Drive in Thailand
Read the road, even when you cannot read Thai.
You are driving on the left, the signs are in Thai, and the motorbikes come at you from everywhere. Find the sign below, see what it looks like and what it means, and tap Listen to hear the Thai words. Big text, big buttons, made to work in the car.
The phrases use ครับ, the polite ending for men. If you are a woman, say ค่ะ instead of ครับ.
🚨 I need help
📞 Emergency numbers
Tap a number to call it. 1669 is the ambulance number. Learn that one by heart.
🛑 Road signs
Search in English, like "stop", "turn", or "parking". Red and white signs are orders you must obey. Yellow diamonds warn of danger ahead. Blue signs tell you what is there.
🪪 Getting a Thai driving licence
General information only. Rules change, and each office asks for slightly different papers, so check at the Department of Land Transport before you go.
Where to go
The Department of Land Transport, called the DLT, or in Thai กรมการขนส่งทางบก. There is an office in every province. Go in the morning, take a queue number, and expect to spend most of the day there.
If you already have a licence from home
You can usually change it to a Thai licence without taking the full driving test. Take these with you:
- Your passport, with your visa in it.
- Your home driving licence, still valid. If it is not in English, take a certified translation.
- A certificate of residence, from Immigration or from your embassy.
- A medical certificate, from any clinic or hospital. It is a simple check, and it is cheap.
- Passport photos. Take more than you think you need.
You will still do a short test at the office: a colour blindness test, a reaction test, and a short video about Thai road safety. Your first Thai licence lasts two years.
If you have no licence at all
You start from the beginning. You will do a two day course at the DLT or at an approved driving school, then a written theory test on a computer, then a practical driving test in the yard and on the road. Study the signs in this app first, they are on the theory test.
Car and motorbike are separate
A car licence does not cover a motorbike, and a motorbike licence does not cover a car. Most expats need both, and you apply for them separately. The motorbike test is the one most people fail, so take it seriously, and always wear a helmet.
An International Driving Permit from home covers you for a short stay, but it is not a replacement for a Thai licence if you live here. Get the Thai licence.
💥 If you have an accident
Stay calm. Do this in order, and do not drive away.
- Stop. Put your hazard lights on. Do not move the cars unless they are blocking traffic and nobody is hurt.
- Check for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 1669 for an ambulance right away. Do not move an injured person unless they are in danger where they are.
- Call the police. Call 191. If you cannot make yourself understood, call the tourist police on 1155, they speak English.
- Take photos. Photograph both cars, the number plates, the road, and the damage, before anything is moved.
- Exchange details. Name, phone number, licence, and insurance, for both drivers. Take a photo of the other driver's documents.
- Call your insurance. Your insurer sends someone to the scene. Wait for them if you can.
- Do not sign anything you do not understand. If a paper is in Thai and nobody can explain it to you, do not sign it. Ask for the tourist police, or call a Thai speaking friend.
- Do not admit it was your fault at the scene. Just state what happened. Let the police and the insurance decide.
💬 Phrases for the police
Tap Listen and let them hear it in Thai.