Taxi in Bangkok – how does it work? (video)
When you stay in Bangkok, there is a good chance that you will get into a taxi to go to your hotel. It is therefore good for tourists to know how the taxi system works in Bangkok.
There are nearly 100.000 taxis in Bangkok. The taxis are easily recognizable by the striking colors and the text Taxi-Meter on the roof of the car. The Taxi-Meter is a system of taxis in Bangkok that was introduced in 1992 to put an end to the many complaints about taxi passengers being scammed.
All Taxi-Meter taxis have a red light on the left behind the windscreen. When it lights up, the taxi is free. Each taxi has its own registration number consisting of four digits. It is visible on a yellow sign affixed to both rear doors. If you have a complaint about the driver, write down that registration number.
Costs for a taxi in Bangkok
A taxi ride in Bangkok starts with a starting rate at 35 baht for the first two kilometers. After that, 2 baht per half kilometer is charged, and at a standstill 1 baht per minute. If the route is on a toll road, the toll must be paid by the passenger.
Taxi meters are required to turn on their meter unless you want to be transported to a place other than Bangkok. You can then negotiate the price with the taxi driver. From Bangkok to Pattaya costs between 1200 – 1500 baht. From Bangok to Hua Hin quickly costs 2500 baht.
Departures from airports in Thailand are subject to a surcharge of 50 baht. There is a taxi rank at many shopping centres, hotels and major bus stations; those who take a Taxi-Meter here do not pay a surcharge.
Complaints about taxi drivers
There is a central hotline in Bangkok where you can file complaints about taxi drivers, call the hotline: 1584 of the Passenger Protection Center. Or the traffic police hotline: 1197. The most common complaints/problems are:
- Taxi drivers who refuse passengers (for all sorts of reasons)
- The driver refuses to turn on the meter or says the meter is broken.
- The driver cannot find the destination or takes a detour (on purpose).
- Drivers who drive too fast or antisocially.
- Taxi drivers who almost fall asleep behind the wheel because they are overtired.
- Drivers who speak little or no English.
Of all registered complaints about taxi drivers, 80% (source: Bangkok Post) are about refusing to take a passenger. This mainly applies to Thai people because taxi drivers prefer to take tourists with them.
5 Taxi tips (video)
In the video below from Thai Faq you get five tips if you want to take a taxi in Bangkok. Such as How to see if a taxi is available, how to hail a taxi, What to do if you forget something and leave it in the taxi (common), etc.
It is important for tourists that they always have the address and telephone number of the hotel where they are staying at hand. The address of your hotel in English is not enough. Make sure you also have the address on paper in Thai. The telephone number is also important because the taxi driver can then call the hotel if he cannot find it.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/-VZ8eX0d5KM[/youtube]
Moderator: Then you must indicate what is wrong. Otherwise your comment is also useless.
Probably sir means that if every taxi has a four-digit number, and there are 100.000 taxis driving around, not every taxi has its own number.
The registration number of a taxi can also be found on the sides of the car and is also the registration number, so it can also be seen on the number plates.
@jark. Remember that the license plate consists of a combination of letters and numbers. Moreover, I question the number of 100.000 taxis.
Dick: According to the January 15, 2012 Bangkok Post, Bangkok has 75.000 taxis and 120.000 taxi drivers. Bangkok Post of March 12 mentions 100.000 taxis.
Explanation of my first reaction that the text of the article raised more questions than it answered as there are a number of facts in the article that do not match the data in the photo.
According to the article:
Starting rate 35 Baht for the first 2 kilometers.
According to the photo:
Starting rate 35 Baht for the 1st kilometer.
According to the article:
Then 2 Baht per further half kilometer (= 4 Baht per kilometer).
According to the photo:
Subsequently 5 Baht for kilometers between kilometers 2 and 12, rising in a graduated scale to 7.5 Baht for kilometers between kilometers 60 and 80 and then 8.5 Baht per kilometer.
According to the article:
Stationary rate: 1 Baht per minute.
According to the photo:
Rate from standstill to 6 km per hour: 1.5 Baht per minute. (On top of the kilometers made?)
According to the article:
Usually 50 Baht surcharge 'for the airport'.
According to the photo:
50 Baht surcharge FROM the airport.
Apologies if it wasn't clear at first.
Wikipedia says: A metered taxi ride starts at 35 baht for the first two kilometers. After that, 2 baht per half kilometer is charged, and at a standstill 1 baht per minute. [Noted: Source?]
Have always wondered what sense exactly the different fares ide the driver can apparently set on his meter. Scale from 1 to 4. ? Does Dick know that?
Anyway, despite all the pluses and minuses, the taxi remains a great means of public transport in Bangkok. Dirt cheap and available at all times of the day. Tip: never approach a stationary taxi, parked at a hotel or in Banglampoo, as they charge multiples of the meter fare. Keep moving taxis (with a red light) on.
True and the obligation to turn on the meter is often not complied with. At the MBK shopping center (Siam), where the taxis arrive and depart, it is almost impossible to get hold of a taxi that turns on its meter. You must agree on a fixed price, which is far above the meter price.
From the airport to the hotel, via the Public Taxi exit, the meter was always turned on without being asked. From the hotel to the airport, however, not once found a taxi whose driver wanted to drive at the meter rate…………….
Last week by taxi to Cha-am for 1.500 baht. Friends of mine were taken to the airport for the same price. To Hua-Hin from 2.500 bath seems a lot to me.
I myself went to Bangkok by van for 160 bath and took a taxi in Bangkok. The driver asked me where I came from and when I told him that I took a taxi the way there for 1.500 baht, he thought that was a good price, provided that the taxi ran on gas.
@L I've never seen a taxi driver fail to turn on his meter and I've been in plenty of taxis over the years anyway.
I do experience that a taxi driver is not willing to drive to my destination, for which he may have a very good reason: end of shift, petrol almost gone, no return passengers can be picked up at the destination. Officially it is not allowed, but it does happen and also with Thais.
In the evening I sometimes see a driver mention an amount, which is usually three times the meter rate. I mention half (then he has something extra), but that is rarely discussed.
Dick has been coming to Bangkok for 15 years, about the same height or a little shorter than me. With hundreds if not more rides behind me, I have experienced that in many (!) cases the meter is not turned on. So we have different experiences. My friends and family as well.
I have already made the habit of emphatically saying “meter?” when boarding. to ask and then experienced more than once that people simply drove on.
The worst thing is that my Thai wife is asked “why are you asking for him if I want to turn on the meter, you are Thai too”.
It is also not the first time that I got out of a taxi when they refused and then walked a street further.
The frenzied rushing from traffic light to traffic light, driving drunk or asleep, not knowing the road, or not wanting to take you at all because it is not on the route, or too busy, or the car has to be returned ( Taxis are often hired by the driver for part of the day, which are such other pleasures.
There are, of course, good exceptions. Indeed, taxis that are hailed at the department stores, or (meter) taxis that are hailed by a reputable non-fraud hotel, often provide good service (otherwise they don't have to come back next time).
However, we have also experienced that a taxi with our parents in it refused the request to slow down and drove even faster, or a driver who threatened violence and threw us out in the middle of an intersection with the same request.
In addition, excellent drivers who take you to any place for the right rate, wait for you for a small fee when shopping or even hours when visiting family, a decent rate and safe driving for a whole day, etc.
But Dick, the taxi meter is well established, but not always in use. How often do people want a fixed amount from the city to the airport, while if the metered ride costs less than half. On Sukhumvit Road in the evening you will be turned away in 1 out of 4 cases if you ask for the meter. Never been able to drive for the normal rate during the rainy season during heavy rain. You will not be taken. Most t-drivers make (mis)use of the circumstances.
But where = true, a taxi in BKK is always 10 times cheaper than in the Netherlands (but not as safe)
@Dick van der Lugt,
Very nice that you've never experienced it, but that doesn't mean it isn't! I've experienced it several times in the 15 years I've been in Thailand! Maybe my disadvantage is that I'm a woman, but I can't imagine that because also with my male Fam. Does it happen and even with my brother's Thai wife. Anyway, everyone should do what he or she wants with my tip, I'm only trying to help with the knowledge and experience I have!
@Ferdinand. I have no reason to doubt your story, but I myself have no interest in spreading inaccuracies.
Perhaps it depends on the distance or destination. A ride from Suv. to 'somewhere' in Bangkok can of course vary quite a bit in terms of price, while it is from Suv. hardly matters anymore whether I have to be in Pattaya North or South.
So maybe Bangkok and nearby destinations are driven on the meter, but not to cities further afield.
A commonly used (maximum) taxi fare is:
Boarding fare: 106 Baht
Per kilometer: 78 Baht
Per minute: 13 Baht.
A ride SUV. to Pattaya (140 kilometers, 90 minutes) then comes to 106 + (140×78) + (90×13) = 106 + 10920 + 1170 = 12.196 Baht, which is about 305.- Euro. Indeed, that is the rate in the Netherlands. 🙂
I had my hotel phone number with me. Called it in the taxi. Gave my phone to the driver. But he did NOT take me to my hotel. That despite having spoken to the man behind the hotel desk several times. Stopped at some point. Got off. Disappeared (with my phone in my pocket). I then also got out and walked back to the point where we had passed under the skytrain. That was a long way. Then took the sky train. Was then soon at my hotel. NEVER again will I take a taxi in Bangkok.
Lije, it's a shame you don't do it anymore, but in the future make sure you have the correct address in English and Thai or a point of recognition for you. Indeed, sometimes they do not want to turn on the meter. Then get out and take the next taxi there are plenty. The so-called friendly tourist taxis blue in color are a disaster not once did they want to comply with our request to turn on the meter. At Bayoki tower a crime to get away. But the solution is get in line the doorman will call a taxi and if they don't turn on the meter they will be fined. Recently we had to go from Montien hotel to China town the meter was on he passed our hotel three times we made it clear to him that we didn't want a tour he stopped and let us out didn't have to pay. A taxi took us from the hotel to the airport he was very friendly but needed to pee. He parked the car, left his keys and purse inside, and quickly returned. Difficult to get a taxi when it rains. Don't worry you're a tourist don't you think get out and take the next one and otherwise wait out the rush hour if you can.