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Travel by car is largely unnecessary because of the wide range of public transportation options available to travelers. It’s also something best avoided for the sake of safety, especially in Bangkok, where city traffic and a lack of adherence to driving regulations are notorious. Other good rental options, such as bicycles and motorbikes, are also plentiful. A great resource for information on international automobile travel is the Association for Safe International Road Travel (www.asirt.org).
Car rental is not only uncommon but also unreliable. All the same, cars can be rented in major cities. For information on renting a car in Bangkok,
You can generally make reservations before you leave by calling major international offices in your home country. However, occasionally the price and other information that they give doesn’t jive with what the local offices in your country will tell you. Try checking with both offices to make sure you get the best price and the most accurate information. Local desk numbers are included in town listings; for home-country numbers, call your toll-free directory.
To rent a car from most establishments in Thailand, you need to be at least 21 years old. Some agencies require renters to be 25, and most charge those 21-25 an additional insurance fee (around 200฿ per day). Policies and prices vary from agency to agency. Small local operations occasionally rent to people under 21, but be sure to ask about the insurance coverage and deductible, and always check the fine print. Rental agencies in Thailand include:
Rental car prices start at around 2200฿ per day for a subcompact car. Expect to pay more for larger cars and for 4WD. Cars with automatic transmission can cost much more per day than cars with manual transmission (stick shift), and in some places, automatic transmission is hard to find in the first place. It is virtually impossible, no matter where you are, to find an automatic 4WD.
Remember that if you are driving a conventional rental vehicle on an unpaved road in a rental car, you are almost never covered by insurance; ask about this before leaving the rental agency. Be aware that cars rented on an American Express or Visa/MasterCard Gold or Platinum credit card in Thailand might not carry the automatic insurance that they would in some other countries; check with your credit-card company. Insurance plans from rental companies almost always come with an excess of around 5000฿ for conventional vehicles. This means that the insurance bought from the rental company only applies to damages over the excess; damages up to that amount must be covered by your existing insurance plan. Many rental companies in Thailand require you to buy a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), which will waive the excess in the case of a collision. Loss Damage Waivers (LDWs) do the same in the case of theft or vandalism.
National chains often allow one-way rentals (picking up in one city and dropping off in another). There is usually a minimum hire period and sometimes an extra drop-off charge of several hundred US dollars.
If you plan to drive a car while in Thailand, you must be over 21 and have an International Driving Permit (IDP).
Your IDP, valid for one year, must be issued in your own country before you depart. An application for an IDP usually requires one or two photos, a current local license, an additional form of identification, and a fee. To apply, contact your home country’s automobile association. Be vigilant when purchasing an IDP online or anywhere other than your home automobile association. Many vendors sell permits of questionable legitimacy for higher prices.
Most credit cards cover standard insurance. If you rent, lease, or borrow a car, you will need a green card, or International Insurance Certificate, to certify that you have liability insurance and that it applies abroad. Green cards can be obtained at car rental agencies, car dealers (for those leasing cars), some travel agents, and some border crossings. Rental agencies may require you to purchase theft insurance in countries that they consider to have a high risk of auto theft.
Driving in Thailand can be confusing at best, and downright dangerous at worst. Avoid driving in Bangkok at any cost. In the rest of Thailand, drivers tend to ignore international driving rules, and cars travel on both sides of the road without discrimination. While road signs are constantly being updated, many are still only in Thai script. Asking for directions can be difficult if locals do not speak English. If you decide to drive, get a good road map, such as the Thailand Atlas, by Roadway, or the Thailand Atlas, by Lotus Image. Local tourist offices or guesthouses may also have maps.
A better option may be chauffeured vans, which can be rented out to small groups. The driver, who often serves as an impromptu tour guide, can take you wherever you wish. The vans are comparably priced to rental cars, and arrangements can be made by most upscale hotels.
The price of gas is just about the only thing you won’t need to worry about if driving in Thailand; in Bangkok, a gallon of gasoline is about US$1.60.
Thailand’s roads vary from the wide, vehicle-crammed streets of Bangkok to the unpaved, mountainous roads of its kos and more rural areas. If you choose to drive, be aware of these varying road conditions and exercise caution. Speeding is one of the major dangers on Thai roadways. It’s also essential to be wary of other drivers who may be under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The number of alcohol-related road fatalities increases during the holidays.
International SOS Services (Thailand) Limited, (www.internationalsos.com), 11th fl. Diethelm Tower B, 931 Wireless Rd., Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. Provides roadside assistance and other emergency services to members.
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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