If you rent a car in North America or Europe, the upsell at the counter is always the same: “Would you like to add comprehensive coverage?” You pay a daily fee, and if you wrap the car around a telephone pole, you toss the keys on the desk and walk away.
Naturally, riders arriving at Rentabike Vietnam expect the exact same system for motorcycles. They ask for “full comp” coverage for their Ha Giang or Cao Bang loop.
After 25 years in the Vietnamese motorcycle industry, I have to clarify one of the most misunderstood aspects of riding here: For a short-term tourist on a rental bike, traditional comprehensive insurance essentially does not exist.
It isn’t that comprehensive insurance policies don’t exist in Vietnam. Major providers like Liberty Insurance and Bao Viet do offer policies (like MotoCare) that cover fire, explosion, accidental damage, and theft.
Here is the catch: These policies are strictly for the legal, registered owner of the vehicle.
Vietnamese insurance companies do not underwrite short-term, third-party rental contracts for foreign tourists. If you rent a Honda CRF300L for three weeks, you cannot simply go online and buy a temporary comprehensive policy for that specific VIN number. Furthermore, credit card rental insurance, which often covers rental cars globally, almost universally excludes two-wheeled vehicles.
So, if you drop the bike and snap a clutch lever, scratch the plastics, or bend the forks, you are 100% financially responsible for the repair costs when you return the bike to the shop.
Because actual insurance companies won’t cover rental damage, reputable outfitters like Rentabike Vietnam have created an in-house solution to protect riders from massive repair bills: The Damage Waiver.
What is a Damage Waiver?
A Damage Waiver is not an insurance policy; it is a contractual agreement between you and US.
At Rentabike Vietnam, we highly recommend opting into a damage waiver, particularly if you are heading into the northern mountains where rockfalls, mud, and slick passes are part of the daily adventure. It transforms a potentially trip-ruining expense into a small and predictable, upfront cost.
This is often the hardest pill to swallow for many riders: Damage waivers almost never cover theft or total loss and OURS IS NO EXCEPTION. If your rental bike is stolen, or if you drop it off the side of a mountain into a river where it cannot be retrieved, you are responsible for the full replacement value of the motorcycle.
Fortunately, motorcycle theft targeted at foreigners, and the particular bikes we use, on touring routes is incredibly rare in Vietnam, provided you follow basic local protocols:
Minor aesthetic damage like a scraped mirror or a snapped clutch lever might only cost $10 to $20 USD to replace at a local roadside mechanic.
However, if you crash a modern touring bike and crack the plastic fairings, bend the front forks, or smash the LED headlight cluster, the bill can easily exceed $300 to $500 USD for official OEM replacement parts.
No, absolutely not. While rural mechanics are fantastic for patching a flat tire, they often repair crash damage using counterfeit, low-quality, or mismatched parts. When you return the bike, reputable rental agencies will spot these unauthorized repairs immediately during the final inspection.
They will not be happy as you were explicitly told in the contract and in person to contact them BEFORE any work was carried out on the bike. You will then be charged a second time to strip the fake parts and replace them with official, safe manufacturer components.
Generally, no. Damage waivers are exclusively designed for accidental collisions (e.g., sliding on gravel and breaking the plastics). Routine road hazards like flat tires or punctured inner tubes are considered the rider’s responsibility to patch on the road.
Conversely, if there is a mechanical failure due to wear and tear or normal use, that is the rental company’s liability. However, if you destroy the engine by attempting to ride through a flooded river (water intake),or you let a local mechanic carry out unauthorized repairs that lead to failure, you will be held financially responsible.
Yes. Your rental contract holds you responsible for the physical condition of the motorcycle while it is in your possession, regardless of who caused the accident.
While you can attempt to negotiate a cash settlement from the at-fault local driver at the scene to cover your repair costs, this is notoriously difficult for tourists to successfully execute. If the local driver flees, you are left holding the bill—unless you purchased an upfront damage waiver that covers third party damage to the rental vehicle. .
Many backpackers buy cheap, $250 counterfeit bikes to avoid rental liability. However, these bikes are dangerously unreliable, prone to brake failure, and lack the suspension needed for northern routes. While you won’t owe a rental shop for cosmetic damage if you drop it, you will likely spend significant time and money rebuilding the engine on the side of the road. Renting a modern, maintained bike with a damage waiver is vastly safer and more cost-effective for a standard touring holiday.
When you are budgeting for your trip, factor in the cost of a Damage Waiver directly with your rental shop. It is the closest thing to “full comp” you will get in Vietnam, and it provides the peace of mind necessary to actually enjoy the chaotic, thrilling beauty of the roads ahead.
Engine Type
air-cooled, single cylinder, SOHC
Displacement
411 cc
Bore X Stroke
78 mm x 86 mm
Ignition
TCI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
9.5:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
telescopic forks; stanchion diameter 41 mm
Rear Suspension
linkage-type monoshock
Front Brakes
single disc brake, diameter 300 mm, 2-piston floating caliper
Rear Brakes
single disc brake, diameter 240 mm, single-piston floating caliper
Front Tyres
90/90 – 21
Rear Tyres
120/90 – 17
Wheelbase
1465 mm
Seat Height
800 mm
Ground Clearance
220 mm
Kerb Weight
199 kg
Fuel Capacity
15 litres
Dimensions
2190 mm (L) x 840 mm (W) x 1360 mm (H)
Daily
Total
Rider (CRF 300)
$220
Pillion
$120
Damage Waiver
$20
Private Room
$40
Support Vehicle*
$150
* All prices given are in USD and apply per rider except for the support vehicle. The support vehicle is free for groups of 7 or more, otherwise the cost is shared across the group.
Daily
Total
Rider (XR 150)
Rider (CRF 300)
Rider (CB 500X)
Rider (Himalayan 400)
$220
Rider (GS 1250)
Pillion
$120
Damage Waiver
$20
Private Room
$40
Support Vehicle*
$150
* All prices given are in USD and apply per rider except for the support vehicle. The support vehicle is free for groups of 7 or more, otherwise the cost is shared across the group.
Daily
Total
Jeep (1 PAX)
$210
Jeep (2 PAX)
$120
Jeep (3 PAX)
$90
Jeep (4+ PAX)
$80
Rider (Easy Rider)
$115
Rider (Self-Drive)
$105
Private Room
$15
* Our jeep tour prices operate on a sliding scale. The larger your group, the less each person pays—each member of your group will pay the lowest daily rate shown. For example, if you have a group of 4 or more, you will each only pay $80/day. All prices are given in USD.
Engine Type
air-liquid cooled, twin cylinder, DOHC, boxer engine
Displacement
1255 cc
Bore X Stroke
102.5 mm x 76 mm
Ignition
FI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
12.5:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
6-speed
Front Suspension
BMW Motorrad Telelever; stanchion diameter 37 mm
Rear Suspension
single-sided swing arm with BMW Motorrad Paralever
Front Brakes
dual disc brake, floating brake discs, diameter 305 mm, 4-piston radial calipers
Rear Brakes
single disc brake, diameter 276 mm, double-piston floating caliper
Front Tyres
120/70 R19
Rear Tyres
170/60 R17
Wheelbase
1514 mm
Seat Height
850 mm
Ground Clearance
790 mm
Kerb Weight
249 kg
Fuel Capacity
20 litres
Dimensions
2207 mm (L) x 952.5mm (W) x 1430 mm (H)
Engine Type
air cooled, OHC, single cylinder
Displacement
149 cc
Bore X Stroke
57.3 mm x 57.8 mm
Ignition
CDI
Fuel System
20 mm piston valve carburettor
Compression Ratio
9.5:1
Starter
electric with kick starter backup
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
telescopic fork, 180 mm axle travel
Rear Suspension
single shock swing arm, 150 mm axle travel
Front Brakes
dual piston caliper, 240 mm disc
Rear Brakes
mechanical drum
Front Tyres
90/90 19
Rear Tyres
110/90 17
Wheelbase
1362 mm
Seat Height
825 mm
Ground Clearance
243 mm
Kerb Weight
129 kg
Fuel Capacity
12 litres
Dimensions
2091 mm (L) x 811 mm (W) x 1125 mm (H)
Engine Type
liquid cooled parallel-twin four stroke
Displacement
470 cc
Bore X Stroke
67 mm x 66.8 mm
Ignition
PGMI – FI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
10.7:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
6-speed
Front Suspension
41 mm SFF-BP USD Forks
Rear Suspension
Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster
Front Brakes
dual 296 mm discs with 4 piston calipers; ABS
Rear Brakes
240 mm disc; ABS
Front Tyres
110/80R19M/C (59H)
Rear Tyres
160/60R17M/C
Wheelbase
1445 mm
Seat Height
830 mm
Ground Clearance
180 mm
Kerb Weight
199 kg
Fuel Capacity
17.7 litres
Dimensions
2,155 mm (L) x 830 mm (W) x 1,410 mm (H)
Engine Type
single cylinder, DOHC, liquid cooled
Displacement
286 cc
Bore X Stroke
76 mm x 63 mm
Ignition
Full Transistor Digital
Fuel System
PGM-FI electronic fuel injection
Compression Ratio
10.7:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
43 mm telescopic upside down
Rear Suspension
Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster
Front Brakes
Rear Brakes
220 mm disc, single piston caliper
Front Tyres
80/100 21
Rear Tyres
120/80 18
Wheelbase
1455 mm
Seat Height
880 mm
Ground Clearance
285 mm
Kerb Weight
142 kg
Fuel Capacity
7.8 litres
Dimensions
2230 mm (L) x 820 mm (W) x 1200 mm (H)
