This is the terrifying moment a driver found a snake slithering around in his car before it disappeared into the dashboard.

Aof, 39, was driving from Saraburi to Nakhon Sawan in Thailand when he spotted the 4ft reptile near his accelerator pedal on September 13.

He pulled over on the roadside in Ang Thong and watched as the snake then nestled into his safety helmet in the back seat.

The shocked motorist called reptile expert Ratha Tapianthong, who spent 10 minutes trying to locate the non-venomous Oriental rat snake.

Despite Ratha's efforts, prodding a stick into the car's machinery, the serpent could not be found.

Aof, who was rushing to make an appointment in time, said he had no choice but to continue his journey with the snake still lurking in his car.

The Oriental rat snake is a semi-arboreal colubrid snake native to South and Southeast Asia. It is non-venomous, but is known for its speed which it uses to prey on rodents, frogs and other small animals.