On Koh Samui is driven on the left as in the whole of Thailand.

Personally, I was worried about renting a car. Many people warned me that renting a car anywhere in Thailand is complete nonsense: heavy traffic, impossible to park, narrow streets full of scooters.

In short - on Koh Samui, renting a scooter is the only sensible option. This is the information I've heard from most travelers who have already visited Koh Samui.

I, however, don't have much experience with scooters, and we were traveling in two. I'm used to driving a car in foreign countries, so I booked a car in advance through one of the many international rental companies.

And the reality?

I've experienced much worse places to drive a car. If you don't want to rent a scooter and depend on very expensive taxis/Grab/Bolt, a car is the best option.

Compare car rental prices on Koh Samui

What is it like to drive on Koh Samui (real experience)

The first 10-15 minutes are special. Not because of traffic, but because of driving on the left.

But then you get used to it surprisingly quickly.

The traffic itself isn't nearly as crazy as it's often described. Yes, there are a lot of scooters, but:

• they're slow.
• they're predictable
• and they count on you being a tourist

I was surprised to find that Koh Samui is actually quite law abiding. For example, drivers (including scooter drivers) usually use their turn signals when turning, which is quite uncommon elsewhere in Asia.

Yes, the chaos on the roads is definitely much more than in, say, Europe or Australia. But at the same time, there aren't many aggressive drivers here.

What negative things do you have to prepare for?

• very narrow streets in the cities
• difficult parking in Chaweng, Lamai and at Silver Beach and Coral Cove Beach

👉 If you've ever driven in, say, Italy or Greece, you can handle Samui without any problems.

Is it worth renting a car on Koh Samui?

✅ Yes, if:

• you want to get around the whole island (waterfalls, viewpoints, hidden beaches)
• you are travelling with two or more people
• you don't want to deal with every Grab/taxi ride (very expensive - similar to Europe)

❌ More likely not if:

• you are only planning a hotel + beach (Chaweng, Lamai)
• you have no experience with driving on the left
• you want maximum flexibility for short distances

💡 Alternative:
A scooter is cheaper and more flexible, but also significantly riskier. If you are unsure, a car is a safer option. Alternatively, Grab/Bolt apps are available everywhere, but Koh Samui is the most expensive place in Southeast Asia in this regard.

How and when to book a car

I booked my car in advance online and I recommend you do too.

👉 The easiest way is to use a comparison engine:

You can find several rental companies locally, but they are quite small and if you book a car on the spot, there might not be any available.

When to book:

• High season (December - March, summer): at least 1 month in advance
• low season: a few days in advance

How much does it cost to rent a car?

I was honestly surprised at how cheap it is, even with big international rental companies like Europcar, Hertz or Avis.

We booked a car through Sixt and had a universally positive experience. The car is new, picking it up at the airport was no problem, and returning it early in the morning outside opening hours was no problem either (you drop the key in the box at the counter).

• small car: approx. 700 thb to 1 100 thb / day
• SUV: approx. 1 700 thb to 2 500 thb / day

With two people, this will often work out similar or even cheaper than a constant taxi.

We rented a car for 6 days and I paid a deposit of 3 000 thb.

Car rental vs. scooter prices

If you rent a more powerful scooter, you'll pay around 400 thb to 500 thb per day, but the convenience and safety clearly speak for the car.

Find out current car rental prices

What to look out for

This is one thing I wouldn't underestimate.

Is this your first time renting a car? Read our general article on renting a car.

1️⃣ Insurance
I always take full insurance. Either the more expensive one directly through the rental company (I don't have to deal with anything afterwards) or the cheaper external one.
On Samui, tourist accidents happen daily - mainly due to scooters and narrow streets (scratches)

2️⃣ Car documentation
Take a full picture of the car when you pick it up.
Scratches are common and no one really addresses them.

3️⃣ Credit card
International rental companies usually require one.
However, on Koh Samui a debit card is often accepted, albeit with a much higher deposit.

4️⃣ Rain and hills
Roads in the mountains (e.g. to viewpoints or waterfalls) are steep.
In the rain, they slide more than you'd expect.

International driving licence

Officially you need one.

Reality:

• Rental companies usually won't want it - they always require a passport and national driving licence.
• the police sometimes do
• the insurance company always deals with it

Parking on Koh Samui

Parking is a topic I dealt with a lot before the trip, because this is where I expected the biggest problem. It was actually a little easier than I anticipated.

Where to park easily

In most places outside the busiest centre of Chaweng, parking is not a major issue.

At beaches, temples, cafes or smaller attractions, you can usually park either directly on the roadside or in a small improvised parking lot.

It is relatively easy to park for example:

• most beaches outside the main centre of Chaweng - parking lots are often small and unpaved, but it is always possible to park along the road
• at temples and viewpoints
• at supermarkets and larger shops
• at hotels and resorts outside the busiest parts of the island

Where parking is more difficult

The most difficult situation is in the following areas:

• Chaweng city centre
• around the busiest beach bars and restaurants in the evening
• narrow streets near some resorts
• places with a higher concentration of nightlife (besides Chaweng, Fisherman's Village or Lamai)

From there, it's a good idea to expect to spend some time looking for a spot or park a little further away and walk the rest of the way.

We describe where and how to park at each place in the chapter What to see on Koh Samui.

How parking works in practice

It is common to park on Koh Samui:

• along the road
• in small unpaved areas
• in private car parks at businesses or attractions

Always check that:

• you are not blocking the entrance
• you are not standing in a place where the car would interfere with scooters or supplies
• you are not in an obviously private area without permission

Is there a charge for parking?

Compared to European resorts, parking on Koh Samui is very cheap.

• Street parking - free
• parking at temples - free
• parking at supermarkets and 7-Eleven - free
• parking at beaches or natural attractions - sometimes free, sometimes for a fee (usually between 50 thb and 100 thb, payable in cash to the parking attendant)

Practical conclusion on parking

If there was one thing I was unnecessarily worried about, it was parking.

Yes, it's sometimes not entirely convenient in Chaweng, but it's certainly not true that parking makes a car unusable in Samui.

Book a car rental in Koh Samui

Road quality and signage

The quality of Koh Samui's main roads is generally good.

The main ring road around the island is essential, as it takes you to most of the important tourist areas.

What to expect in practice

• the main roads are asphalted and in good condition
• traffic is heaviest around Chaweng, Bophut and Lamai
• secondary roads may be narrower, worse or steeply climbing
• some sections can be slippery after rain

Roads up the hills, to some viewpoints or resorts inland, tend to be considerably steeper than the normal coastal routes.

Signage

Touristy directions are usually signposted in a sensible way and often in English.

However, on some of the smaller turn-offs, mobile phone navigation works better than signposting.

That's why I recommend having working data or offline maps at all times.

Get a Thai eSIM - airalo.com

Traffic on Koh Samui

This is the part that tends to be the most important for most people - and rightly so.

Traffic on Samui is not extremely fast, but it is less legible than in Europe, Australia or America.

The biggest factor is the scooters, which:

• passing between cars
• often turn without signalling
• appear almost everywhere, even where you don't expect them

Add to that:

• sudden stops on the side of the road.
• pedestrians crossing outside crosswalks

On the other hand, most of the time the speed is not high and the traffic is more chaotic than aggressive. And less chaotic than I expected.

As long as you allow more distance and don't rush anywhere, the driving is manageable even for a casual tourist.

Petrol prices and petrol stations

Petrol on Koh Samui is quite expensive. But the island is small and the daily raids tend to be rather short.

Prices vary continuously but are usually around this range:

• petrol at large modern petrol stations - around 32 thb to 38 thb per litre
• petrol at small improvised pumps along the roadside - about 50 thb per litre

In Thailand, prices are quoted as standard per litre.

How do petrol stations work on Koh Samui?

There are three types of petrol stations on Koh Samui:

• Modern large petrol stations - not many, but you can find them in all the big towns along the ring main road.
  • the cheapest petrol
  • no doubt about the quality
  • always manned
  • usually have a 7-Eleven or Tops Daily, or even fast-food outlets
• small rural petrol stations - they have a classic pump stand but nothing extra
  • slightly more expensive petrol
  • usually no question of quality either
  • with service but no shops or facilities
• bottled petrol - often by scooter hire shops, local tourist agencies or in the countryside
  • you never know if the petrol is diluted with water
  • always more expensive
  • not recommended to use as it is not a problem to find a good quality modern petrol station on Koh Samui

Large modern petrol stations work easily:

• you drive up to the stand
• you tell the operator the type of fuel and, if applicable, the amount or volume required
• the operator always fills the tank for you
• you pay cash or card directly to the person who filled your tank

Unlike in some European countries, it is therefore not common for you to do everything yourself. At larger stations the system is very simple and hassle-free for the tourist.

Traffic regulations

Driving on Koh Samui is on the left.

Speeds

Speed limits in Thailand are normally given in kilometres per hour.

In practice, most people on Samui drive slower than the limits would allow, as the traffic and scooter density often does not allow it anyway.

In general, expect:

• in the city and in densely built-up areas, drive slowly
• Outside the centres, traffic is smoother, but there is still no reason to rush

Speeds are rarely checked and dealt with.

The police mainly deal with helmets on scooter riders.

Priorities and roundabouts

Formally, there are rules, but in practice you need to drive defensively and not rely on every road user to react exactly according to the rules.

At roundabouts and obscure junctions there is a simple rule: it is better to slow down, look around twice and leave a margin.

In general, the right-hand right of way applies here.

On a roundabout, cars already on the roundabout have the right of way.

Alcohol, seatbelts and phone calls

Wearing seat belts is compulsory and talking on the phone while driving without hands-free is prohibited.

Alcohol is only permitted up to a limit of 0.05%.