Before we look at anything else, the most important thing to know if you want to drive in Thailand is that you drive on the left side of the road. Just like in most countries; you have good drivers and bad drivers.

Honking is barely heard and it’s very rare to see any instances of road rage in the suburbs, but go to Bangkok and it’s a whole different ballgame! The honking never stops, and the drivers are far less easy going.

On the old roads, you’ll sometimes find people driving in the opposite direction on a one-way street. Adding to the confusion is the fact that roads change their one-way direction throughout the day.

Bangkok’s government is always trying to find a solution to traffic jams but so far, nothing has worked. Sometimes rules can change on Thai roads, for example, a regular lane can turn into a public transportation lane. These sudden changes could catch you off guard so you need to keep your wits about you and take nothing for granted.

Just because the road was one way last week doesn’t mean it will be the same next week! Driving around Thailand during the night can be dangerous if you are not familiar with the city. Drunk driving is still a big problem and many cars do not have lights on them (yes, really).

It was only a few years ago you needed to pass a driving test in Thailand before you could legally drive. Before that anyone who wanted to drive could get themselves a car and hop behind the wheel.

If you want to drive in Thailand, an international license is valid and accepted legally, but several insurance companies will only insure drivers who only holding a valid Thai driving license.

When you have a Thai driver's license, typical driving fees will be lower than they would for a foreigner. So how do you get a Thai driving license? Well, you’ll need to be in Thailand for over three months, and you need to be in good health.

If you’re not originally from Thailand, you must have a non-immigrant visa because tourists cannot receive a valid license. If you don’t understand the Thai language then you should probably bring a translator with you to help with the test and instruction class.

You’ll also need signed copies of your passport, and an official letter from your embassy. You will need a doctor’s note to confirm you’re in good health and two standard 1 x 1 inch photos.

To become a legal driver you need to pass three tests:

1. A color blindness test where you will only need to point to colors on a chart.

2. A Reflex test (this is actually a fun test, you are seated in something that looks like a car with a gas and brake pedal, you need to push on the gas and then break when the green light appears)

3. Depth perception test (in other words, you only need to tell how close and far something is). If you have passed these three tests then you will receive your driver’s license instantly.

Once you’re on the open road, you need to remember some key rules:

First, always look out for motorcycles when you’re about to open your car door, it’s actually pretty frequent that people get hurt this way.

Second, if someone flashes their headlights at you, they’re trying to tell you that you’re in their way and to move (but that we know from western countries). 

Third, if you see a child in the backseat without a car seat, don’t bother to mention anything. It is apparently not legal for a child to ride with a children’s car seat.

Fourth, roads may also vary between wide multi lane roads to very small lanes that barely one car can drive through. Due to the heavy rain, roads are always in frequent need of repairing so keep an eye out for road works because they’re not always marked in bright yellow.

Lastly, rush hour is usually between 07:00 till 10:00 in the mornings and 16:00-19:00 in the evenings. 

Driving in Thailand isn’t so different from other countries but of course, because it’s still a developing country, and you must be extra cautious when you drive. Start out slow until you feel more comfortable with the roads, and make sure you always follow Thailand’s traffic rules.

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