We will be driving there using my friend's car (Thai citizen). As I am a non-Thai citizen I cannot fathom if I will be legally allowed to drive my friend's car. I can buy a IDP for £5 from my local Post Office before I fly there. But I cannot find out if I need to be put on my friend's car insurance - that would be needed here in the UK. But I cannot find out what legal requirements are for a non-Thai to drive a friend's car in Thailand. If I had a rental car (which I am not getting) then all the insurance would be within the price.
It depends on your friend’s auto insurAnce policy. Yes, you also need a IDP and your regular license. I have one of the best Thai auto insurance policy for my car. When you pay the yearly premium, there are different age brackets for coverage. You can buy a policy with just your age group, or you can get a policy that covers all age group for a higher premium. I have policy that covers all age groups as my girlfriend in in the age group below me, so she is covered when driving. You have to reach out to your friend to find out what policy they have.
Just to let you know driving in Thailand is way different than driving in the UK. Traffic laws are not obeyed, so you have to drive super defensively. On highways, some will tailgate at over 120kph or over take you on the shoulder. At night, vehicles drive with non-operating lights, so you don’t see them until it is too late. Then there are the vehicles going the wrong way or the motorbikes, who will cut in front of you, In the city, this problem is even worse. Just want you to be aware when you get behind the wheel.
You pay entrance fees to the parks when you go through the entrance gates.