Flat Tyre or Breakdown on a Rental Motorbike in Da Lat: What to Do

Step 1: stop safely

• If the bike feels wobbly, the steering pulls to one side or you hear a strange noise, slow down gently — no hard braking.
• Turn on your hazard lights or indicator and pull over to the right side of the road, away from bends and the middle of hill roads.
• Get off the bike and stand on the side, not in the traffic lane. On a slope, put the bike on its stand on flat ground if you can.
• Don't keep riding on a flat tyre — it can damage the tyre and the wheel, and it is unsafe on Da Lat's hills.

Step 2: call or message the shop

Contact us right away on WhatsApp, Zalo or Telegram, or call 0944 081 101. It helps a lot if you send:

• Your location as a map pin (share it from Google Maps).
• A short photo or video of the problem — the tyre, a warning light, the noise.
• What happened just before: a pothole, rain, a long climb, the bike not starting.

We'll tell you what to do next and help you sort it out. Please message us before getting any repair done, so we can agree together on the best solution.

Common problems and simple checks

• The scooter won't start. Check that the side stand is up and you are pressing a brake lever while pressing the start button — most automatic scooters need both. Also check the key position.
• Out of fuel. Gas scooters leave the shop with 1 liter of fuel, which is enough to reach a petrol station (cây xăng) — fill up early. If the engine stops, push the bike to the side and message us.
• Flat tyre. Don't ride on it; send us your pin. Small tyre shops are common along Vietnamese roads, but contact us first.
• Warning light or strange noise. Stop, take a short video and send it to us.

How to avoid problems in the first place

• At pick-up we do a test ride and film the bike's condition with you — look at the tyres, brakes and lights together. Our checklist before renting shows what we check.
• Avoid potholes and road edges, especially after rain.
• Ride the long passes on the Honda Air Blade 125cc and use engine braking downhill rather than holding the brakes all the way. See our riding tips for Vietnam.
• Save our numbers in your phone before you leave, and keep your phone charged — the phone holder on every bike makes navigation easy.
• No alcohol or beer when riding, and strictly follow Vietnamese traffic law.

Electric scooters

If an electric scooter loses power, first check the battery level on the display. Each scooter comes with 2 batteries, and you can swap a low one for a full one at our shop for 20,000 VND. If it still won't move, stop safely and message us.

At the end of the rental

If something happened during your trip, tell us honestly when you bring the bike back — we'd rather know and help. Our guide to returning a rental motorbike explains the return step by step.

Rent with a shop you can reach

We answer messages from 4:30 to 21:00 and help our guests when something goes wrong on the road. See all bikes, prices and contacts on our Da Lat motorbike rental page — 150,000 VND per day, free helmet, no cash deposit.

Written by Ngô Văn Phú (Phu) – owner of Van Phu Dalat, local travel services in Da Lat since 2018: motorbike rental, homestay and villa booking. About me →