Thailand on a Japanese Licence — Same Side as Home, But the IDP Is Required

For most foreign drivers the hardest part of Thailand is learning to drive on the left. Japanese visitors skip that entirely — and that one advantage changes the whole trip. The risk shifts from the road layout to the paperwork and the traffic culture.

The familiar side is a real head start

Japan and Thailand both drive on the left. There’s no reversal to unlearn — the driver sits on the right of the car, roundabouts turn clockwise, and your overtaking instincts already point the correct way. Most tourists here spend their first hours fighting their own reflexes; you don’t. That said, the lane discipline you’re used to at home doesn’t carry over, so stay alert even while everything feels familiar.

The IDP is mandatory, not optional

The catch is documentation. You must carry an International Driving Permit alongside your Japanese licence — Thai rental desks won’t release a car without it, and a checkpoint stop without one means a fine. Apply in Japan before you fly; the IDP cannot be issued once you’ve arrived. Keep the permit, your licence and your passport together. Our driving permit checker spells out exactly what you need.

The traffic is the real adjustment

Same side, different rhythm. Thailand’s roads carry a constant stream of motorbikes that filter through any gap, and lane markings are treated as suggestions in the cities. Speeds run 50 in town, 90 rural and 120 on the motorway — above the 100 you’re used to, so leave margin. The alcohol limit is 0.05 BAC, looser than Japan’s 0.03, but with breath testing routine the safe figure is zero. A speeding fine typically lands at THB 500–1,000 (≈ €13–26); check yours with the speeding fine calculator.

Fuel is about $1.25/litre and the emergency number is 191. Read the full rules on our Thailand driving guide before collecting the car.