The Sirat Expressway, one of the tolled routes across central Bangkok Photo above: Munira Sharmin via Google
Hiring a car with driver in Bangkok makes the most sense for day trips out of the city, for families and groups traveling together, and for airport runs with luggage. For getting around central Bangkok itself, the BTS, MRT and river boats are usually faster than any car. Self-driving is legal with the right permit, but traffic drives on the left and government travel advice is blunt about road safety, so most short-stay visitors are better off with a driver.
Below is when each option fits, what the official travel advice says about driving yourself, and the private car charters you can book ahead.
What Bangkok traffic is really like
TomTom's Traffic Index for 2025 puts the average time for a 10 km drive in Bangkok at just under 23 minutes, rising to about 31 minutes in the evening rush hour, when average speeds fall to around 19 km/h. It estimates 115 hours lost to rush-hour traffic over the year.
That is why a car is the wrong tool for crossing the center at 6 p.m. Even on highways, TomTom measured an average speed of about 52 km/h across 2025. For hotel-to-mall or hotel-to-temple trips inside the city, our guide on how to get around Bangkok covers the rail lines and boats, and how to use Grab in Bangkok explains ride-hailing for short hops.
When a car with driver makes sense
Day trips out of Bangkok
This is where a private car earns its price. Group tours run to fixed timetables; a chartered car leaves when you want, waits while you look around and lets you add a stop. Popular one-day runs include:
- Ayutthaya: the former Siamese capital, founded around 1350 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 90 km north of Bangkok. The ruins are spread out, so having the car waiting between temples saves time in the heat. You can book a private car with driver to Ayutthaya on Klook.
- Khao Yai: a national park visit makes a long day, and a driver means nobody in your group has to drive back after dark. See the Bangkok to Khao Yai private car charter on Klook.
- Kanchanaburi: home to the bridge over the River Kwai, with sights spread far enough apart to suit a car. See the Bangkok to Kanchanaburi private car charter on Klook.
- Hua Hin: a beach town on the Gulf of Thailand, usually a one-way transfer or an overnight trip rather than a day out. See the Bangkok to Hua Hin private car charter on Klook.
- Pattaya: the nearest beach resort to the capital; our guide on how far Pattaya is from Bangkok covers the distance and the ways to get there. See the Bangkok to Pattaya private car charter on Klook.
Each of these places can also be reached by train, bus or van if you would rather travel independently; the car is the convenience option, not the only one.
Families and groups
For a family or small group, one private car means no hotel pick-up rounds, no waiting for other passengers and room for strollers and shopping bags. For a day of sightseeing around the city and its edges, with the driver on standby, look at the Bangkok private car charter on Klook or the private car with driver for Bangkok and its surroundings.
The airport
Suvarnabhumi Airport sits just outside the city limits, in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan. Its official website lists taxis, AOT Limousine, car rental, public vans and public buses among the ground options. A pre-booked car with driver is worth it when you land late at night, travel with small children or have more bags than a taxi trunk holds. Canada's travel advice also recommends licensed taxis from official stands, limousine services or a trusted ride-hailing app, and warns that vehicles with black-and-white plates are not correctly insured to carry passengers.
For fares and the rail alternative, read our guides on how to get from Bangkok airport to the city and how to get from Don Mueang Airport to the city.
Should you self-drive?
You can, but check the rules for your own licence first. According to Canada's travel advice for Thailand (updated September 24, 2026):
- Traffic drives on the left.
- You must be at least 18 to drive a car.
- You must carry an international driving permit or a Thai driving licence.
- You should carry your identification, driving licence and the vehicle registration book at all times.
The UK government's travel advice (updated September 18, 2026) tells UK licence holders to carry both the 1968 version of the international driving permit and their UK licence, and notes that the permit cannot be bought outside the UK, so get it before you travel. It also warns that driving without a valid licence could invalidate your travel insurance. Other nationalities should check their own government's advice for the permit that applies to them.
Both governments are frank about the risks. The UK advice says Thailand has a high number of road traffic accidents, particularly involving motorcycles. Canada's notes that motorcycles sometimes ride against the traffic or on sidewalks, that drunk driving and accidents rise around January 1 and Songkran in mid-April, and that some roads become impassable in the rainy season. Canada advises visitors not to ride motorcycles at all.
Self-driving can work for a longer road trip in the provinces once you are used to driving on the left. For a first visit centered on Bangkok, the combination of rail in the city and a hired driver for day trips avoids the stress of city traffic, tolls and parking.
Before you book a driver
- Confirm how many hours are included and the overtime rate.
- Ask whether expressway tolls, fuel and parking are in the price or paid on the day.
- Give the exact pick-up address, and for the airport, your flight number.
- Request child seats in advance if you need them.
- Check whether entrance fees at temples and parks are included; assume not unless the booking says so.
For ideas on where to go in the city itself, browse our Bangkok attractions.
BangkokVacay may earn a commission from Klook bookings made through links in this article, at no extra cost to you.
Sources: Government of Canada, Thailand travel advice (updated September 24, 2026), UK FCDO, Thailand safety and security (updated September 18, 2026), Suvarnabhumi Airport transportation, UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Historic City of Ayutthaya, TomTom Traffic Index, Bangkok 2025. Checked September 26, 2026.
Yes, with the right documents. Canada's travel advice (updated September 24, 2026) says you must be at least 18 to drive a car and must carry an international driving permit or a Thai driving licence, along with your identification, licence and the vehicle registration book.
The left. Canada's travel advice for Thailand states that traffic drives on the left.
The UK government's travel advice (updated September 18, 2026) says UK licence holders need the 1968 version of the international driving permit, carried together with their UK licence, and that it cannot be bought outside the UK. Drivers from other countries should check their own government's advice.
For day trips out of the city, for families and groups, and for airport transfers with a lot of luggage, usually yes. For trips within central Bangkok, the BTS, MRT and river boats are usually faster, because TomTom's 2025 index shows a 10 km drive taking about 31 minutes in the evening rush hour.
Common one-day or one-way trips include Ayutthaya, Khao Yai, Kanchanaburi, Hua Hin and Pattaya. Private car charters for each can be booked ahead.
It suits late arrivals, families with small children and travelers with a lot of luggage. The airport's official site also lists taxis, AOT Limousine, car rental, public vans and public buses. Canada's travel advice recommends licensed taxis, limousine services or a trusted ride-hailing app, and warns against vehicles with black-and-white plates.
Official advice is against it. Canada advises visitors to avoid driving or riding motorcycles in Thailand, and the UK notes a high number of motorcycle accidents and that riding without the correct licence can invalidate travel insurance. Helmets are required by law.
