General of the CPB, noted that operators are required to display copies of the contract control announcement and standard contract templates prominently at service points to allow consumers to verify terms before signing. The CPB advises both large and small rental businesses on correct contract preparation, with most local operators cooperating fully.
Ms. Supamas urged the public to carefully read contracts before accepting vehicles, immediately obtain a contract copy, inspect and photograph vehicle condition and equipment, document existing scratches, fuel or battery levels, and verify deposit amounts, deduction conditions, and refund timelines. If consumers do not receive a contract copy, find unfair terms, or face exploitation, they can file complaints via the CPB hotline 1166, the OCPB Connect app, the www.ocpb.go.th website, or provincial Damrongtham Centers.