In Thailand you hop on a scooter in shorts, the wind is in your face, and no one seems to respect the rules of the road. This creates a dangerous illusion among tourists: "In Thailand, you can drive drunk; the police will charge you a couple thousand baht, and everything will be resolved." They mistakenly believe that foreigners will be given leniency, as if they were ignorant of the law. In reality, the opposite is true: if a visitor gets into trouble with the police, the consequences can be even more serious than for locals.

Hire a transport in Thailand is an absolute freedom, but it's also where inexperienced tourists most often lose money. And this "scam" doesn't necessarily involve outright fraud: sometimes rental companies simply exploit your inattention and legal ignorance. The rules of the game for cars and motorbikes are very different. Let's break down how to protect your wallet.

Traveling around Thailand in your own vehicle offers freedom of movement and the chance to see places inaccessible to most tourists. However, traffic in the country is heavy and drives on the left side of the road, and the abundance of nimble scooters can be overwhelming at first. To prevent your trips from becoming a stressful quest, your smartphone should be road-ready. Here's a selection of essential apps that will make life as a driver in Thailand much easier and safer, and your driving experience more comfortable.

If you're a tourist or expat in Thailand and driving a vehicle, whether a car or a scooter, sooner or later you might encounter the traffic police. Running into a police checkpoint is a common experience for almost everyone