getting to bangkok by car

Within Thailand there are a number of network roads and highways throughout the whole country. Each of the roads is designated by numbers. In Thailand all the traffic drives on the left hand side of the road and all passengers in the car must wear a seatbelt if any passenger isn’t wearing a seatbelt then you may be faced with a on-the-spot fine.

The speed limits throughout Bangkok are:

• 69kph (37mph) in the city centre
• 90kph (56mph) on all of the main country roads
• 120kph (74mph) on any of the expressways.

Any persons driving a vehicle must have a national driving licence or international driving permit are also required but those travellers that are staying in the country for longer than three months would need to obtain a Thai driving licence.

The minimum age for driving in Bangkok is 18 years old. It is also illegal to drink and drive in Thailand just like any other country in the world.

Emergency and break down services in Bangkok

In Bangkok there are no national breakdown services but all of the car hire companies will give you a telephone number to call in case of an emergency or breakdown.

Routes to the city of Bangkok

All of the national highways in Bangkok have designated numbers. National Highway 4 runs south to Hun Hin.
National Highway 3 runs east to Pattaya and National Highway 32 and 11 runs through to Phitsanulok.

Approximate times

You will fine the approximate times it will take to get from different places in Thailand to Bangkok in the following information.

• To get from Hua Hin will take around 3 hours
• To get to Pattaya will also take around 3 hours
• To get to Phitsanulok will take around 5 hours and 30 minutes

Coach services in Bangkok

In the city of Bangkok there is there main bus terminals that service different areas of the country. There are both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses that operate throughout the city. Although, the air-conditioned buses usually run faster and make less en route stops.

Boromratchonnani is the bus service that runs south to Hua Hin and the Thai-Malaysian border.
Buses to chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the north and Ubon Ratchathani and Nong Khai in the northeast will operate from the North/North-eastern bus terminal. The bus service that runs to Pattaya and Trat in the east operates from the eastern bus terminal.