First time writing travel notes, I see there's basically no explanation about car rental in Thailand online. Based on my previous travels, I'll write it down here.
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About Car Rental
1 Car rental websites
For overseas car rental websites, you can choose sites like Zuzuche or Rentalcars.
These two websites are integrated car rental platforms where we can compare multiple car rental companies on the platform.
Or choose large multinational car rental companies like Hertz, Europcar, etc. to rent cars directly on their corresponding online platforms.
2 Required documents
Passport, Chinese driver's license, English translation of Chinese driver's license (available for translation on Zuzuche platform), car rental order contract, your credit card (preferably with VISA, to prevent some companies from not accepting UnionPay cards), if there are multiple drivers, remember to bring other drivers' Chinese driver's licenses and Chinese translations. When driving, please remember to bring the above documents to prevent related spot checks.
3 Insurance
Related insurance is available on your car rental website.
Be sure to purchase full coverage insurance for the vehicle body, when traveling abroad you never know what might happen. For example, many cars prohibit smoking inside! If you smoke in the car causing odors that cannot be removed, you will be fined when returning the car, usually 5000 baht, or if there are black stains on the vehicle body that cannot be removed or are difficult to remove, fines will be imposed, etc. So full coverage insurance for the vehicle body is essential to prevent unnecessary trouble. Passenger insurance can be purchased according to your needs, similar to travel insurance for going abroad, I'm not sure if multiple purchases can result in multiple claims.
4 Navigation
Navigation is recommended to use Google Maps. Baidu Maps and Gaode Maps are not very useful abroad.
It is recommended to download the APP in advance domestically and bookmark the places you want to visit. When you start your trip, open the APP and you can see your previously marked bookmark locations directly on the map, click to navigate directly. If you cannot download Google Maps domestically, please install a VPN. Or when you arrive in Thailand and change to a local SIM card, generally you can download it directly.
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Thailand Driving and Precautions
1 Driving and lane markings
Thailand is right-hand drive, left-hand traffic. So you must rent an automatic transmission car. If you haven't driven right-hand drive before, remember to practice slowly at the pickup location when you first get the car, you will definitely be unaccustomed. On the road, keep to the left. And when turning, if you get anxious, your windshield wipers will often fly up haha, don't ask me how I know.
Thailand's lane markings have the following types, basically the same as in China, please be sure to drive according to the lines. In some sections of large cities there will also be bus-only lanes, please note.
2 Parking in Thailand.
Since it's a self-drive tour, hotels must be chosen with free parking. If there are other requirements, you can email to consult the hotel. When going out to play, try to park in parking lots to reduce unnecessary trouble when traveling abroad.
About roadside parking.
Thailand's curbs (roadside) have 3 colors. One is black and white striped, you can park freely; one is yellow and white striped, this means you can stop to pick up/drop off passengers or load/unload goods, meaning stop and go immediately; another is red and white striped, completely no parking allowed! Remember to see this, if you park there and are discovered by police, the police will use a wheel lock to lock your wheel, then put a ticket on your car, you need to take the ticket to the police station to pay the fine, then wait for the police to unlock your wheel before you can leave. It's not just about the fine money, but going out to play and having your schedule disrupted is the most troublesome.
3 Drunk driving and seat belts
In Thailand, drinking while driving and drunk driving are prohibited.
Drivers and front seat passengers must use seat belts.
4 Pedestrian crossings and littering
When driving in Thailand, vehicles are required to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks.
Littering is illegal in Thailand. Fines cannot exceed 2000 baht, if you are asked for a fine higher than 2000 baht, then you may be scammed or extorted by unauthorized personnel, please be careful.
Thank you for watching, I will slowly update when I have time in the future, and make some self-drive route guides based on routes I've taken before.
