In general, the roads in Thailand are very well developed, but nevertheless there are often serious traffic accidents. Especially in the larger towns regular traffic checks take place. Particularly strict controls are taking place in the tourist centers in Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui.

Controlled at the car:

• Seatbelt-obligation (who is not wearing a belt risks a penalty of 2,000 THB!) This also applies to mini-vans of organized tours!
• International driver's license - the European driver's license is invalid !!! (Penalty 500 THB)
• Checks are also carried out on the interior of the vehicle / luggage compartment (control of drugs, illegal objects, weapons, even e-cigarettes are prohibited in Thailand)

traffic
In Thailand there is left-hand traffic. Since January 2018, the Foreign Office has pointed out that German driving licenses and international driving licenses issued in Germany are not officially recognized in Thailand! For driving a Thai driving license is required! However, in the hitherto practiced practice, even renowned vehicle rental companies were satisfied with the German driver's license. Even with general traffic control by the local police, the international driver's license has been recognized so far. Generally, this is still mandatory to show at traffic control!

A transcription of the German into a Thai driving license can also be applied for short-term stays in Thailand. You can obtain binding information on applying for a Thai driving license from the Department of Land Transport!

Homepage Department of Land Transport

Until December 2017, vehicles were only allowed to drive if they had an international driver's license. Thailand does not accept foreign driver's licenses! The international driver's license can be applied for at the local road traffic / driving license office. The driver's license has a validity of 3 years (but not beyond the validity of the regular driver's license!) In Frankfurt am Main the international driver's license currently costs € 16.30. The driving license must be requested 5 weeks before departure.

Helmet compulsory for scooter and motorcycle riders. Two-wheelers, in particular, have to be prepared for some difficult road conditions. On smaller islands, the roads are partially unpaved, depending on the season, the streets can be washed out and concrete roads can be submerged. On the most famous islands in the south (Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao) most roads are well developed / paved. But you have to expect in part with large gradients and sand or gravel on the road. You also have to expect that stray dogs or cats suddenly run into the street. In Thailand, many accidents happen every day and many of them end in death. Therefore, only ride scooters or motorcycles if you feel really safe in handling them and if you are experienced drivers! Otherwise prefer to rent a car or use public transport. The safest means of transport in Thailand are airplane and train.

Rental vehicles
In Thailand you can easily rent a vehicle in many places.

Cars: International rental companies are represented at all major airports, as is Thai Rent a Car (Thailand's largest car rental company). As a rule, the credit card is blocked with a "deposit" upon receipt of the vehicle, which is not deducted from the credit card account in case of accident-free return of the car.

With different providers, a car can be rented WITHOUT a credit card:

At Europcar it is possible to rent a car without a credit card. Prerequisite for this is the payment by debit card and a deposit of 1/3 of the rent. This only applies to vehicle categories up to the upper middle class. The deposit will be refunded a few days after the rental period.

At Sixt it is also possible to pay for a rental car with a debit card. Here a rental deposit as well as a lump sum for fuel for the first tank filling must be paid. The rental price, deposit and fee for the first tank filling is due at the beginning of the rental period. However, the payment without a credit card is only possible for sedans of the middle class (vehicle class FDMR). (These are for example Audi A 4, Jaguar XE, Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3 Series)

Scooters, motorcycles and cars can also be rented in rental shops in the tourist areas. In general, with these landlords, that one should not leave his passport as a deposit (although this i.d.R is common practice!) Here you can agree with the dealers a sum of money as a deposit. This can be either in cash or by credit card. Scooters are not insured against property damage. Here, the insurance only covers personal injury. When renting a car make sure that the car has a fully comprehensive insurance. Meiers Weltreisen offers a very extensive protection and very good advice!

International driving licence
Very important: the German / European / and all foreign driver's licenses are invalid !!! (If you do not have an international driver's license, you can expect a fine of THB 500 for a check.) We were first asked to present an international driver's license in Phuket in April 2017! At the receipt of vehicles (scooter, motorbike or car) one is not advised and it is not checked, if you have a driving license! The international driver's license can be applied for at the driving license office.

Requirements:

•     Minimum age: 18 years
•     Application at the place of residence
•     EU driving license card
• If no EU card driver's license is yet available, the exchange of the old gray or pink driver's license must first be made in an EU card driver's license. The application for and issue of the international driver's license can take place immediately on the day of collection of the EU card driver's license.
•     ID card or passport
•     biometric passport photo
•     For Thailand, the validity period is 1 year. (according to "Paris Agreement" of April 24, 1926)
  

costs (for Germans / Europeans)

•     for the international driver's license, depending on the city or county: EUR 12,20 - 16,30
•     when exchanging the previous driver's license in the card driver's license: additional EUR 24.00

For people from the US

insurance cover
When renting via the Internet or smaller providers on site, although a kind of "comprehensive insurance" is offered. However, this is in no way a German or other intl. comprehensive insurances. This insurance covers only damage to your own car, but not on the car of the accident opponent. Personal injury is also not covered. Through Meiers Weltreisenand and some of the international car rental agencies a small car incl. comprehensive insurance with high coverage, occupant insurance, etc. can be rented for about 25- 30 € per day.