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Thailand is a country that lies in the heart of South-East Asia. It borders with Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Malaysia. With a car hire in Thailand from Auto Europe, you can explore this great tourist destination with its beautiful beaches and rich culture.

Pick up your car in Bangkok and drive through the city to experience its vastness. Visit Wat Arum (Temple of Dawn), the floating market at Damnoen Saduak, and continue to the King's Official Residence, the Grand Palace which has been in use for over 150 years. Wat Pho is the largest temple in Bangkok and houses the reclining Buddha, measuring 46 metres and covered in gold leaf.

If you collect your car in Phuket, there is much more to see than the sea, beach, and world-famous diving sites. The architecture has cast a spell on many a traveller, whilst the hospitality has impressed visitors from all over the world. Explore Old Phuket with its quaint shops and cafes. Drive further out to visit the Big Buddha. The huge Buddha statue sits on the Nakkerd Hills and is visible from miles away. Or swim in the sea at Hat Patong, which is the largest of the beach resorts, or try out Kata Yai Beach, which is a great tourist beach with good surf. For peace of mind before booking, please check out the user ratings and comments posted by previous Auto Europe customers on our Thailand car hire reviews page.

Make the most of your car rental

Auto Europe makes finding the right car hire deal easy and economical. Choose from a large modern fleet of cars at all airports and city locations. Book your car rental online today, or for more information contact us on 0800 358 122, and make sure to review our FAQs.

Road Rules and Petrol Stations

Thailand has a good network of well-maintained roads and motorways - both are well constructed and easy to follow. Most of the north-south route is dual carriageway. Road signs follow the international convention and are written in both Thai and English, although directions in more remote provinces are written in Thai. It is not recommended to travel at night due to heavy truck traffic.

• Drive on the left-hand side of the road in Thailand.
• When changing lanes, signal and move slowly whilst watching at all times.
• In some areas of the cities parking is prohibited on specific days and times (odd days/even days). Look out for signs.
• Curbs marked with red and white stripes are not for parking.
• Drivers often do not stop at intersections, so be careful and keep a look out.
• Seat belts are mandatory when driving in Thailand.
• Drivers are to carry, at all times while driving, a valid driver's licence, registration documents and insurance documents.
• Petrol stations in Thailand are open from 8am to 8pm, with some stations in major cities and along the motorways open 24 hours.

Parking rules and fees are usually marked on signs (with English translations in tourist areas). Red and white markings mean "no parking zone". Yellow and white markings usually denote a bus stop, so you should not park in these spaces. Diagonal white lines indicate parking spaces for motorcycles only. Fines are given for cars parked in the wrong place or for too long. These can be paid at the local police station. If the vehicle has been clamped, a police officer will be delegated to remove the wheel clamps.

Tolls

In Thailand tolls are charged for each section of the motorway and differ depending on the distance travelled. It is wise to always have plenty of small change with you when driving a car in Thailand.

Age Requirements

In order to pick up a car hire in Thailand you must be 21 years old and have held your licence for at least 1 year (this may differ depending on supplier). Some suppliers might require you to be 25 and will charge those between 21-25 an additional insurance fee. The driving licence requirements in Thailand state that you must have a full driving licence that is valid in your country of residence. Licences and a valid passport must be carried at all times when driving.

Currency

You will need to have with you the correct currency, which is the Thai Baht (THB). There are plenty of cashpoints in the main cities.

Time Difference

Thailand is in the Indochina Time Zone (ICT). This means that the time in Thailand is 6 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +6).

Dictionary

Thai is the official language of Thailand, with Chinese and Malay also spoken by some. English is also widely used especially in the larger tourist areas. Thai people do not shake hands, instead they offer a wai. A wai is a prayer like gesture. Place both hands together in front of the chest with fingers pointing upwards and bow your head slightly. It is a friendly greeting and it may be considered rude not to return one.

Hello - Sawasdee (saw wah dee)

Do not touch people's heads and do not point at things, as this is a sign of disrespect. Thai people respect tradition and removing your shoes is required in many places, especially in temples. If you are unsure whether to do this or not, look at the entrance for a pile of shoes or look to see if the people inside have shoes on or not.

Electricity

Electricity in Thailand is 220 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles AC, although different kinds of sockets are used around the country. Most hotels have a point for shavers, and some have 110 Volt sockets. It is best to bring your own adaptor along with you on your travels.

Visa & Embassy Information

If you are going to be in Thailand for up to 30 days, no visa is required. The British Embassy is located in Bangkok.

British Embassy Bangkok
14 Wireless Road
Lumpini
Pathumwan
Bangkok 10330
Telephone: +66 (0) 2 305 8333
Email: Info.Bangkok@fco.gov.uk

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