Is It Safe to Drive in Thailand? Everything You Need to Know

Renting a car in a foreign country can lead to the most amazing travel experiences. You can go off the beaten path, find your way and see more of what you want to see rather than what’s on a tour bus itinerary.

But is driving in Thailand safe?

Is it worth the hassle, or should you just rely on taxis and tours to get around?

These were some of the burning questions I had when I wanted to know how to drive in Thailand over 8 years ago. But since then, I’ve been back 5 times and every time I make sure to rent a car.

I’ve driven in many different countries, from Mexico to Europe and other places in Southeast Asia. Thailand felt perfectly safe compared to some other places I’ve driven, which is why I recommend renting a car if you’re a confident driver.

But if you’re the type of person who gets nervous because they have to drive to the supermarket in rush hour, then you’ll probably want to stick to public transportation and tour buses.

My driving isn’t perfect.. We all make mistakes when driving in other countries. But the Thai people, in my experience, have been very understanding. A local bike taxi once stopped traffic on a busy Bangkok high street to help me pull out during rush hour. 

So if you’re hovering between a car rental company or a guided tour, then read on.

I want to give you all of my personal experience, coupled with advice on the rules of the road in Thailand, to make sure you make the best decision for your trip.

Thailand Driving requirements for foreigners

• The minimum age for driving in Thailand is 18
• Have a valid license in their home country
• Have an International Driving Permit (IDP)
• The license must be in English or Thai (or a translation must be provided)
• If you stay in the country for over 90 days, you must apply for a Thai driving license

Is driving in Thailand safe?

In my personal opinion, driving in Thailand feels safe. I’m a confident driver who hasn’t been in a road accident for over 15 years. This is due to the fact that I pay a lot of attention to the road while driving, and my job as an automotive engineer has meant I’ve completed an additional driving qualification.

There have been some occasions when I have felt stressed while driving in Thailand. Such as driving along a mountain road to Pai, where cars behind me wanted me to overtake a truck around bends. And also, when driving in Bangkok, I couldn’t pull out of a parking space for 15 minutes.

But overall, those moments have been the exception, not the rule. Once you get a feel for how things flow on Thai roads, it becomes much easier to relax into it.

I’ve found that most drivers are patient and non-confrontational, and if you keep calm and stay alert, you’ll be absolutely fine.

The key is not to rush, give yourself extra time and don’t feel pressured to drive like a local if it doesn’t feel safe.

You can use Google Maps in Thailand to get around. We did for our entire trip, driving in Northern Thailand. We had one instance where we had to turn back, which added an hour to our journey. But in all other instances, it worked perfectly well and kept us driving on the highways from one place to another.

Differences between driving in your home country and Thailand

If you are driving around popular areas and touristy spots, then the roads are very well built and much like the roads you have in Europe or the USA. The country’s main cities are connected by multiple-lane highways that are well-maintained. 

The quality of roads in Thailand in rural areas can vary dramatically.

Rural roads can be full of potholes and only partly paved. And in some cases, you may come across a sudden drop-off or a road that has collapsed.

In my personal experience, I’ve only come across one road that was full of potholes and unpaved. Fortunately, at the start of the road, there was a warning in English telling rental cars to turn back and go the other way. 

One big difference when driving in Thailand for foreigners is the highway U-turn rules..

Every 500m or so, there is a U-turn point on a highway, and it is in the outside lane (fast lane). Drivers performing a U-turn will stop at the U-turn point in the outside lane, which can come as a shock if you’re not expecting it. To perform a U-turn, you’re expected to dart over to the hard shoulder on the opposite side of the road. From there, you drive along the hard shoulder and build up speed to join the traffic on the other side.

Here’s a list of other road rules and things to be aware of: 👇

• Driving is on the left-hand side in Thailand 

• There are a LOT of motorcycles on the road compared to Western countries.

• Motorbikes will pass on both sides, so be aware when making turns.

• Motorcyclists will all pass to the front of traffic and gather near the lights. It’s best to let them all set off before driving forward. 

• Some vehicles against traffic on the hard shoulder when their turn isn’t far away.

• Some signs are in Thai only when you’re far away from Tourist hubs

• Flashing headlights can sometimes mean the driver intends to come through, not to signal you to go ahead. 

• There are police checkpoints that you will need to slow down for and stop if you’re waved in.

• When driving in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, you could be stuck in traffic for hours. Often, there’s a lot of beeping, and drivers can get impatient.

What if you get stopped by the police?

I’ve heard stories of tourists getting stopped by police and taken advantage of in Thailand. But I’m pretty sure that they were being asked to pay a fine for not having an international driver’s permit. Whether or not that fine ends up in the policeman’s pocket or not doesn’t really have any bearing on the situation.

In short, if you have a valid international driver’s permit, passport and insurance, then you have absolutely nothing to worry about.

I got stopped at a police checkpoint in rural northern Thailand. The police were very friendly and polite. Checked out my international driver’s permit and wished me a happy trip while visiting Thailand.

What to do if you’re involved in a road accident?

No one wants to think about it, but it’s important to know what to do just in case something goes wrong on the road.

If you’re involved in an accident while driving in Thailand, here’s what you should do:

1. Stay calm and don’t leave the scene

• Take a deep breath and make sure everyone is safe.
• Move to the side of the road if it’s safe to do so, but don’t drive off, even if the damage seems minor. This can be seen as fleeing the scene.

2. Call the police

• Dial 191 for emergencies. It’s the Thai version of 999 or 911.
• You may also want to contact the Tourist Police on 1155 — they often speak English and are used to helping foreigners.

3. Take photos and videos

• Document everything: damage to vehicles, number plates, road signs, and anything relevant at the scene.
• Take photos from different angles and include any injuries, road conditions, or traffic signals.

4. Call your rental company

• Most rental companies in Thailand provide a 24/7 emergency number. They’ll usually send someone to the scene to handle insurance and translation issues.
• Let them know what happened as soon as possible, and follow their instructions. Some may require a police report even for minor bumps.

5. Don’t accept or offer blame on the spot

• Stay polite and neutral. If there’s a language barrier, it’s better to let the police or rental agency handle communication.
• In some cases, local drivers might suggest you settle things in cash. Don’t agree to anything unless you’re confident about what’s being asked, and call your rental agency before making any payments.

Can you rent a scooter in Thailand without a motorbike license?

Yes, you can. But you will be driving illegally in Thailand, and you will not be covered by insurance. 

When Emma and I visited Pai, we were a bit confused about why we kept seeing tourists with bandages on their arms and legs. One or two wouldn’t be too unusual, but we were seeing someone every ten minutes or so with a bandage or a limp.

Then while we ate at a local restaurant we saw a tourist on a bike drive through someone’s clothing stall on the other side of the road, resulting in a bloody foot, a wrecked shop stall and a guy who seemed to be blaming his girlfriend on the back for the incident (what a gentleman).

Our experience in Pai really brought our attention to how lax the rental companies in Thailand can be when letting people rent a motorcycle.

Some people we know have been in motorbike accidents in Thailand, but have had to pay huge medical costs because they weren’t aware that their insurance doesn’t cover them.

Most travel insurance companies state that you are not covered for motorcycle accidents unless you have a valid license to drive a motorcycle in your home country.

For example, in the UK, your driver’s license allows you to ride up to 50cc motorcycles. To be legally allowed to drive a higher engine size, you will need to complete additional driving license parts.

When visiting Thailand, we checked out rental places to see if we could find something 50cc. And we checked in places all over Thailand, such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Everything was 125cc.

So if we were to rent a motorcycle, have an accident and then go to the hospital, our travel health insurance would not have covered the hospital expenses. And in the worst case, if we were to be involved in an accident that injured another person, we would be liable for paying compensation to the person or their family, and the insurance would not cover it. 

The trouble is that the Thai authorities will only want to see an International driver’s permit if they stop you. They are not aware that licenses in other countries require extra parts to ride motorcycles, and it’s fair enough that a Thai policeman isn’t going to know the driver licensing laws of each country.

Then you have the rental places. In some cases, they won’t even ask to see a license at all. In fact, we even saw someone in Pai being watched riding up and down a straight road to see if they were able to ride. With a wobbly start, which made us cringe, she got the thumbs up and off she went to drive around some of the more dangerous roads we experienced in Thailand.

So, unless you are fully licensed to drive a motorcycle and have a reasonable amount of experience riding one, you should NOT drive one in Thailand.

Do’s and Don’ts of driving in Thailand

✅ Do:

• Wear your seatbelt — front and back seats
• Stick to speed limits (speed cameras are becoming more common)
• Use a hands-free kit if you need to use your phone
• Carry your licence, IDP, and passport copy when driving

❌ Don’t:

• Drink and drive — penalties are harsh, and enforcement is increasing
• Ride a motorbike without proper licensing
• Honk your horn at night as it’s banned in some cities
• Use your phone without hands-free (you will be fined if caught)

Renting a car in Thailand

One of our best travel experiences was driving in Northern Thailand after renting a car in Chiang Mai. We booked a car through Booking.com online and picked it up at Chiang Mai airport. The service was fast, friendly, and they even sold us a car phone holder so we could use Google Maps to navigate our way around. 

Renting a car in Thailand is straightforward. International rental agencies like Avis, Hertz and Budget are available at airports and in cities, along with reputable local companies. And you can book almost all of them without paying a deposit on booking.com or other platforms like Discover Cars.

We also used a local car hire company while we volunteered in an Elephant sanctuary in Kanchanaburi to explore the local temples and the majestic Erawan National Park. The reviews were good on Google, and they checked to make sure we had all the correct driving documents, including an international driving permit.

We took this as a good sign that they were operating professionally and decided to go ahead with the rental. It all worked out well, and they didn’t even charge us extra for being 1.5 hours late returning it. They just smiled and said, “Don’t worry about it”. 

What to know before you rent

• Most rentals are automatics
• You’ll need a credit card to reserve
• Insurance often includes a high excess unless you pay for full coverage
• Take photos of the car when you pick it up, especially if using a local company

What its like to hire a car in Thailand – Our experience

When we decided to go on a Northern Thailand road trip, we knew hiring a car was the best option for us, especially as we don’t have motorbike licences. So, a car it was!

We planned to visit some pretty remote locations so we knew this was the best option.

We used Booking.com to compare prices and options from various rental companies operating out of Chiang Mai. After a bit of browsing, we went with a 1.4L Toyota Yaris Sedan through Keddy by Europcar.

We booked it for a full 22 days and chose to add full protection cover, which meant we’d only be responsible for the excess if anything went wrong, a bit of peace of mind that’s totally worth it when you drive in Thailand.

👉 Car rental cost: THB 16,287.39 / GBP 371 / USD 494
👉 Full protection cover: THB 5,568.79 / GBP 127 / USD 169
💰 TOTAL (incl. taxes): THB 21,856.18 / GBP 498 / USD 663
🚗 Daily cost: Around GBP 22 / USD 30 (with full protection)

We picked the car up from Chiang Mai Airport, which seems to offer the best rates although you will likely have more options if you plan to rent from Bangkok.

Once at the airport, we headed over to the Keddy desk. The process was really straightforward, we paid the £250 deposit using a debit card (no credit card required), showed our UK driving licences, international driving permits and passports, signed a few bits of paperwork, and we were good to go.

After that, we were directed to the car park where a lovely staff member walked us through the car, took photos of existing scrapes and dings so we weren’t held responsible, and gave us a quick demo of how everything worked. Nice and easy!

The whole process took about 30 minutes from start to finish.

We were also given a WhatsApp number for any queries or if we wanted to extend our booking, which was super handy.

The car itself was brilliant and we had no issues at all. If anything, next time we’d probably opt for a slightly more powerful engine, especially if you’re planning on driving in Thailand’s mountainous regions. Some of those uphill drives north of Chiang Mai got a bit steep!

After three weeks, we dropped the car back off and the best bit? Our deposit had already landed back in our account before we even returned the keys.

It was all really straightforward, and we’d happily recommend both Booking.com and Keddy if you’re looking to hire a car in Thailand. If you’re considering driving in Thailand and want the freedom to explore more remote spots, it’s a brilliant option.

What To do if you decide Driving in Thailand isn’t for you, what now?

Totally fair! Driving in Thailand isn’t for everyone. Between the different road rules, hectic city traffic, and mountain roads in the north, we get it.

While we personally love hiring a car for the freedom (especially as travel photographers needing those early starts and getting to photo spots!), there are plenty of other great ways to get around if you’d rather leave the driving to someone else.

Here are the best alternatives to driving yourself in Thailand, each with its own pros and cons depending on your travel style.

🚗Private driver – Our favourite alternative

If you’re not keen to drive in Thailand but still want the freedom to explore on your own schedule, a private driver is the next best thing. We’ve done this a few times (both in Thailand and places like Indonesia), and it’s a brilliant way to travel stress-free while still being in control of your itinerary.

You can find private drivers through trusted tour platforms like Get Your Guide or Viator and most offer free cancellation and no deposit, which is a huge bonus. Or, simply ask your hotel, many have their own recommended drivers.

Another little hack? Just google something like “driver in Thailand” or “private driver Chiang Mai” and you’ll often find local drivers with WhatsApp numbers and reviews. We’ve booked this way before and ended up with amazing, reliable drivers, plus, you can usually check their Google reviews before committing.

🚌 Organised tours – great if you want everything sorted

If you’re happy to go with the flow and don’t mind a set schedule, tours can be a brilliant, low-stress option. They’re not quite as flexible as hiring a car or using a private driver, but they’re perfect if you just want everything taken care of.

We recommend Get Your Guide and Viator here too, they cover just about everything from temples to cooking classes to waterfalls, and again, most have free cancellation and no upfront payment. Ideal if you’re keeping plans open!

🚆 Public transport – especially good in cities

Public transport in Thailand is fantastic in cities like Bangkok, with loads of options including the BTS Skytrain, MRT and local buses. Super cheap and relatively easy to navigate.

That said, once you’re venturing off the typical tourist trail, it can get a bit trickier. But we’re massive fans of trains, they’re a proper adventure in themselves.

We’ve taken the overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, the local train to Kanchanaburi, and even the sleeper across the border into Laos. All brilliant experiences.

If you’re planning a train journey, we really recommend checking out 12Go Asia, it’s a fab booking site with great customer service and usually much cheaper than booking through hotels or agents.

🚕 Grab – Asia’s answer to Uber

Grab is an absolute must-download while travelling in Thailand. It’s basically Southeast Asia’s version of Uber, cheap, reliable, and so easy to use. It’s perfect for getting around cities or short trips to temples, night markets, or even airports.

Whichever option you go for, there’s no one ‘right’ way to travel Thailand, it really depends on your comfort level and travel style. While we still think driving in Thailand gives you the most freedom (and makes chasing sunrises and quiet spots a dream!), there are definitely some fab alternatives to help you explore stress-free.

Final Thoughts on driving in Thailand

Driving in Thailand can feel intimidating at first, but with the right preparation, it’s one of the best ways to experience the country on your own terms. From well-paved highways to scenic backroads, driving gives you the freedom to go beyond the guidebooks and truly explore.

We’ve covered everything from licences and rental tips to local etiquette and what to do in an accident, so you can hit the road with confidence. If you’re a capable driver who enjoys discovering places at your own pace, renting a car in Thailand is well worth considering. Just remember to skip the motorbike, follow the local rules, and give yourself time to adjust.

And if you’re planning a road trip, there’s no better region than northern Thailand. The mountain views, winding roads and cooler climate make it perfect for slow travel and photography lovers alike.

Ready to start exploring? Check out our guide to Doi Inthanon National Park. It’s one of the most beautiful places to drive to in Northern Thailand, packed with waterfalls, viewpoints and photo-worthy moments at every turn.