Thailand traffic rules and self driving car rental tips

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 /

G.Gianini

May 26, 2022

Destination: Bangkok

9Excellent

Auto war OK für den Preis

May 19, 2022

Destination: Koh Samui

9.7Excellent service at good price.

Good service and advice by the staff. The car pick up took some time around 10 minutes, maybe the car was at anohter place, but it was alright. The car was in good condition and clean. Overall satisfied.

S.Leong

Destination: Phuket

10Smooth and easy car rental

Clean and well maintained car, pick-up and drop off process was smooth.

P.Saengsawang

9.7Excellent

ให้บริการดี สภาพรถใหม่

Destination: Krabi

10Smooth

Great

N.Koafun

May 18, 2022

5.3พนักงานเคาน์เตอร์บริการไม่ดี ไม่มีการแนะนำที่ดี ให้รถไม่ตรงกับคันที่จองไว้

รอรับรถนานกว่า 30 นาที พนักงานบริการแย่ ไม่มีการแนะนำที่ดี ให้รถไม่ตรงกับทีาจองไว้ แต่พนักงานส่งรถดีมาก

n.Saeseing

May 17, 2022

10Very good

Very cheap and valuable for rental It’s very good for 4 hours late for return the car , that made my trip completely in the plan.

G.ARORA

May 11, 2022

9.3Excellent

Keep up the good work guys. I will always use your service whenever visiting Phuket again.

S.Homswat

May 9, 2022

10Excellent

Very simply and quickly

D.Somseang

The counter is combined with Budget which makes it a little hard to spot

C.Field

April 29, 2022

9.7Payless Phuket

Booked mid size and upgraded to full size. High mileage car but drove smoothly

April 25, 2022

Destination: Chiang Mai

no problems. good experience.

K.Jonsson

April 19, 2022

Flight was delayed and charged 300 baht for late pick up was frustrating when it was out of my control.

praba612@yahoo.com

April 13, 2022

10Happy ko luky

R.Piyanantapat

April 6, 2022

8Very Good

H.Zeitoun

February 24, 2022

10Brand New car !!

literally : Brand New car

10its awesome , really brand new car

Brand New Car

Firdhaus

January 26, 2022

10I recommend booking with YESAWAY!

Very reliable operator. Was ready when I arrived at the service desk. Everything went smoothly. The car even had accessories such as charging cables and phone holder which was a nice gesture.

J.Grzelak

January 18, 2022

9.3Perfect Rent

Very good cars in good price

December 8, 2021

Very nice car. Easy to find counter and good service from staff. Thank you.

Nice car. Easy to find counter and good service from staff. Thank you.

Destination: Chiang Rai

Good service, Easy to find and nice car.

Ned Labbett

December 7, 2021

9.7Great service. Good value for money. Stress free.

Great service from start to finish. I had a minor accident on day 2 of the hire. Reported it straight away and staff very helpful. I will book with YesAway when I return to Thailand in 2022.

Dwight

November 30, 2021

8.3Satisfactory but could be improved.

The car had a engine panel fall the second evening we had the car. Loud noises. We took it back the next mor i g and they replaced the car with another. Both cars were older, Over 100km and over 60km on the second one. Both were good vehicles but they should have new windshield wipers. Lots of rain and poor wipers are never good.

Destination: Udon Thani

7Good

ได้รถเก่า จองยาริสแต่ได้วีออส

Tony

November 4, 2021

8.7Nice car with many kits such as phone holder and charger

Nice service and good car condition. They have no pick up counter at the airport so it may be not easy to find without advance phone call.

Y.Kang

November 1, 2021

10Nice car rental experience

Counter staffs are very nice and fast work

K.PHOUNGPHAE

10Impressed.

Very good service.

Paul Kang

October 8, 2021

10Thanks QEEQ for your nice job

Nice people does care customer never mind only few days rental

Pui Kan

September 30, 2021

10สบาย

ดี สะอาด

M.Sabilullah

June 3, 2021

9.3Good Service, and great deals by QEEQ

Good Service, and great deals by QEEQ

May 29, 2021

8.7Cool. I hope I will have another opportunity to use Chic's service again.

The staff was helpful but I did not get the Toyota Yaris I booked so a bit disappointed.

T.Sato

April 20, 2021

6.7Average

very bad explanation at return car. no manner staff return car at airport.

N.Muangsuwan

April 19, 2021

7.7worth the money

It's my 3rd time using Yesaway and I find this is a good value choice and if you get lucky you'll get very new car

S.Imjongjairak

April 1, 2021

7.3Good

Need to do tire and wheel check up. Tire are so bad. A car is not balance and can be slip when driving in the rain

M.Aphithanang

March 21, 2021

6.7The pick up and drop off point is not in the airport.

The pick up and drop off point is not in the airport.

tomoe tanaka

March 14, 2021

10良かった

また借ります

S.HARIS

March 4, 2021

Good car good experience. A lot of fun in this trip. Will book again next trip. Thank you.

Matt PIERCY

February 28, 2021

8.3We would be happy to rent again. Thank you!

We were cery pleased. The airport return was not easy.

D.Chung

December 30, 2020

10Great!

Staff was really nice and fast.

Richard Walter

December 24, 2020

9.7Easy, smooth, efficient and great value for money.

Great car that easily fitted in my family if 5. Great customer service; quick, efficient and smooth. Thanks to all.

Y.Boonlert

December 17, 2020

Carseat for baby is very bad, it’s not safety and very old and dirty.

December 14, 2020

Very clean and wonderful service

Sakkarn Sangkhamanon

December 6, 2020

A bit too far parking lot to get the car You have to walk across international terminal (from counter at domestic termimal) to find the car.

W.JITRAWANG

November 29, 2020

Smell in thecar is pretty bad.

P.Sintusak

November 24, 2020

8.3Good service and good car

The car was not too much mileage and enough conditions for me but there are so many scratch on this car otherwise it’s not an eco car but it safe about the fuel overall I’m appreciated.

BKK driver

November 14, 2020

10Worth and professional services!

National staff is really helpful. They provide the car the same as describe in the booking detail. The car is clean, fully functional. Recommend National.

Thailand Car Rentals