Car rental in Thailand

In Thailand there is a special, very relaxed atmosphere. Even the usual British restraint gives way to a more carefree attitude to the rules. Traffic is heavy and has its own specific features, so you should familiarise yourself with them before you get behind the wheel.

You can rent a car with your national driving licence, as the country has signed the Geneva Convention. In practice, however, the traffic police may ask for an International Driving Permit and may fine you if you do not have one.

In addition to the main rules (wear your seat belt, do not use a mobile phone while driving), remember the following:

• left-hand traffic;
• overtaking is prohibited on the left, but this rule is often ignored;
• if you do not interfere with other road users, you may turn left at a red light at a junction;
• at a roundabout, vehicles already on the roundabout have priority;
• if someone flashes their headlights at you, it is not a sign that you may go, but a request that you give way;
• the usual "priority to the right" often becomes "priority to the left", so be especially careful;
• headlights should be switched on when it is raining;
• "main road" signs are almost never seen, so you need to assess the situation yourself. If there is a white line before a junction, it means you must give way to other vehicles, as you are on a minor road;
• keep a safe distance, as the behaviour of surrounding traffic can be unpredictable;
• driving a car is treated the same as being in a public place, so driving shirtless or while smoking can also result in a fine.

Thailand is often considered a "third world country", and not without reason: corruption is widespread. The traffic police generally work properly and rarely stop drivers, but if you are stopped, it will almost certainly result in a fine. If you do not manage to settle the matter in cash on the spot (usually 200–300 baht), your licence may be retained by the officer until you pay the fine. This can be done at the nearest police station. You must then return to collect your licence.

The main fines are as follows:

• driving in the oncoming lane - 400 baht;
• no insurance for the car - 600 baht;
• U-turn in a prohibited place - 200–400 baht;
• parking in a prohibited place - 400 baht;
• no driving licence - 1,000 baht;
• driving bare-chested - 500 baht.

If you have rented a car, remember the general speed limits for cars in Thailand:

• in built-up areas - 50 km/h;
• on other roads - 90–100 km/h;
• on motorways - 120 km/h.

Pay close attention to road signs and the flow of traffic, as local drivers do not always obey the law.

The permitted blood alcohol level is the same as in most of Europe - 0.5‰. If you drive having exceeded this limit, you risk getting into serious trouble: a fine alone will not resolve the situation.

Thai law sets out the following penalties for drink-driving:

- For drink-driving: the driver is taken to the police station and held in custody for two days before the hearing. The court may impose a fine of 5,000 to 20,000 THB and disqualify you from driving for six months, or sentence you to imprisonment for up to 1 year.

- If the driver, while over the limit, causes injury or death, the court may impose a prison sentence of up to 10 years, a fine of up to 200,000 baht and a lifetime driving ban.

In any case, foreign drivers, after paying a fine or serving a prison sentence, are deported. Therefore, it is better not to drive at all if you have had any alcohol. In addition, the specific driving conditions mean that, until you are used to them, the risk of an accident is higher.

Parking is often a headache for those who rent a car. In Thailand, parking problems can arise in Bangkok and Pattaya, where there is a heavy flow of cars and a shortage of spaces.

There are both indoor and outdoor car parks. You can usually leave your car free of charge in a hotel or shopping centre car park. Paid parking typically costs 20–50 baht per hour.

In cities you can park almost anywhere, except on bridges and at junctions. Prohibited areas are marked with red and white lines and/or special signs. You should also be careful, as some parking zones are restricted on odd or even dates only. In that case, a driver who left the car in the same place as the day before may find a parking ticket on the windscreen for parking in a prohibited area.

At Thai petrol stations you will find not only unleaded petrol A-92 and A-95 (these two types are usually labelled Gasoline), but also gasohol (91 in green and 95 in orange) - a mixture of pure petrol and bioethanol derived from palm oil. Prices in different regions can vary considerably.

Petrol sold in bottles is widespread, but there is no guarantee that you will be sold good-quality fuel. Moreover, this petrol is usually 1.5–2 times more expensive than at a filling station.

The average cost per litre of fuel is approximately as follows: regular petrol - 45–60 baht, gasohol - 30–45 baht, depending on the region.

In Thailand there are many toll roads, particularly on the approaches to Bangkok. The toll is usually about 2–5 dollars. In most cases there is also a free road running alongside, so the driver always has a choice. However, the free road is usually significantly worse, so you should decide what is more important to you to save - money or nerves. In addition, some roads near Bangkok have no alternatives, and in such cases the toll motorway is the only option.