Traveling on foot by Thailand means to deprive yourself of the pleasure of seeing many interesting places and being tied to only one resort .In a rented car or a bike during a vacation, you can travel all over the country, visit Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket, visit a variety of provinces and get to the protected parks .It will be much cheaper than hiring a taxi .If you want to travel freely around the country, but still have the opportunity to relax, hire a car with a driver .As a rule, personnel in large rental companies even speak a little in Russian .A variety of cars and bikes offered for rent will also please you, there are plenty to choose from for box-machine enthusiasts, and connoisseurs of "mechanics" .

Documents, insurance

You can book a car online at home or contact the rental company at the airport or hotel upon arrival .And you can already at the resort to push the first door that came with the inscription in Russian "Car Rental", the benefit of such in tourist places is a lot .But for security reasons, it is better to choose the companies tested and recommended by a guide or by experienced travelers .For the registration of the lease will need: a passport, an international driver's license with a category B, medical insurance and photocopies of all documents .Sometimes tourists are asked to pay in a non-cash way, plus you must leave a deposit - 1000-2000 baht .This money will be returned when you return the equipment to the owners in safety and integrity .Before leaving the parking lot, do not be lazy to carefully inspect the rental car for scratches .Fraud in the sphere of tourism is a common phenomenon, a cat in a poke should not be bought .Be sure to pay insurance against theft and other troubles .

Fuel and refueling

The choice in Thailand can be refueled with both 91-m and 95-m gasoline. But in the course of the so-called gas-hole is gasoline, diluted with gas. It is enough for a smaller distance, but it is cheaper than traditional fuel by about 15%. You can fill with diesel fuel.

Even at official stations, as a rule, there are no cash desks, the calculation takes place right next to the column. The amount that you need to pay, you will see on the screen or it will be reported by the fuel worker. If you want to save on fuel, then buy gasoline not on official petrol stations, but from private traders. Almost on every street you will find small shops where directly from plastic bottles fuel will be poured into a tank of your car. Quality at it not the best, but also the car at you only in rent.

Traffic Laws

When crossing the street, forget the rule from the childhood to the head and first look to the right. The movement in the country is left-handed, a large number of cars in Thailand - with the right-hand drive. Most of the accidents in Thailand happen with the participation of motorcyclists. Be careful during overtaking and try to stay away from bikers. In the evening, a lot of trucks appear on the roads, they move at a very high speed.

The tourist is rarely justified as a result of an accident, so pacify your arrogance .For you on your vacation, there is only a secondary road, learn to give in to the Thai hikers .The most important rule of the road in Thailand: it is always right taets, and the foreigner is not right .The police, as a rule, take the side of the compatriot, and not the pharanga during the analysis of the causes of the accident .Traffic lights are similar to those in Russia, but with red light, you can safely turn left (just make sure that you missed all the cars on the right) .Instead of the rule of "hindrance to the right" in Thailand, only "interference to the left" is possible .

If you are in an accident and consider yourself innocent, you are not allowed to leave the scene before the police arrive. To leave the scene of an accident is to immediately admit that they are the culprit of the accident and in addition to get a criminal case on the fact of flight from the police.

Penalties

The amount of fines for non-compliance with traffic rules in Thailand varies from 200 to 1,000 baht. For example, the penalty for riding a motorcycle without a helmet is 300 baht. If two people without motor-helmets ride helmets, then they will have to pay a fine.

Police patrols on the roads are a rare phenomenon for Thailand. But if you are still stopped, the habit of "negotiating" with the road inspection in Thailand is better to forget. Otherwise, you can get not only a fine, but also trouble in the form of charges in the offer of a bribe.

Toll roads

The quality of all roads in Thailand is pretty good .But on free roads the density of cars is higher, so to save time many prefer to use paid roads .It is quite easy to find an entrance to the paid highway - it is marked with a special sign and there is a cash desk for payment .The cost is 2 baht per km .At the beginning of the journey, the motorist receives a special plastic card, which contains information about the time and cost of the route .Payment is made at the end of the trip, when the car leaves the free highway .Almost all toll roads are duplicated by free analogs .

Parking in the cities of Thailand

Another feature of Thailand - in fact, there are virtually no sidewalks in the country, so you can not leave a car on the roadside in the city. We have to use paid parking, the cost of the service is from 60 baht per hour. With motobike it is easier - for compact equipment it's easier to find a narrow slot for parking. Most importantly - do not forget to take the ignition key and put motorbike on the blocker.

Car rental firms in Thailand

Thai rental companies: ThaiMir, Laguna Tour 24, Rental car group, Simply Siam.

International companies: Cars4travel, Orange Smile, Mashina V Arendu.

Rental brokers: Cars Combined.

All prices are indicated in March 2013