The hard life of a taxi driver in Bangkok
We often complain about taxi drivers in Bangkok, but do we have any idea how difficult they are? There are more than 90.000 of them on the road today and there are more every day.
Maximilian Wechsler, the Bangkok Post reporter who previously denounced the free sale of child pornography on Sukhumvit, this time explored the shadowy world of taxi drivers. Their path is usually not a bed of roses, it turns out.
Pretty much everyone can Thailand visits, will have to deal with it: the taxi driver in Bangkok. The complaints are legion, from old bins with no noticeable suspension to a driver who is constantly chattering into his mobile phone to making a detour to earn extra baht. Not to mention the refusal to turn on the meter or even lewdly grope female passengers…
In the five years that I have lived in Bangkok, I have learned a few things about it. Many drivers have no idea of the function of the clutch pedal or tear like their life depended on it. Once I got out on the way when the driver refused to turn off either the radio or the DVD that was playing at the same time (which he was also watching while driving).
Until August last year, the Department of Land Transport (DLT) received 9479 complaints about taxi drivers. of these, 2060 related to drivers' refusal to take passengers, 1633 to abusive behaviour, 1486 to unusually high fares and 1182 to failure to drive to the desired destination. Last year, over the same period, there were 'only' 7403 complaints and 11.289 over the entire year 2009. And that on more than 90.000 taxis in Bangkok, of which almost 69.000 are registered with 132 companies, while 21.551 are in private hands. The drivers usually come from Isan, where they cannot earn the salt in the (rice) porridge. The choice is as follows: rent a new taxi for approximately 580 baht per 12 hours or a copy that is older than 3 years for 450 baht. For a private car, the man or woman in question has to pay 290.00 THB, followed by monthly installments of 16.000 THB for 4 years.
No grease pot
All in all, it's not greasy. With a bit of luck, the driver makes a turnover of 1000 to 1500 THB per day. Subtract the expenses from that and it's clear why the driver either has to take a side job or work a good amount of overtime to keep his head above water.
Getting a permit is the least of the problems. Anyone over the age of 22, who has no physical or mental disability and who has held a driver's license for at least one year can apply for one. The candidate must have an identity card, a house registration and a medical certificate. A test at the DLT then takes 5 hours. If the background has been checked by the police within 45 days, the driver can collect his taxi license.
Incidentally, many drivers are concerned about their safety (Bangkok has only a handful of female taxi drivers). After all, not a day goes by without one of them being robbed. Remarkable in this case is the Thai man who drives a taxi from Bang Na to Sukhumvit Soi 5 and reports there that he has forgotten his wallet. He asks the driver's cell phone to call a friend, but then gets out and runs away, with the cell phone….
From Don Muang airport to pathum thani is normally 400 thb .
The driver knew where to find it but stopped at 1 restaurant with that name in the wrong direction.
He stopped at 1 remote police station to ask for directions where the local officer was already waiting to drive.
Within 1 minutes we were 1600 Thb poorer at the destination and if I also wanted to give the agent 1 tip.
After intervention by the residents, the taxi disappeared as soon as possible.
Nowadays I take my own driver with me when I have to be in BKK.
Well, in Thailand you can expect anything, as it turns out.
oh oh, poor taxi drivers?
Recently I wanted to take a taxi from the NL consulate to the Ekkemei bus station, in the taxi the driver asked are you going to Pattaya? I agreed, he said I will take you for 1500 bth. I replied, no, nice by bus. His next action was that he stopped at a random stop of the Sky train and asked me to get off, I did so and he asked 50 bth which I didn't do, pity those poor slobs? Kind regards, MMSuit
I take, nowadays, clearly visible to the driver, a picture of his ID on the windshield with my mobile phone.
Have you had bad French experiences? with taxi drivers?
A bit late. But I'm only seeing this question now.
No, I have not had any trouble with Taxi drivers in Bangkok.
And I would like to keep it that way.
I don't live in Thailand but visit quite often.
And, partly because of that joke with the phone, and because I let it be known that I know my way around reasonably well, I had no problems.
But the last time I advised someone to take a taxi from the airport to Rachada Pisek it said 450 baht on the counter
And that while there was never more than 200 baht on the counter at nij.
Do you ever go here by taxi? I am a taxi driver myself. The newspapers are full of it. gr. Cor
That's right, we have been fooled several times by taxi drivers, they supposedly don't know the way.
There is a regular supply of fresh Isan from taxi drivers in BKK and they indeed do not know the way. On top of that, Thais can't read a map, so why assume they pretend they don't know their way around?
September 20 I had to go to Don Muang for my 09.05 am Nok Air! Took a taxi on the street around 07.00am! The driver clearly said Don MUang 3 times and showed him a note with large letters DON MUANG! the ride started well, as I know BKK quite well! then on the toll road the blue signs appear along the side,,,Surnavarnapumi “...so said again Don MUANG...he nods and continues driving!!
then suddenly the sign 10km for Surnav.Airport! ..I say DonMuang again! ..he acts as if he only now realizes that he is wrong! ..find the exit and head to DON MUANG…
I HAVE HAD ALL THE SURBURBS IN BETWEEN WITH TRAFFIC JAM EVERY 100 METERS!!
SHORT: ARRIVAL DON MUANG ..09.30!!!!!
PLANE AWAY!! AND THB 600 POORER!…
AND A NEW ONE-WAY TICKET!!
AND…ONLY REACH THE DESTINATION LATE IN THE AFTERNOON!!
AMAZING THAILAND!…forGET IT!!!
(I LIVE IN BKK!)
I assume that in addition to a complaint, you have also submitted a claim to him or his organization. Did you pay him the fare?
I've heard this many times. It seems as if there is intent involved. Or are they really that stupid?
I also once became a victim – who wouldn't really – of a taxi driver. The ride went from Don Muang to the Eastin hotel in Makassan (Bangkok).
The driver asked for an all-inclusive price of 350 baht. I refused and insisted that he should drive on the meter. In the end he agreed, after I had previously threatened to take another taxi.
It was my first visit to this hotel. I had previously stayed at the Bangkok Palace. This hotel is behind the Eastin hotel.
The driver dropped me off at a hotel next to the Bangkok Palace hotel. After I had given him a tip in addition to the fare – the fare was 180 baht and he received 250 baht – I entered the hotel fairly tired and handed over the hotel voucher to the desk clerk.
After a lot of searching and with another look at the voucher, he found out that I had entered the wrong hotel. Despite the fact that I was not a guest, he offered me a glass of lemonade.
Fortunately it was only a 100 meter walk to the Eastin hotel. Everything went smoothly there and I was again offered a glass of refreshing lemonade.
How lucky am I!
The Eastin is also very hard to find! My regular driver from BKK has been there several times, but it went wrong again last week. There are no signs to the Eastin, but there are signs to Bkk Palace.
By the way, I don't understand what you have to do in Eastin, the bell-girl was too lazy to lift the suitcases and the entrance doesn't look good either. you have to stop right in front of the entrance and then no one can get through.
Take a better hotel, or tell 333travel that you prefer a real hotel instead of Eastin full of nasty Russians.
Hi I must contradict I am a frequent visitor to Eastin hotel with my Thai wife, we live in Amsterdam. Always book directly with 333 travel, which is located on the third floor of the office. i pay 1750,00 thb for ten nights lux room per night.
I think it is very good after the renovation, there is everything fitness club sauna swiimming pool and nicely located near Pratunam.
My wife always says to the taxi driver Maksan next to bank [palace hotel.
Always good from airport 350, thb to SME 60 to 70 thb meter.
I haven't had a bad experience with taxi drivers in Bangkok so far. Or maybe they can't find their way. They can't read maps at all. I had given him a clear map of the hotel, with a map. Also everything in Thai. He drove around for half an hour. to find it. Well then you have to pay a hundred baht more. I don't wake up either.
It's a different story if you're in a hurry or need to catch your flight.
From the new airport to the tongtara hotel in bangkok, only 36 km…. have we already paid 450 bath, what do you say…. not surprising that they lose many tourists, that they put people against the wall even more!!
Is your 450 Bath for 36 kilometers too expensive? That's okay. Also consider that the taxi in city traffic consumes something like 4 liters of petrol that way. Plus the costs for the taxi and the driver siw also have to earn something.
The same ride will cost you about 5 times as much in the Netherlands!
They all run on LPG, and that costs about 12 cents per liter, so for 36 km they have lost less than 50 bath
Samsen, how did you go about living there? what formalities do you need. I am also married to Thai
Johnny,..
I live in Bkk for 6 months and in the Netherlands for 6 months!
Also not married! I'm renting an app! do this now for the 2nd year! …over and out! Grtjes S.
Last September they arrested a taxi driver who tried to scam his passengers with a well-known trick. He had asked his passengers to push the car because the motorcycle had supposedly stalled. When the two were behind the car, he drove off with the luggage and the laptop. Fortunately, the man had a photographic memory and knew the taxi number and name. He was therefore quickly arrested and will now grumble in the “Bangkok Hilton”.
You forget the 'This is Thailand' factor. Taxi driver gives laptop to police and goes free. Police tell passengers that they have arrested the taxi driver but that he had already sold the laptop.
I am just as happy that I have google maps and also Navigation with the map of thailand on my smartphone. If he/she takes a wrong turn, I will immediately show the correct route. So you can never actually be flashed…
I haven't been to BKK lately. From the airport I always take the bus to Pattaya. It only costs me 200 baht and I am dropped off at my hotel. Don't worry about tolls etc
Then why should I take a taxi?
I have spent the last 12 years in countless taxis to every nook and cranny of bangkok.
1. I always sit next to the driver
2. I read his name out loud from the ID on the dashboard
So far I've never had any problem. I only got out once because he didn't turn on his meter/ But that was years ago.
GJ
What a whining. Never have problems with taxis in Thailand. Just keep an eye on the do's and don'ts that apply to taxis worldwide.
After arriving at Schiphol, sit in a taxi. Then you will really be scammed, legally admittedly. If the drivers are not matting with each other, then.
I encountered it last year when I came back from sakon nakon by bus, didn't have time to look for a taxi and there was already one ready to take our suitcases and without us asking he put our suitcases in his taxi. We paid 450 baht from the bus station to our hotel in bangkok. distance to our hotel only 10 km.
Never take waiting taxis; they are out for fat prey and do not drive on the meter, so you pay 2 to 3 times more. The advantage is that they do not detour or pretend they do not know the way, since the fare is already fixed. I also always make sure to take my luggage, if you don't have more than a suitcase, in the back seat with me, so that I can get out quickly if the driver is driving 'wrong'. I've had to use that a few times. Pay him part of the meter price to prevent aggression.
But usually I have no problems.
Parking taxis is our problem in soi Jaisamarn, ie the soi between soi 4 and soi 8 Sukhumvit rd., where parking is prohibited. That soi has to handle a lot of traffic and is very narrow and although it is a one-way street, the motorcycle taxis do not have to worry about that. This means that there is very little room left for pedestrians. Protests among those responsible at the Lumpini police station did not help and the taxi drivers triumphantly shout that they are paying the police to be allowed to break the law. Moreover, all these taxi drivers refuse to drive on the meter and wait for fat prey from the Dynasty and Sukhumvit Grande hotels. So a double violation. It is taxi mafia in collaboration with the police. AmazingThailand! The same problem exists in soi 4 (Nana).
Once I witnessed the panic of a tourist who discovers that his taxi with the luggage has disappeared after he briefly returned to his room. He did not give the impression that he had the details of the driver or his taxi. But luckily there are many polite and reliable taxi drivers in Bangkok, most of them I assume..
Before the skytrain and metro were built in Bangkok, I used taxis in Bangkok very often. Even when there were no taxi meters yet, so you always had to agree on the price. Never had a problem.
For example, I once drove from Rama IV in a taxi to the Dutch embassy. It was very busy and the old driver probably wanted to go home because he was overtaking very fast left and right on the Rama IV. Sure enough, until he had a side-impact collision with a truck. I looked at the meter amount and paid , got out and walked on to take another taxi.
He greeted kindly, but with furrowed brows.
Nowadays I use skytrain and subway more, and only taxi to places that are a bit more difficult to reach, and have always found that to be pleasant.
From the airport to Pattaya I always took a taxi, but now let me pick me up from Pattaya.
Once I took a meter taxi from the airport during very bad weather, and because of the bad weather I thought 1200 baht (ex toll), without meter, was a reasonable amount. But I soon noticed that the speedometer and windshield wipers were not working.
That would be a kamikaze ride . The new road wasn't quite ready yet, and we had to get off it a few times. During the heavy rain he tried to turn on the wiper, but it went once to the left and once to the right, and then stopped again.
It was early in the morning, around 8 o'clock and so very busy. When he had to stop quickly, it happened, a car hit the back of the taxi. The drivers got out and surveyed the damage. The left rear wheel of the taxi was stuck and we certainly could not continue to Pattaya. There you are in the rain, at least, I was inside 5555.
The driver started calling, and I understood that he was calling some kind of central, perhaps the number on the side of the taxi.
He spoke little English but he tried to explain to me that he was going to arrange alternative transportation for me. Yes, it's nice when a traffic jam is forming behind you.
After 15 minutes, yes after only 15 minutes, he very carefully started his engine and drove at a snail's pace, because his rear wheel was stuck a bit, and lights were flashing and his arm was sticking out to the left side of the road and he stopped on the side of the road. .
A few hundred meters further on I saw a taxi on the same roadside and it looked like it was backing up with flashing lights.
That was indeed the case . That was my “new” taxi. He had driven past us and they could probably reach him quickly . He was from the same "central".
My suitcase was transferred, and then the time came to arrange payment, after all, we were halfway there, somewhere near Chonburi. My driver told me to pay him 600 baht and the other 600 to the new driver. What a relief and what service. I gave both of them a 100 baht tip. Me happy, the new driver happy, leaving the other driver with a damaged car.
I will never forget this. After hearing many negative stories from friends, I always come up with my story.
A crazy taxi driver, I assume many have already seen this video :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvJNNdZUC3I
Never had any problems with taxis there. Very simple, just go to the "office" of the company, make a price agreement, pay and ask for a proof of payment stating paid (also the high-way). And I have already driven distances in the taxi where you are happy to have the taxi stop for a while to eat or have a drink. But yes, there will also be cowboys among them. Be sure to make a price agreement in advance with the motorcycle taxi.
It's not all doom and gloom, mind you.
My first time in TH I arrived at Don Muang.
My friend was the experienced TH-goer, he knew where to arrange a cheap taxi at the airport.
And indeed we were soon approached by a driver. With that man into the parking basement. Holding the suitcases in the back, my bag with securities and giro payment cards with me, I got in the back.
We were just well on our way to PTY when we went off the road again. Quite busy with Thais there. I thought we're being robbed.
We had to get out, the suitcases were taken out of the car and we had to transfer to another car.
We had then booked a trip through BMAir with 7 nights in the White House in Jomtien. We didn't actually know the address either, but the driver really did his best by asking everywhere and eventually we found someone who could tell him.
He dropped us off and after paying, including tip, we went to our rooms. My friend had taken off and forgotten his money belt on the long drive from the airport.
But we were amazed all around when the best man came along on a moped a little later.
I've never had really annoying drivers in TH. A good friend was his driver in NL, I knew all the tricks.
For example, after a night at PatPong I once got into a taxi. My 1st time there, I was fed up with all those guys hanging on you all the time and wanted to get out of there. So I jump into a taxi in a hurry, with such a gland hanging on me. I give the driver the address card of my hotel and he turns off the meter and starts about detouring and costs 400 Baht.
I was right back to class and said in my best Thai, Yesterday it was 85 Baht. We settled on 150 Baht.
@Lieven – 'Very simple, just go to the “office” of the company'. How do I get there? By taxi? 😉
I estimate that I have been to bangkok 15 times in the last 20 years, for several days, normally I get out of there as quickly as possible, I think it is a terrible city, I always take a taxi for everything and I have never experienced such horror experienced stories that I read here, well I have been scammed for 50 thb or something, I always showed that I understood the “scam”, then my pleasure for their embarrassment was worth those few cents.
Those people work their ass off for a few pennies and work shifts of 12 hours or more, in the traffic of Bangkok, as a passenger I'm already going crazy. And then they regularly have customers in the car who believe that they should haggle over the meter price once they have arrived at their destination or that they absolutely do not want to use the meter and prefer to receive money for their ride.
My biggest problem in Thailand is the substitute shame for the behavior of some tourists (bargaining according to the travel guides) and for people who consistently refuse to adapt to the Thai mentality.
And dear Thailand visitors: if you start shouting, they really won't understand English any better.
In short: adapt, learn, a little, Thai language and Thai Way, don't argue and think; your money for 1 beer is equal to a dinner for Thai family
I've been coming and have been here for almost half a century but I've never had any problems with taxi drivers. Those people don't look for trouble but just want to earn some money and that's the end of it. They cost a turd (especially compared to the Netherlands) and stuff like that' A ride is much more relaxed than public transport. And much safer
You could have added that a taxi driver is also responsible for all damage, maintenance, etc. during the rental period. What is left then?…..
Moreover, if you have problems, it is always 50% your fault, isn't it?
Zeikers those Dutchmen (that's how they are known)
The problems I've had with Bangkok taxi drivers over the past ten years can be counted on one hand. Well come on, two 😉
It's a bit easier for you cor, I think you're almost completely verthaait. That's what you get when you spend whole days among the Thai people. Then you know the tricks of the trade and they can tell by your nose. rustle.
I think it does indeed hurt. Although my Thai is far from good, taxi drivers think I speak Thai fluently and therefore don't think to drop me off or keep driving in circles.
But I think there is also another side. After all, bad news is a more rewarding subject for conversation and the bad experiences are pushed far more to the fore than the countless good experiences passengers have with the drivers.
Well, I also have my bad experiences with taxi drivers in Bangkok. Refuse to turn on the meter (so I just get out without any comments) or don't know the way (which is often unfortunately the truth).
But let's not forget a few things, most of us complainers don't speak & write Thai. If a Thai handed me a note with the name of a restaurant in Thai script, I wouldn't have a clue either. And since a Thai always remains polite, he just says yes ... after all, all tourists who want to go to an airport want to go to the new airport, so just drive there.
I can also understand that some don't want to make a trip to a location where it takes them 2 hours to get out again.
Some drivers will undoubtedly not have much money, but some can apparently afford to wait for hours in front of a hotel to get the one customer who pays as much as 1500thb to be taken to the airport. Apparently some can also afford not to have a customer as a customer who wants to pay 50thb (on the meter) for the ride he wants 100thb for.
Most of my taxi rides nowadays go well and prosper and then the driver always gets a good tip from me because I know that if he just does his job properly it is indeed not a fat pot (in the Netherlands either).
Chang Noi
Now I don't quite get it, if you take the taximeter at the airport of bangkok, you will get the price in advance on a note from them, and you only have to pay on arrival.
so whats the problem??
I went 3 times by taxi from bkk to pat, where the drivers mainly try to persuade me to go to a different hotel than I intended, so collect commission, and make me pay the toll, although this is at the taximeter is included,.
Oh, can't blame her.
Once on the road, the taxi driver ran out of LPG.
The taxi driver who took over the ride told me that if he doesn't take Pakistani / Indians with him because they don't give a tip.
Well I think last year trip bkk pat 1100 thb and now 1500 thb, talking about inflation.
Tolls are always exclusive. And the trip to Pattaya is a matter of negotiation. I also know people who lost less than 1000 THB.
Must be wrong, but at airport bkk and taximeter it is a fixed price right? including tolls, never paid the tolls.
If you agree on a total price, the toll is usually included. When the meter comes on, it's exclusive.
Hard stuff everyone. In general I think those taxi drivers are very good. There is sometimes someone you think is crazy, but then you just get out!
As for the taxi meter, if your heart is on rush hour, there is no taxi driver willing to turn on his meter when you have to go through certain “areas”. Logical, the trafficjam will ensure that that trip will not be profitable for him.
As for the hotel to the airport, I just grab a mustache from the street and ask if it will pick me up, that limousine mess from the hotel can be stolen from me, that's nice for the lazy tourist with a far too large purse.
To go from the airport to the center you just take a pre-paid taxi.
Other trips in the city (if possible) by moped taxi 🙂
Years ago, my (Thai) girlfriend and I wanted to go to Hua Hin. She arranged a taxi. During the ride he said that he had to go to Phuket to see his sick father. An unpaid ride. As we drove further out of Bangkok, something appeared to be wrong with the taxi, which became increasingly worse. The link no longer worked. The driver was terribly disappointed, but managed to pull the car aside through the busy traffic. Fortunately, right opposite a restaurant. He called the center and they would send someone with a spare part. In the meantime we went for a drink and offered him something, which he resolutely declined. We kept waiting and he kept looking at us. He kept a close eye on us. Only when the part arrived, the car was repaired and we continued our journey did I understand why he kept watching. He thought he would lose his trip to Phuket, but still partially paid, to another taxi. To his surprise, the farang and his girlfriend waited very quietly and sat down to eat something.
He promptly took us to our hotel in Hua Hin and gave us his ticket. We could always call him! When we wanted to return to BKK, we did so and he quickly drove up from Phuket. His father had just passed away, but he was happy to help us and probably also partially reimburse his return journey.
But every day after that we only had to call him and he arrived in no time and took us where we wanted to go without detours. And all this according to my girlfriend for a good price. In short: who does good…….
Already been to bangkok several times, had no problems, had polite drivers, marriott resorts are "the good ones?"
we went back to the airport, left the mob in the car, lucky to remember the driver's number. we had called our hotel, marriott
Driver brought mob to our hotel, where family was staying, and thus got count back,
nothing but praise for taxi driver (and hotel)
too bad we couldn't give him a (fat) tip.
In rush hour they can't drive together much, and price agreement is difficult, but understandable.
you can't always drive for nothing!!!! Own a taxi entrepreneur and am therefore reasonably aware of problems.
I have used taxis in bkk in Chang Mai etc many times inmiidels.
Just be alert and make it clear that you are then nothing has happened so far.
And let's be honest, where do you rent a taxi for 25 euros per day including driver and petrol (LPG), at least not in NL.
my wife and I once went by bus to sukhothai by bus. Once there, they let us take a motorbike taxi. But I saw those young guys already standing with the gold chains on, so I let them grab one a little further away but you know a thai woman huh. After 40 minutes and I've seen the same store 3 times we were there. At the hotel and 8oo bath lighter.Wel expensive, my wife thinks. the next morning we wanted to leave again but I said now we walk on for a while, then the bus stadium turned out to be just around the corner from the hotel'. So I said to the woman now you see your own compatriots are still cheating you. but I could laugh about it. If it starts over now, she will still be angry