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A Guide to Driving in Thailand as a Foreigner: Is it Safe?
Scribbled by Claire ◊ 03 Aug 2025
Do you want to travel around Thailand, but fancy getting away from the tourist hubs and exploring at your own pace? Maybe you don’t have a motorbike license but still want to travel independently? If so, consider renting a car! Here, we talk about safety, rentals, roads, drivers, parking, gas stations and all the practical stuff to help your road trip go super smoothly!
Driving in Thailand as a tourist is not that common an endeavour. Most visitors to the Kingdom choose the obvious option of getting around via buses, tours, trains and planes.
These sensible (and sometimes necessary) transport choices help you move between hubs, and there’s nothing wrong with choosing any of them. However, they do mean that visitors bunch up in a few areas of Thailand, making it feel like overtourism nightmare fuel. It’s such a pity, when there’s so many more beautiful places to visit away from the overwhelmed regions!
That’s where renting a car comes in: you can travel between so many incredibly beautiful places, like the ancient capitals of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya, or historic Kanchanaburi and Sangkhlaburi. Alternatively, you can curate your own northern adventures in the less-visited Nan and Lampang, or even visit off-beat spots around the more well-known places in Chiang Mai or the islands in the south, like Koh Lanta and Phuket.
You can experience all of these on your own schedule, at your own pace, staying overnight instead of doing those rushed day trips. It’s a fantastic way to explore the country.
The only issue is that Thailand has a bit of a reputation, and not a good one, when it comes to road safety. Many people spout off that they would never drive here; they would emphatically never even consider it.
However, we regularly drive cars and ride motorbikes here in Thailand (we live in Bangkok). We know that there is far more nuance to the situation than all the people on forums screaming ‘fuck no’ in capital letters, ever give.
So, we’re here to tell you exactly how the roads work, what the deal is with road safety (the stats require some analysis), Thailand’s road rage reputation, laws, licenses and, most of all, why we love it and think you would too!
IN THIS GUIDE //
Exploring Thailand by Road
Why You Should Trust Us
Is it Safe to Drive in Thailand?
What Licenses do you Need?
Renting a Car – Things to Know
Our Car Rental Experiences
What are the Roads Like in Thailand?
Driving Etiquette and Tips
Parking in Thailand
Refuelling Your Car
Transport Options Besides Driving
Where to Next?
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Why You Should Trust Us
We live in Bangkok and have driven cars all around north, south and central Thailand over the past five years. It’s our favourite way to get around (apart from scooters on the islands – we love those, too!).
We’ve also driven hundreds of thousands of kilometres throughout the rest of the world (road trips are our jam). These countries include Mexico, Costa Rica, all over Europe, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Qatar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Laos, Vietnam and Canada. We’ve also done many, many kilometres in our personal least favourites: the USA and Italy!
This gives us a little bit of perspective. We have a range of destinations to compare to and are more objectively able to analyse the driving in Thailand with (hopefully) minimal ethnocentrism. We don’t believe that anyone should be criticising (or hyping up!) a country’s style of driving without:
a) having spent significant time driving in the country and understanding the driving culture, somewhat. (Because what is normal to you may not be normal elsewhere, but that doesn’t make either right or wrong).
b) having something to compare it to. Biases are super real and hard to avoid if you’ve only driven in, say, rural France where all you see are tractors everyday (my parents live in rural France and we always end up driving behind a goddamn tractor).
So we feel (at least mildly) qualified to write about this topic!
Is it Safe to Drive in Thailand?
Getting straight onto the most controversial topic – road safety in Thailand.
We personally think it’s safe to drive around Thailand, otherwise we wouldn’t choose to do it. We also see thousands of people, every day in this country, getting to their destinations safely.
However, the road safety stats can give the impression that it is not, in fact, safe to do. It’s pretty doom and gloom when you look at the accident figures. So, the big statistic commonly quoted is that Thailand has 25.4 road deaths per 100,000 people. This is versus:
⬩ the UK, which has 2.4 road deaths per 100,000 people
⬩ the USA, which has 14.2 road deaths per 100,000 people
⬩ Italy, which has 5 road deaths per 100,000 people
As you can see, the numbers don’t look great when compared to some other countries that people are generally happy driving in (although how anyone can be happy driving in Italy, I don’t know, it’s horrendous).
Not the Full Story
However, as with everything, there’s a bit of nuance involved in the analysis here, despite the above numbers.
Another statistic to consider is that 84% of Thailand road fatalities involve motorbikes. The Kingdom also has quite of lot of less-maintained, older cars and motorbikes on the road. These lack simple, modern safety features, like airbags, seatbelts or good brakes, which pretty much every rental vehicle would have.
So, while driving around cautiously in a new, well-maintained rental car with a seatbelt on, your risk is objectively not the same as a family of four on an ancient motorbike without a proper license and no helmets. They are at a far higher risk of suffering severe consequences as a result of their journey (sadly).
On top of this – look at the United States’ figures compared with Thailand. Yes, the USA has fewer deaths per 100,000 people, but they also have very few bikes and tonnes of monster-sized, well-equipped cars. Think about it – that means that they have a massive number of road deaths purely based on *car accidents*, specifically. Like, the exact rental car you would be driving. So, it’s possible that you could have a more severe car accident in the United States, yet most people are still happy to rent a car there!
On a personal note, I much prefer driving in Thailand to the USA (a country we’ve driven more than 100,000 kilometres across 40+ states). It’s just a politeness, speeding, and culture thing. In fact, the only two really severe car accidents I’ve witnessed in my life were while driving in Los Angeles and in New York State. I’d argue that if you’re willing to drive in the USA, you will be fine in Thailand!
I’m just applying a little bit of common sense logic to statistics that, off the bat, look a bit dire. So, to the next person who shouts ‘fuck no’ at you (men love doing that on Reddit), tell them to apply some realism and check that they have actually thought through the subtleties.
I’m not trying to make out that Thailand is an overly safe place to drive. I’m just saying that, in a car, it’s not significantly less safe than many other countries where people wouldn’t think twice before renting a vehicle.
Drink Driving in Thailand
The blood alcohol driving limit in Thailand is between 0.2 g/l and 0.5 g/l, the value of which, interestingly, depends on your age! This is in comparison with USA and England, which have limits of 0.5 to 0-8 g/l depending on state, and 0.8 g/l, respectively.
Unfortunately, drink driving is a bit of a thing in Thailand (14 percent of accidents are alcohol related), like in the United States (someone dies there every 42 minutes due to drink driving). So, the easiest way to reduce the risk this poses is simply not to drive at night (statistically, accidents are more likely between 6pm-6am).
Having said that, we have driven at night, quite a few times, and have always been fine. This is only our anecdotal experience, but one worth sharing, I think.
It’s also worth avoiding driving the week around Songkran (Thai New Year in April), whenever possible. It was reported that 96% of road accidents were alcohol related during that period in 2024. It’s also a well-known fact that it’s the most dangerous time to be on the roads in Thailand. Another particularly sketchy time is during the Western Christmas period.
We’d obviously recommend not drinking at all when driving during your trip, even though there is a small allowance on the blood alcohol limit – the police will not give you any leeway if you have an accident (even if it’s not your fault).
Driving in Bangkok
A lot of people are intimidated by the idea of driving in Bangkok and say it’s unsafe. However, I think people get confused between safety and congestion!
Honestly, central Bangkok is not actually difficult to navigate or particularly unsafe, at all. In fact, the traffic rarely moves faster than a snail’s pace, so you’re unlikely to ever have much drama (just boredom).
Traversing the busy roads can be a little tricky at times (there’s sometimes loads of lanes and people weaving between them), but it’s not inherently more dangerous or awful than anywhere else.
We drive right in the centre of the city often, around Sukhumvit, and it’s just *crazy* slow. Not inherently unsafe.
Why we Thinking Driving Around Thailand is Excellent
So, on a more positive note: we love self-driving in Thailand and these are just some of the reasons why.
It’s a great way to visit more of the country than only the major tourist hotspots.
Driving provides the ultimate in flexibility – leave when you want, stop when you want, visit where you want.
It’s a far more affordable option than taking tours, especially for families and groups.
Renting a car is much safer than riding a motorbike.
You don’t have to trust someone else to drive you around, which is something I personally hate.
Airconditioning – self explanatory! Thailand gets so hot.
It’s genuinely fun and you’ll have a unique adventure.
Thailand’s roads are relatively easy to drive on.
Parking is often free, or only a nominal charge.
Self-driving gives the opportunity to choose more rural accommodation options with better value rooms, or alternative experiences.
Thailand is super scenic, especially in parts of the south (like Phang Nga) and all over the north.
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What Licenses Do You Need to Rent a Car?
To legally rent a car in Thailand, you need a full driver’s license from your home country, plus a corresponding 1968 International Driving Permit (IDP).
You will also need a credit card in the driver’s name (not a debit card) for a deposit, plus your passport for identification.
If you have a license from any ASEAN member country, you can drive in Thailand for up to 90 days without the need for an IDP.
A Note on the IDP
Ok, so there’s loads of blogs on the internet about driving in Thailand – don’t trust them all! Some people fail to mention that there are different types of IDP, and others mention it, but give the wrong information.
The standard online narrative is that both the 1949 and 1968 IDPs are valid in Thailand.
This may still be true, but after May 2020, when Thailand ratified the 1968 Vienna agreement, it was also reported that this means the 1949 IDP is no longer valid. It’s all very confusing and there’s nothing official that I can find to confirm this.
So, it makes sense to get the 1968 IDP if you can, since that is the most recent one and is most likely to be correct. Check if your country has ratified the official document.
From our experiences of driving a car in Thailand over the years, we have rarely been asked to show an IDP while actually picking up our rental car. However, at the occasional routine police stop, we have been asked to show our licence and IDP. We always show the 1968 one.
Can you Rent a Scooter Without a License?
You may be asking yourself – why don’t I just rent a scooter, like everyone else I see online?
Well, first up, you need a license that legally allows you to ride any sized motorbike in your home country. So, in the UK that is a category A license. Most people don’t have this type of license, and are riding illegally, uninsured, and usually without much experience in tricky conditions.
Secondly, scooters are really useful for short journeys, but you really don’t want to be riding long, hot, dusty distances on a bashed up 125cc Scoopy with a large backpack and decrepit helmet. That’s honestly just not fun (can confirm this first hand – my worst scooter journey was five hours on dusty roads in Northern Laos with dengue fever – never want to repeat that!).
Third, it’s unsafe unless you’re an experienced rider. Remember that statistic at the top, about 84% of road fatalities being bike accidents? Yeah, that. So if you do ride, you need to have super-high awareness and experience of the roads (which mostly only comes with some actual proper training and time in the country).
We’ve seen countless numbers of awkward foreigners driving their scooters into cars, lamp posts, and even people (we saw two different tourists hit pedestrians in the space of a day in Ao Nang recently, and it was *not* a good outcome).
Gravel rash from scooter accidents is called a ‘Thai tattoo’, for a reason. Don’t be one of those awkward foreigners that everyone rolls their eyes at.
For more information on riding scooters in Thailand, have a look at our detailed guide.
Car Hire for Your Thailand Trip
We always rent our vehicles all over the world, including our recent trips in Thailand, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Jordan, Qatar and Morocco, with Discover Cars. They’re often the most affordable, plus they paid out immediately on an insurance claim we made when our car took some heavy damage in Sicily.
Find out more about why we fully recommend them.
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TAKE A LOOK BELOW OR CHECK CAR RENTAL
Renting a Car – Things to Know
Car rental is available in all major towns and cities in Thailand, as well as at the main airports. We’ve rented cars in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani, Krabi, and Phuket, multiple times (mostly at the airports). Every single time the process has been super professional and quick.
There are the usual larger, international car rental companies in Thailand such as SIXT, Thrifty, Alamo, Europcar and Hertz and also a bunch of local Thai rental companies, like Thai Rent-A-Car.
We always use Discover Cars to find the most suitable vehicle for our needs, because they’re usually the cheapest and actually pay out on their insurance claims (which we found out through experience!).
How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Car?
If you reserve well in advance, you can often rent a car for under 650 baht (GBP 15/USD 20) a day.
The full coverage insurance option (which we always take) can cost less than 260 baht (GBP 6/USD 8) a day on top of that, if you opt for it through the company we use.
These totals will depend on whether you’ve chosen an airport or town pickup, the season, type of car, how long your car rental is, and how far in advance you’ve booked.
On our most recent trip in 2025, we booked about a month in advance through Discover Cars with SIXT, during peak high season. We rented a mid-sized automatic transmission car (Honda City) for two weeks from Phuket Airport. The mid-size car category is great for small families or groups of friends (in this instance, we were three adults).
The total cost of our car rental was:
⬩ 11,800 baht (GBP 273/USD 362), plus the full-coverage insurance at an extra 5,270 baht (GBP 122/USD 162).
This worked out to be 865 baht (GBP 19/USD 25) a day, or 1,210 baht (GBP 28/USD 37) a day including the full-coverage insurance option.
We also paid 8000 baht (GBP 185/USD 245) as a deposit by credit card.
Do You Need Rental Insurance?
No, you don’t legally have to take out rental insurance in Thailand.
When we were younger, we used to just wing it and hope that nobody would scratch our car while we left it in a parking lot, or that a tree branch wouldn’t fall on our vehicle. Now, we’re a bit more cautious and always get the added insurance, so that if something (usually minor and cosmetic) happens, we don’t worry about it, at all.
We’ve had somebody back into our car (three times) in a parking lot in Yosemite, a rogue bit of gravel chip our windscreen in rural California, a motorbike swipe our wing mirror in Malaysia, and we literally/hilariously got our car wedged in a street in Sicily (this one was particularly expensive – thank christ-on-a-cracker for insurance). These are just a few of our random incidents.
So, it’s up to you if you want to take the full-coverage insurance, but we’d recommend it for peace of mind.
Minimum Age for Renting
The legal minimum age for driving a vehicle in Thailand is 18.
However, the minimum age for renting a car in Thailand also depends on the car rental agency. Some, such as SIXT, allow drivers 18 and above, while others require a driver to be at least 21 years old to rent a car. There may be a surcharge for younger drivers, depending on the car company, or the car type.
Picking Up Your Car
When you pick up your car, you’ll likely have to show a combination of the following documents:
⬩ IDP
⬩ Driver’s license
⬩ Passport
⬩ Credit card (in the driver’s name)
⬩ Car rental voucher (some companies ask for this – you’ll find out if it is needed when you book).
After that, you’ll sign a standard rental contract and go check out the car. At this point, it’s worth videoing the car on a walk around and take any photos of damage. Having said that, this is just out of an abundance of caution because we’ve never had anyone try to claim that we did any damage in Thailand (this scammy behaviour has happened to us in several other countries, though, like the United States and Saudi Arabia).
Our Car Rental Experience in Thailand
We have always had entirely positive experiences when renting a car in Thailand.
We’ve never been charged for any damage (in fact, they hardly seem to check the cars!) and the process has always been one of the most straightforward and quickest we’ve experienced anywhere in the world.
Our most recent car rental was in Bangkok, and we headed out west to one of my favourite areas, Kanchanaburi, via the Dragon Temple, Erawan Falls, and beyond. We picked up our Toyota Yaris from a central Bangkok location near Phrom Phong (so not the airports, this time) through Discover Cars, as always.
We went through the usual checking of the car (this particular car was actually immaculate and had a full gas tank) and signed the contracts (keep all your documents in the glove compartment for easy access).
On return (after exactly zero drama during our journey), the car was given a *very* cursory check over, we left the keys in the ignition, signed a check-out agreement and walked off. It’s so low-effort!
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What are the Roads Like in Thailand?
Major roads in Thailand are excellent across the country, from our experience. The main routes are fully paved, well-signed and easy to navigate.
In more rural areas, the roads can be a little less smooth, but are usually paved unless you’re going super rogue. There are occasional farm vehicles and cattle, plus dogs can be a concern around some villages. However, we’ve never found them aggressive and typically they just lay there nonchalantly as you drive past.
Road Signs
Road signs in Thailand are usually in both Thai and English. There are a few exceptions, however they are mostly the universally recognised signs such as ‘give way’ and ‘stop’. There are sometimes road work signs that are entirely in Thai, but it’s easy enough to figure out what’s going on.
Outside of a ‘no-tuktuks’ notice, Thailand’s signs will be instantly recognisable as ones you’ll see in your home country.
On the highways the speed signs reminders can be a little sporadic, so be aware of the standard limits.
Roundabouts
If you’re not used to driving on the left side of the road *and* you’re not used to roundabouts, Thailand will probably involve a slightly larger learning curve.
There aren’t that many in Bangkok, but the rest of the country has sporadic roundabouts (exactly like the ones in the UK, for example). They follow the same rules as the UK, too, where anyone on the roundabout has right of way. In reality, you may have to give way on the roundabout too, even though it is not the rule, so just keep your eyes peeled.
U-Turns on Highways
If you are driving down a fast, dual multi-lane carriageway, it is common for the roads to have U-turn sections along the right lane (the fastest lane) that cut through the central partition.
This can be particularly hazardous if you are riding a motorbike (we can confirm from experience – it can be quite scary queueing up to turn in the fast lane, then having to pull across speeding traffic going the other direction in the fast lane).
So, at these U-turns, watch extra carefully for motorbikes and if you’re driving along the fast lane of a highway, watch out for merging traffic from the other side.
It’s honestly just not great road design!
Speed Limits
In Thailand, typical speed limits are:
⬩ Urban areas: 60-80 km/h
⬩ Rural roads: 90 km/h
⬩ Motorways: 120 km/h
There are local speed limit signs that override these maximum speeds, though, so keep an eye out for them.
Speed Cameras
There are quite a few fixed speed cameras in Thailand, plus some lane change cameras, as well as moveable police traps. However, if I’m being honest, it doesn’t really stop people speeding and I don’t think that speeding tickets are enforced a lot of the time.
From our experience, at least, people fly through the cameras and don’t seem to care!
If you’re caught speeding in Thailand you can be fined up to 5000 baht.
We never speed, though, not just because of fines but because you’ll be found liable for any accident if you were to get into one.
Driving Etiquette and Tips
⬩ Horns aren’t overly used in Thailand, and seldom aggressively. A rental agent joked with us that ‘Thai drivers are more patient and polite’ than most of the rest of the world (although I question that!).
⬩ Stopping distances don’t really work – cars and bikes will fill the space in front of you on busy roads. So, make sure you’re always hyper aware of what’s going on in front of you at all times.
⬩ Keep your eyes glued to your mirrors at pedestrian crossings if you stop. Other drivers do not stop and might hit the back of you. Personally, I wouldn’t stop for a pedestrian if everyone around me wasn’t either – it would be unsafe.
⬩ You should indicate, but don’t expect everyone else to (although we didn’t find the Thai people to be too bad with signalling, to be fair).
⬩ Be adaptable and adjust your driving to suit the people around you. This is probably the best advice for driving in any foreign country, anywhere in the world.
⬩ Hard shoulder type areas – these are generally reserved for slow vehicles, like scooters and tractors.
⬩ Traffic police will often hang around at busy junctions and basically override the traffic lights. So, run the red if the policeman tells you to!
⬩ Drive predictably – as you adapt to other people, they must adapt to you, and it’s easier if you avoid driving erratically!
⬩ Always check for motorbikes around all sides of you before stopping, turning or changing lane.
⬩ Don’t drive too fast – the roads can be a little unpredictable and sometimes drains or potholes are quite well hidden!
⬩ Be careful of motorbikes without lights late at night.
⬩ Flashing headlights isn’t a friendly ‘I’m giving way’, but usually a ‘I’m coming through at speed’. Definitely do not misunderstand this one!
⬩ Road rage is a thing – never be confrontational with a Thai driver, because although they have a reputation as being super-friendly, on the roads it can be a totally different ball game. Everything is different when driving; people have their social status to uphold and it can get complicated. Also, remember that Thailand has one of the highest gun ownerships per person in southeast Asia – don’t think it’s all ‘the land of smiles’.
What is Parking like in Thailand?
Parking availability in Thailand varies hugely, depending on where you are driving.
In the larger cities, like Bangkok, ensure you book a hotel with included parking. Malls always have vast parking lots for minimal fees. Places like Phuket Town have very restricted parking options, so check with your hotel choice before booking anything.
In rural areas, coastal regions, smaller towns and on many of the quieter islands (like Koh Lanta, Khao Lak, Hua Hin, and Ayutthaya) street parking is abundant and hotels almost always offer space for cars. You can usually find somewhere to put your car safely without any drama.
If you are street parking, watch out for colour-coded, painted stripes on the curbs. These dictate where you are and are not allowed to park (although loads of people ignore them and park anyway!).
⬩ In particular, don’t park or stop anywhere with red stripes.
⬩ White and black curbs usually mean you are allowed to park.
⬩ Yellow and white means short stops only.
⬩ No paint means you can park (unless there’s another sign overriding it).
Refuelling Your Car
There are four types of petrol available in Thailand: Gasahol 95, Gasahol 91, E20 and E85. Gasahol 95 is the higher quality unleaded and costs more than 91.
It’s likely that your rental car will take Gasahol 91 or 95. The car rental agent will tell you what types of petrol you can use (it’ll be clear in your contract, too, and sometimes even marked on the gas tank cap).
At time of writing (August 2025) the costs for a litre of petrol in Thailand are very reasonable:
Gasahol 95 – 32.45 baht
Gasahol 91 – 32.10 baht
Gasahol E20 – 30.25 baht
Gasahol E85 – 28.6 baht
Petrol Stations
There is no shortage of petrol stations in Thailand, the biggest brands being Shell, Esso and PTT. They are easy to locate by searching for ‘Petrol station’ on Google Maps.
Major stations (our favourites are PTT) are modern and will typically have a shop (often a 7-Eleven) attached to them for any snack or drink needs. Some also have fast-food places and bathrooms, too. All accept credit cards (we’ve not found any major stations that don’t).
It’s rare to find any self-service petrol pumps in Thailand – they are all manned by attendants who fill your car up. In the larger stations, you tell them what petrol you want, then they put a board on your car bonnet with an arrow to the fuel type.
There are self-service single pumps found on islands and in smaller villages which you pay for in cash. It’s rare that you’ll ever be in a position to have to use one when driving a car, though! Sometimes there are vendors selling directly from barrels and bottles, too.
Tip | we noticed that Shell gas stations tend to be a little more expensive than PTT stations.
What Options Do You Have Apart from Driving?
If you’ve read all this and are not keen on driving, it’s totally understandable (although that means that maybe I’ve not been persuasive enough, because it really is a fantastic experience!).
Private Drivers
There are other options, such as hiring a private driver, so you can still explore the less visited destinations and get off the tourist track a little bit!
To find a driver, you can check Get Your Guide and Viator, both of which list drivers with reviews, so you can check that they are the best for you. It’s also usually possible to arrange a driver through your accommodation, but you’ll have to trust their recommendation. The other option is negotiating with Grab drivers, who will quite often be happy to take you around for the day, too. Again, the drivers don’t get vetted, as such, so use your judgement.
Tours
If you’re after a less personally-curated experience, just hop onto a tour which will organise all of the complex stuff for you! It’s the easiest option to reach alternative destinations if you don’t want to drive and don’t really care how you get there! We usually book all our tour-type experiences through Get Your Guide.
These can be excellent value because you’ll be travelling as a group, usually.
Public Transport
Public transport is always an option in Thailand – I mean, residents have to get around the country, too, don’t they? It’s slow, inflexible, occasionally unreliable, and sometimes boiling (obviously), but super good value if you are open to it!
We’ve taken higher-speed and local trains and buses for thousands of kilometres across the country, from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, and all the way down to Hua Hin, Surat Thani and Phuket. It’s a great option, albeit not always offering the opportunity to get overly off the tourist track.
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Where to Next?
Driving in Thailand might seem a little daunting to some, I get it.
However, if you are comfortable driving in your home country and would be happy renting a car in Europe or the United States, you can definitely drive in Thailand! It’s not any more difficult (in some instances I’d say it was actually easier – Italy’s drivers are a menace, and I will never stop mentioning it!).
This post is basically a detailed manual to help you prepare, but honestly, you don’t need it. The foremost reason we’ve written this is to help anyone who is considering renting a car to feel confident with their choice. We’ve also honed in on the safety aspect, too, so that when somebody tells you (who’s probably been to Thailand once, for a week, twelve years ago) that driving here is a bad idea, you can refute their ill-informed statement!
We highly recommend exploring the beauty of Thailand with your own wheels. One of our favourite areas to drive around is Kanchanaburi: check out our post on a hidden waterfall in the area – it’s magic and a perfect reason to rent a car! Another was the beautiful ruins of Sukhothai, Thailand’s ancient capital.
Have a beautiful trip.
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Thank you, Claire + Nick
This is a great article, but it doesn’t cover what to do if you get into an accident with another driver, do you call the police? If you are farang are you automatically at fault (heard that it will never be Thai drivers fault).. how to handle these situations – this is the only reason I won’t drive in Thailand.
Hi! You’re absolutely right, it doesn’t discuss accidents – I could write an entire post detailing all the different (albeit rare) scenarios!
The answers to your questions all depend on the specific incident. First of all, I’d always follow the exact instructions on my car rental agreement – the rental company, regardless of country, usually highlight the process when you’re picking up a car. The contract will always say to contact the insurance company – so do that. If the contract says to call the police, then do that too – otherwise you might invalidate your insurance.
If there’s a minor altercation, it’s common for drivers to compensate each other for damages in Thailand, especially if it’s obvious who was at fault. If it’s more serious or there’s no conclusion about who was in the wrong, I’d definitely call the police. If you’re in a touristy area, the tourist police are usually quite helpful and can speak some English. Call them on 1155.
In terms of your farang comment, I don’t agree that you’ll always automatically be blamed. I think that there’s a grey area here and sometimes it’s possible. I also believe that if it’s obvious that a Thai person ran into you, then you won’t take the blame.
Honestly, it’s quite a broad statement to make without evidence and it’s the kind of thing that gets bandied around without proof (like the bribery thing with motorbikes – it’s never happened to us in many years, but stories will make you think that it’s happening all the time!).
Another thing to consider is how do you determine who is at fault? You might be officially following the rules of the road, but if you’re not following how Thai people actually drive, you may cause an accident. (Like stopping at a crosswalk when nobody else does, or driving on a roundabout in a different way than the residents). It’s complicated, but in those scenarios, you may be blamed even though you were technically following the laws. In these circumstances, nobody will be trying to sneakily pin the blame on you, you just simply are at fault!
As a foreigner, if I crash my car in another country, like the United States or Italy, I’d be just as worried about being blamed by local people because I was from out of town. So, for me, I wouldn’t specifically avoid driving in Thailand because of that. I’ve found most Thai people to be kind and honest on the roads.
So, these are some of my thoughts! I’ve never let the miniscule risk of accidents in another country stop me from renting a vehicle – that includes Thailand.
Hope that helps!