Asia · driving guide
Driving in Thailand.
They drive on the left. Permit required. Here is what a rental desk and a roadside check will actually ask you for.
Drives on the
Left
Permit
Permit required
Typical minimum age
18
Which side of the road does Thailand drive on?
Thailand drives on the left. If you normally drive on the right, the two things that catch people out are roundabouts and the first turn out of the rental car park — both are worth taking slowly. Cars are usually configured with the driver's seat on the right, so the gear selector will be in your other hand.
Do you need an international driving permit in Thailand?
Yes. Police checkpoints on Phuket and Koh Samui ask for it, and insurance is void without one. The permit is carried with your national licence, never instead of it — presenting it alone will fail at a rental desk.
Minimum age to rent a car in Thailand
Most rental companies in Thailand will not release a vehicle to anyone under 18, and many apply a young-driver surcharge below 25. Age limits are set by the rental company rather than by law, so they vary between firms at the same airport — check the terms on the booking rather than assuming.
What to carry when driving in Thailand
Your national driving licence, your international driving permit, the vehicle's rental agreement and insurance documents, and your passport. Keep them together and reachable from the driver's seat — a roadside check goes faster when nothing has to come out of the boot.
Convention status
Thailand has acceded to the 1949 Geneva convention and the 1968 Vienna convention. That is what makes a permit issued under either readable to an official there.
Questions about driving in Thailand
Which side of the road do they drive on in Thailand?
Thailand drives on the left. Rental cars are configured accordingly, with the driver's seat on the right.
Do I need an international driving permit in Thailand?
Permit required in Thailand. Police checkpoints on Phuket and Koh Samui ask for it, and insurance is void without one. The permit is always carried alongside your national licence.
How old do you have to be to rent a car in Thailand?
Rental companies in Thailand generally require drivers to be at least 18, with a surcharge often applied under 25. The limit is set by the company, not by law, so it varies between firms.