There are many scenic drives on Phuket, with gorgeous views along the winding west coast roads. To fully explore Phuket and its natural beauty, you will need to rent a car to get around. If you’re not confident driving on narrow, sometimes crowded roads, you can hire a car with a driver.
Full-service car rental companies offer full insurance, a very good idea in Phuket. Cut-rate car rental agencies may offer limited insurance, but the reality is that these policies generally only cover damage or injury to third parties, and not to the car or its passengers. Another unfortunate reality is that foreigners are often required to pay for damage regardless of who is at fault in an accident.
Traffic in Phuket moves on the left side of the road, as it does in the UK, Singapore, and some other countries. Seat belts are required and laws against drunk driving are often enforced. You need a valid International driving license or a Thai driving license, and police checkpoints are frequent to enforce this law.