Before purchasing or renting a car to drive in Thailand, you must be familiar with Thai traffic laws and regulations in order to avoid police penalties or fines. However, you must rigorously adhere to the law in order to make your travel safe, as many drivers ignore the laws and drive too fast, resulting in a vehicle accident and serious injuries. I’d like to explain the speed limits in Thailand for each place as follows:
● In Bangkok, Pattaya City and municipalities in all provinces
The maximum speed for a four-wheel drive vehicle or motorbike is 80 kilometers per hour. However, the towing vehicle or three-wheel vehicle cannot exceed 45 kilometers per hour. Trucks with a total weight including payload of more than 1,200 kg, whether hauling a trailer or a passenger vehicle, shall drive at no more than 60 kilometers per hour.
● Rural Roads and inter-provincial highway
A four-wheel drive car or motorbike can drive at a maximum speed of 90 kilometers per hour. The towing vehicle or three-wheel vehicle cannot exceed 60 kilometers per hour. Trucks having a total weight including payload of more than 1,200 kg, whether transporting a trailer or a passenger vehicle, must drive no faster than 80 kilometers per hour.
● Motorway and Kanchanapisek Outer Ring Road
A truck with a vehicle weight of less than 1,200 kilograms, or a passenger car, must drive at no more than 100 kilometers per hour. However, the towing vehicle cannot surpass 80 kilometers per hour. Other vehicles, such as four-wheel drive vehicles, may reach speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour.
However, there are additional traffic law requirements that you must follow. Driving on national highways, rural roads with two or more lanes separated in the same direction, a barrier median, and no u-turn road requires a high speed restriction. According to the 2022 traffic law update, each type of vehicle on the road must not exceed the following speeds:
- Trucks weighing more than 2,200 kilograms, passenger trucks transporting more than 15 passengers, and operating at a maximum speed of 90 kilometers per hour.
- Vehicle pulling another vehicle, tiny four-wheel vehicle, or tricycle not to exceed 65 kilometers per hour.
- Motorcycles use a speed of not more than 80 kilometers per hour.
- Big bikes with engine power of 35 kW or more or cylinder capacity of 400 cubic centimeters or more can use a speed of no more than 100 kilometers per hour.
- School buses and student shuttle buses can drive at a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour.
- Trucks carrying more than 7 passengers but no more than 15 shall drive at a speed of no more than 100 kilometers per hour.
- Tractors, road rollers, and agricultural equipment may drive at a maximum speed of 45 kilometers per hour.
These are the traffic laws in Thailand that you must rigorously adhere to. If you intend to buy a car to drive in Thailand, I strongly advise you to get car insurance in Thailand as well, specifically Rabbit Care, because the repair costs will be covered. There are many insurance companies partners available allowing you to compare the premium at https://rabbitcare.com/car-insurance.