Car rental in Bangkok

In Bangkok, people drive on the left, so you should drive carefully. The roads are very congested and traffic jams are common.

To rent a car, the driver needs to have an international standard driving licence. They may also ask about age and driving experience – each company has its own requirements.

In addition to the basic requirements, which do not differ from the European ones, you should remember the following:

• instead of the "right of way", in Bangkok you must give way to obstacles on the left;
• there are many pedestrians and foreigners who are not used to left-hand traffic, so you need to be very careful;
• driving shirtless is not allowed, as it is considered a violation of public decency and is punishable by a fine;
• cars already moving on a roundabout have priority;
• it is common at crossroads to see drivers turning left at a red light. You should not copy this behaviour;
• you must always have your insurance and vehicle registration documents with you;
• flashing headlights mean "give way";
• large vehicles (vans, big trucks, etc.) have priority. Do not expect that a truck will give way to a passenger car;
• try not to travel during peak congestion – from 7 to 10 am and from 16 to 19 o'clock.

The parking rules in Bangkok are taken very seriously. Spaces can sometimes be hard to find, so look for free parking near restaurants and shopping centres.

There are indoor and outdoor paid car parks. They cost an average of 0.7–2 dollars per hour.

You cannot park your car under a no-parking sign or in areas marked with white and red lines. Many parking areas are prohibited on odd or even dates. Look carefully at the signs – almost all of them are duplicated in English.

In Bangkok, even minor violations can lead to penalties: fines are high and the police are strict. There are patrols and speed cameras all along the roads. So there is little tolerance for breaking the rules. Major penalties include not wearing a seat belt, driving on the wrong side of the road and turning in prohibited places.

• The average fine is 500 baht.
• Not wearing a seat belt and improper parking – 400 baht.
• Lack of a registration certificate – 600 baht.

Your licence may be taken and will be returned immediately after you pay the fine at the nearest police station.

Drink-driving laws are very strict. The minimum penalty is 2 days in prison (awaiting trial) and a fine of 20,000 baht. The maximum is life imprisonment. Although corruption in Thailand is widespread, in this case you will not be able to come to an arrangement with law enforcement officers. Therefore, exceeding the limit of 0.5 ppm is not recommended.

Around Bangkok, there are many private toll roads, and all of them have free alternatives. The average toll varies from 2 to 5 USD. You generally need to pay in cash in baht at the toll booth, but there are places where you can also pay by credit card. Payment is taken by an employee at the toll booth.