Rules of the Road · Verified August 2026

Driving Laws in Thailand

Everything a visitor needs before driving in Thailand — which side to drive on, the alcohol limit, national speed limits and licence requirements.

left

Driving Side

steering wheel on the right

0.05

BAC Limit (g/dL)

general drivers

120

Motorway Limit

km/h

required

Intl. Driving Permit

for foreign visitors

Speed Limits

National Default Speed Limits

Urban / Built-up

80 km/h

Rural / Open Road

90 km/h

Motorway / Highway

120 km/h

Defaults only — posted signs always override national defaults. Laws verified August 2026; rules change, so confirm with an official source before you travel.

Alcohol & Driving

Drink-Driving Rules in Thailand

General limit: 0.05 g/dL · Novice/young drivers: 0.02 g/dL

Reaction time, judgement and night vision all degrade well below any legal threshold — the only limit that guarantees safety is 0.00. Alcohol is a factor in a large share of the world's fatal crashes, and enforcement in Thailand can include checkpoints, licence loss and jail.

Live Tracking

Thailand on the Live Map

Thailand has a WHO-estimated 25.4 road deaths per 100,000 people. See live accident reports and full statistics for Thailand.

Before You Go

Emergency Number

Save Thailand's emergency number before you drive — find it in our worldwide emergency numbers directory. And check your rental's tires with the tire age checker.

Nearby

Driving Laws in Neighbouring Countries

Laos Cambodia Vietnam Myanmar Malaysia Bangladesh

Questions

FAQ

Which side of the road does Thailand drive on?

Thailand drives on the left-hand side of the road (like the UK, Japan and Australia).

What is the drink-driving limit in Thailand?

The general limit is 0.05 g/dL BAC (novice/young drivers: 0.02). Remember: impairment starts well below the legal limit.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Thailand?

Yes — an IDP (or a locally issued permit) is required or strongly enforced for foreign visitors driving in Thailand. Get one in your home country before you travel.

Is it safe to drive in Thailand?

By the numbers, Thailand has a WHO-estimated road death rate of 25.4 per 100,000 people (global average about 15), which is well above the global average, so extra care is needed — it ranks 32 of 195 countries from most to least deadly. Traffic drives on the left, which takes getting used to if you normally drive on the right. Visitors need an International Driving Permit. Most road deaths anywhere happen at night, at higher speeds and on rural roads, so plan long drives in daylight and follow the posted limits.