Essential Thailand Self-Driving Tips & Traffic Rules

The Complete Thailand Driving and Rental Guide

Hiring a car to drive in Thailand can be very pleasant as highways are well maintained throughout the country. However, when you are driving in the big cities, heavy traffic may make your road trip far more challenging. This brief guide will provide a complete cover-up aiming to help you when planning a trip to Thailand.

Speed Limit and Traffic Signs

Driving in Thailand is on the left-hand side of the road. Some driving norms in Thailand can somewhat be seen as particular depending where you come from. For instance, tailgating is quite common and accepted by the locales, and people often cut each other off or cut into lines of cars.

Speed Limit

The speed limits for Thailand are 90 km/h on open roads, 50km/h in towns and 120km/h in motorways unless signs say otherwise.

Traffic Signs

There are mainly three types of road signs in Thailand, including regulatory signs, warning signs, and informational signs.

Thailand regulatory signs have different shapes, most of them featuring red border and white background. Note that the Stop Sign is written in Thai language instead of English or by pictogram, but a typical Octagon is applied to imply its meaning like most of the countries.

Stop(Thai Language)

Give Way(Thai Language)

Slow Down(Thai Language)

No Overtaking

Give Way to Oncoming Vehicles Used to Traffic Bottleneck Points

Thailand warning signs mostly feature a yellow background with black pictogram.

Hump

Divided Road Begins

Divided Road Ends

Pedestrian Crossing

Wild Animals Crossing

No Overtake Zone

Thailand information signs are blue with rectangular or square shapes.

Dead End

Clinic

End of Motorway

Seatbelt and Child Safety

Seatbelt Laws

A new law has come into effect from the 5th of April 2017, stating that passengers in the rear seat of a car are now required to wear seatbelts in addition to the driver and front seat passenger. Failure to do so can result in a fine of up to 500 Thai Baht.

Booster Seat Laws

The Thailand law states that children should be restrained in an age-appropriate system. Children under 12 years old should not sit in the front of a vehicle.

Parking, Fuel and Toll

Parking

Because of the heavy traffic, parking in some Thai cities can be difficult to find. Parking rules and rates are usually marked on signs with English translations in tourist areas.

· Permitted Parking

- White rectangle on the road indicates a designated car parking space. Many shops, malls, restaurants, sights and hotels offer to park and if payment is needed, it will not be expensive.

- Yellow and white markings indicate a short-term parking space only, for usually no more than five minutes. These markings also indicate a bus stop. It is therefore not advised to park there.

· No Parking

- Red and white markings indicate a no parking zone, which means cars may not park here.

Thailand Parking Red and White Markings (Image from shutterstock.com)

- Multiple white diagonal lines indicate parking spaces for motorcycles only and no cars can park here.

Thailand Multiple white diagonal lines

Fuel Prices

The average price for Thailand gasoline price between July and November 2017 was 34.36 Thai Baht, and diesel was 26.79 on 4th Dec.2017.

Toll

Only the big Bangkok-area expressways demand electronic payment, while cash can be used in other places. The usual charge is between 40 and 50 Thai baht. If you do not have an electronic sensor (automatic deduction), do not go to the easy pass lane with blue marks on the ground.

Failing to pay the toll in time may lead to the car rental company paying on your behalf by debiting your credit card, charging a total amount of the toll fee and its management fee from your credit card. Please be aware that this management fee can be costly.

Traffic Violation

DUI Laws

Drivers who have had their licenses for over five years are allowed to have a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of up to 0.05% when behind the wheel, while divers under 20 years are only allowed to have maximal BAC of 0.02%. A hefty fine of 60,000 THB and/or a 6-month prison sentence will be applied in case of DUI.

Foreigners driving after an excessive consumption of alcohol may also risk being deported, depending on the severity of the case.

Traffic Fines

Speeding fines in Thailand are between 200 THB to 400 THB. Parking in the wrong place or exceeding the time allowed will result in a parking ticket. Finally, parking in a non-parking area may result in a fine of 200 Thai Baht.

Some of the fines can be paid on the spot. In case you have not paid a fine, your car hire company will collect the fine’s charge as well as an added administration fee directly from your credit card.

Should you have questions in terms of traffic fines collection, you are always welcome to contact QEEQ for assistance.

Driving Licence and Age Requirements

As a tourist or visitor driving or renting a car in Thailand, it is necessary to have a valid foreign driving licence with a photograph. Many car hire companies require a full driving licence held for a minimum of 2 years with no major endorsements.

If your domestic driving licence is not in English (Arabic, Japanese, Cyrillic etc), an International Driving Permit (IDP/IDL) or an official translation in English or Thai is required when you drive in Thailand. Please note that an International Driving Permit (often referred to as an International Driving Licence) does not replace the requirement for a regular driving licence. And you must carry your current overseas driver’s licence, IDP or translation with you all the time when driving in Thailand.

Minimum age in Thailand is 21 years(age may vary by car category). If you're 21-25, you are likely to have to pay a young driver fee. If you're 65 or older, you may have to pay a senior driver fee.

Guest reviews

1 /

December 17, 2024

Destination: Bangkok

10Nice experience

Good

R.Maslen

Destination: Phuket

10Would definitely use drive again on future visits

Staff were all very helpful

dara

December 16, 2024

Destination: Chiang Mai

9Excellent

รถดีมาก รงปก เคา์เตอร์ะดวก

Shukri Rashidin

December 14, 2024

Staff at pickup counter are very helpful. But the reverse sensor of the car is malfunction.

V.Hud

December 6, 2024

9Absolutely fine.

Absolutely fine.

December 5, 2024

8Easy peasy

They are okay. The price is relatively cheap.

R.TEERAWAN

December 4, 2024

10Easy booking and quick service

Yes

November 20, 2024

9Smooth and enjoyable booking

The car was in good condition and performs really well. Especially going on steep uphill roads. The Hybrid gave us lots of savings on fuel. That itself felt like an upgrade although it did come with some light scratches on the paintwork. Additional driver was added free of charge. Customer service is very friendly and always have a smile.

November 16, 2024

Destination: Chiang Rai

10Great rental experience

Everything very good

K.Tongpong

November 14, 2024

9Good

Upgrade รถให้แต่ไม่แจ้งอะไร รถเก่าหน่อย เบาะคนขับเริ่มเบี้ยวทำให้นั่งไม่สบาย

Y.Kok

November 2, 2024

8Overall good experience, except for the end when returning the car.

On vehicle return, I was told that THB6000 will be deducted because the floor mats in the car were wet. I informed that staff that there was no rain nor floor in the whole duration of my rental and the mats were not checked when the car was handed over. I raised the issue with the counter and referred to their manager who decided eventually to waive the charge, which was much appreciated. Am concerned if this could be a scam to charge extra for rental.

4Car Smelled of urine

Car was a serious disappointment, old and very scratched up, smelled really bad of urine

Vlastik

October 12, 2024

Destination: Haad Yai

9Everything was simple.

Everything was simple.

September 26, 2024

Destination: Koh Samui

8Very good

Auto tadellos, personal sehr nett, haben uns kostenlos ins Hotel zurück gebracht.

l.aw

September 25, 2024

Destination: Krabi

10Great

Staff is helpful. Car was good and clean

miidam

September 18, 2024

10タイ観光を安く実現出来た

４日間で１万円の料金はとても魅力的です

Koichi Sasaki

September 15, 2024

6レンタル時は細かく車の写真かビデオを撮影する必要あり。

返却時に小さい傷を指摘された。貸出時に写真を撮っていたので説明できたが、写真をとっていなければ危険だと感じた。

Alvin

September 12, 2024

9Easy and fast

Not informed of the M Flow toll facility

Y.SAKAI

8レンタカー、いつも使ってます。

車は、ヤリス程度もほどほどで、受付から、駐車場に移って説明を聞いてから、すぐに出発できました。

T.Singkaew

September 9, 2024

10Excellent

รถสภาพดี แต่มีรอยขูดด้านข้างซ้ายนิดหน่อย แต่ไม่มีปัญหาต่อการขับขี่ พนักงานหน้าเคาท์เตอร์ บริการดีมาก สุภาพ รวดเร็ว พนักงานที่รับโทรศัพท์ ให้คำแนะนำและช่วยเหลือลูกค้าดีมาก โทรไปหา Thai Rent A car ตอนประมาณ 09.30 - 10.00 น. เพื่อตรวจสอบข้อมูลการจอง เพราะยังไม่ได้เมลล์ยืนยันข้อมูลการจอง และยังไม่มีข้อมูลในระบบ ทั้งที่ข้อมูลการจองนัดรับรถ 12.00 น. ซึ่งตอนแรกร้อนใจมาก แต่พนักงานได้ช่วยเหลือโดยให้แอดไลน์ส่งข้อมูลการจองทางไลน์ จนสามารถได้รับเมลล์ยืนยันการจองได้ตอนหลัง 10.30 น.

K.Lim

August 31, 2024

8value for money with the membership

thanks you

August 28, 2024

Convenient with booking Good car rent supply

August 19, 2024

9優秀で気持ち良いスタッフ

待ち時間少なく時間変更も対応して貰えました。追加料金もリーズナブルでした。

H.OHKUSA

August 16, 2024

Destination: Ubon Ratchathani

No problem

M.IBRAHIM

August 7, 2024

7Good

Jeff Cronin

August 1, 2024

Very satisfied. The car was almost new with 20,000 km, had good features, and was easy to drive.

Veronica Defoe

Highly efficient, warm service throughout

Alvis Abe

July 31, 2024

6Average

I booked a larger vehicle, Toyota Venture, but they only gave me a Hyundai H1 at the store! The crucial issue is that the rear seats can't be folded! We had seven people and couldn't fit all our luggage.

Janice Christy

2Poor

They charged me 200 THB for using a specific road twice, and I couldn't understand them because they didn't speak Chinese. The person before me was also charged 200 THB.

June MacMillan

Very satisfied

Truman Colclough

Acceptable

Yale Valentine

Excellent

Harvey Louis

July 30, 2024

Barlow Pigou

Verna Howard

Highly efficient and smooth process.

Brook Horace

Satisfied

Frank B

9Cheepest options, better than the rest.

Get some Ford Galaxys or a hybrid car

Otto Bach

William Piers

July 29, 2024

Jacqueline Huggins

The service was excellent, very friendly and patient.

Zoe Charles

Good, but the deposit is relatively high.

Cornelius Gill

Very good. I used their car in Phuket once and had a good experience, so I chose them again in Krabi. The overall condition of the car was okay. It would be better if it had USB charging, a phone holder, and a reversing radar. Picking up and returning the car was very convenient, without any hassles. Worth choosing.

Jenny Carrie

Very convenient

Juliet Wyclif(fe)

The service is acceptable and both picking up and returning the car were very convenient. The vehicle was clean and in good condition, although it had a relatively high mileage of approximately 140,000 kilometers.

Edwina Bloor

Both pickup and drop-off were very fast.

Enoch Dodd

The car was a bit old, but overall I'm quite satisfied.

Joseph Pater

July 28, 2024

Excellent, very efficient

Olivia Jeremiah

Very satisfied.

Felix Hume

Enoch Doherty

Excellent service

Thailand Car Rentals