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Independent driving in bangkok It is one of the best ways to fully experience the city, and especially everything it has to offer (and as you know, it has quite a bit!). At the same time, it can also be a real challenge, one that may sometimes even become a difficult task. Vehicle traffic in Bangkok, as befits such a large and touristic city, is plentiful and in various areas it would be considered chaotic. This does not mean that driving in the city is not safe, but it is important to know the laws and rules and collect tips, which can make the task easier.
In Thailand, driving is on the left and the driver's seat is on the right (and the passenger seat next to him is on the left). The driver as well as the passengers in the other car seats (both front and rear) are obliged to wear a seat belt according to the law throughout the journey. Most of the time, the parking and warning signs in Bangkok are in the local language, Thai, so it is important to find out what is written on them before you set off and start driving. As for the driver's license, Thai citizens can apply for a car driver's license upon reaching the age of 18. Foreign tourists may use their international driver's license in Bangkok (and Thailand as a whole), which can serve them for a short period of time. Those who plan to stay in the city and the country in general for a long period of time will be required to issue a local Thai driver's license.
Bangkok's urban planning, including its roads, can be very confusing. The city is growing non-stop and sometimes it seems a bit random too. It is very easy to lose your way in the maze of streets of Bangkok and there are quite a few narrow and long alleys. Some streets are two-way and some are one-way. There are quite a few shortcuts and dead ends. Therefore, it is important to study the route before setting out on a journey and also to use up-to-date navigation apps, which will make the trip simpler (relatively, of course). Google maps, for example, are a good starting point, but if you want to use them correctly you need to know the exact address or exact location.
Finding free parking in Bangkok is also not an easy challenge and requires a lot of patience. There are parking lots near the various department stores and there are also parking lots throughout the city. At the same time, it is often crowded with cars, and especially during the day, it is difficult to find a free and available parking space. If you want to park on the side of the road, it is very useful to look for parking signs in the immediate vicinity to understand what the parking hours are allowed in that place, on which days you are allowed to park and other points that you should know before stopping.
In Bangkok there are quite a few vehicles of all kinds. Many choose to ride a motorcycle, there are the cyclists and of course also crowds of pedestrians. The motorcycles usually "zigzag" between lanes and it may be very dangerous to drive behind them. The amount of cyclists in Bangkok is huge and many times we will see them riding on the road at the same time as the motorcyclists. They can often take over lanes and slow down driving. It is also very important to pay attention to pedestrians. When you see a crosswalk, slow down and stop for pedestrians so they can cross the road. It is important to do this safely and be courteous.
Renting a car in Bangkok is generally relevant to those aged 21 and over. There are car rental companies that state that the minimum age to rent a car is 21, while others require the driver to be at least 23 years old. All of them require the driver to have a driver's license for at least one year. You must carry, when traveling in the rented car, the driver's license and a copy of the photo page of the passport. Failure to carry these documents can result in a heavy fine if you are arrested by the local police.
The cost of renting a car varies depending on the location and the car rental company. The well-known car rental companies, such as Avis and Budget, tend to offer standard prices and attractive promotions to those who apply to them. The size of the vehicle and its model also affect the rental costs. The range varies from 700 baht per day for a small car to 3,000 baht per day for a luxury model. The cost of renting a large luxury car can even cost 5,000 baht per day. It is highly recommended to make a comparison between the car agencies, to use the websites and also to make sure to order the rental car as far in advance as possible to get the most profitable deal.
The car rental companies make sure to specify a minimum rental cost per 24 hours. Those who return the vehicle late will incur additional charges or a full day's rate. Rental companies like Sixt do not charge for several additional hours. If you want to extend the rental period beyond the agreed time period, you must inform the rental company at least two days in advance, usually.
After choosing the car model you want to rent, you must leave your credit card details at the rental company and pay in advance for two days of rental. Although most companies accept payment by credit card, there are some of them that would prefer to receive the money in cash or bank transfer. Visa and MasterCard are accepted in Thailand, and some places will also accept American Express for those who have it.
Those who rent a car for several weeks and even months will receive a discount from most rental companies. The rental prices tend to decrease slightly during the period considered outside the tourist season and increase during the peak season. At the same time, because Bangkok is a tourist destination throughout the months of the year and due to the high demand, in comparison to other places in Thailand, the prices remain more or less the same throughout the year. Many of the rental companies, especially the largest ones, offer special deals that significantly reduce the cost of renting a car. When a company is left with a large number of spare vehicles, the cost for the rental will be low. If there are a small number of models left, the cost will be high.