Taxi in Bangkok – rules and laws
What you may not know is that there is a law in Thailand that sets the rules for taxis are included.
There are more than 100.000 taxis in Bangkok alone. 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.
Taxi drivers
As in every country, there are good and bad taxi drivers in Thailand. My experiences are mostly positive, but there will also be readers with less good stories. When a taxi driver behaves properly and drives decently, he always gets a tip from me. I usually round up the meter amount.
But if you have a bad experience, there is a central hotline in Bangkok where you can report complaints about taxi drivers, call the hotline: 1584 of the Passenger Protection Center. Or the traffic police hotline: 1197. The number of the taxi is on the inside of the door just below the window. In any case, you need this.
The life of a taxi driver is not a bed of roses. Many hours, traffic jams, air pollution and unfavorable working hours. Earnings aren't too bad either. With a bit of luck, the driver makes a turnover of 1.000 to 1.500 THB per day. The rent of the taxi and other expenses still have to be paid off, there is not much left. Only by working a considerable number of overtime hours can we manage to keep our heads above water.
Prohibited by Thai law
What taxi drivers are and are not allowed to do is included in a special taxi law. The following things are prohibited under this law:
- Refuse to take a passenger.
- Threatening or harassing a passenger.
- Putting his arm, hand, elbow, or other body part out of the window while driving.
- Ride with only one hand on the wheel unless necessary.
- Press the horn to chase other road users.
- Carrying more passengers than permitted by the permit.
- Asking for more money than the meter indicates.
- Smoking and/or playing loud music that may disturb passengers.
- Entering private property without permission.
- Unnecessary detour.
- Allowing passengers to disembark earlier than the final destination.
Source: Thailand at random
My experiences with taxis in Bangkok are almost all fine. Only a few times she didn't want to take us with her because the area we wanted to go to has quite a lot of traffic jams, nice that I now know that that is not allowed by law. Happened to me in the Netherlands as well.
I much prefer a taxi to a tuk-tuk in Bangkok, the taxi is more comfortable and generally cheaper. Drivers are always friendly. Yes, they can learn something from it in the Netherlands.
Although I now know the prices, I continue to be amazed at how cheap taxis are in Thailand.
Taxis are VERY cheap compared to many other countries.
The only problem is that they regularly give a site seeing tour to get more km.
I know my way around reasonably well and that is why I notice this and intervene.
Pai Nai I say with a clear look.
Enough to hear stammered excuses and the course is then immediately shifted towards my destination. 🙂
French, I will remember Pai Nai. Sometimes difficult during rush hour and at Bayoki tower even though we are standing in line. Don't stop at no discussion and take the next one there are plenty of taxis.
i have generally had good experiences with taxis in the 35 years i have been coming to thailand.
I felt like an accomplished traveler who was hard to fool until I read an article about things to watch out for when taking a taxi, e.g. be wary if the driver says a certain attraction is closed that day and take you somewhere else. this happened to me the day before i read the article in question. i wanted to go to a simple zoo with my son and the driver took me to an amusement park 15 km outside of bangkok and also bought the tickets for me, insanely expensive with extras such as a tour of plastic animals, etc.
I felt called and this proved that you should always be on your guard, but very stupid of me.
We generally have no problems with taxis in Thailand,
but a tuktuk is a thing of the past for us after my handbag has been ripped out.
Doesn't the law in Thailand also say that prostitution is prohibited?
Well, I think the Taxi boys here break all the rules that exist.
Have 95% good experiences myself, but there is also more than enough going on in NL, in the taxi thing.
They are free birds! do not forget that.
In general, I am also very satisfied with the service of the taxi.s
However, I have now noticed a new phenomenon, the so-called service charge that you have to pay on top of what is stated on the meter. Service charge is usually 20 baht so not much. Only once did I have a negative experience with a taxi driver deliberately drove wrong and then did not want a substantial amount on top of that of the taxi meter. Nothing but praise for the rest
I'm curious about the service charge. I have never experienced that and I have not read in a taxi on the ticket with rules about it. I only know of a 50 baht surcharge from Don Muang, but it is clearly indicated. Anyone else ever had to deal with a service charge or know anything about this? It is useful to know how to respond if asked.
I've never heard of that either, I was in Thailand for a month in April and never had to deal with it.
Sounds like some kind of forced tip. In general, I do give a tip of around that amount or more, depending on the rounding.
20 Baht can be charged if you order the taxi by phone (Radio Taxi).
That's that rectangular box in the Taxi, on which a text appears every time someone asks for a taxi.
The taxi driver may or may not respond to this.
So if you ask for a taxi over the phone, an extra 20 Baht will be charged.
Normally (or should) hang out in every taxi. Normally stated on the ticket with the prices
The 50 Baht you pay at the airport is before you board, and is therefore not for the taxi driver.
The taxi driver will probably also have to pay that 20 Baht for the use of the RadioTaxi, or at least part of it.
If the 50 or 20 Baht is charged without using the above cases, you are being scammed
Since I have never called a taxi before, I never had to deal with that 20 baht. I always hail taxis on the side. But it could very well be that Trienekens did and that that is the “service charge”.
I always pay the 50 baht from Don Muang to the driver, it is not asked for before boarding. Maybe it's different on Suwannaphum?
Very good experiences with taxis in Bangkok.
Ridiculously cheap. They usually get an excellent tip from me.
I round off a ride of 60 or 70 bath to 100 bath.
Sometimes I do get refused, especially during peak hours.
Never take a tuk-tuk! Much more expensive than a taxi and they keep trying to cheat you.
I have been in Thailand for many years and have only had good experiences with the taxi drivers, yes they sometimes drive fast, but most Thai people do that in a car. I have sometimes sat in a taxi with crooked toes, one time from Bangkok to Hua Hin I will never forget drinking coffee at 140 km/h, calling and overtaking left and right I was glad I was there (quickly by the way) and another story are the mini-taxi vans, which I have reluctantly sat in a number of times, usually to or from Bangkok, very dangerous.
But coming back to the "regular" meter taxi, I prefer to get into a taxi in Bangkok than a taxi in Amsterdam.
Many of us have been terrified in the former kamikaze vans.
Since the law has become strict for them, they drive remarkably neatly.
The last 3 times that I have now returned to Bangkok and back to Hua Hin, even I can sometimes sleep in the van, but with a seat belt on.
It may also become known that things have gotten better.
I couldn't resist giving the driver a compliment and a tip.
I also have very good experiences with taxis in Bangkok.
Which, by the way, is also forbidden NOT to drive on the meter, so to negotiate an amount. Happened to me sometimes when I had to go home late at night.
That extra 20 Baht is not a service charge, but only has to be paid if you have called for a taxi yourself (and therefore not, as usual, hail a taxi along the road). The driver has to pay the telephone exchange 20 baht.
In addition to renting a taxi, there are also taxi drivers who own the car. Of course also have costs but no rent. These are also the professional taxi drivers. For the tenants it is often a part-time job or a job that they do not do every day.
To avoid difficulties I ALWAYS call my wife when I'm on my way home by taxi and give her the number of the taxi.
Always had good experiences in Bangkok. But in rush hour in China town you cannot find taxi meters, to get away you have to agree on an agreed price.
I would like to know what the different colors mean. are the green/yellow ones for the center? And does this also apply to all other combinations?
Very good experiences and a few bad ones in 18 years: two lost their way, one wanted to hold onto the change at the expressway of 500 THB.
And if you come with a long ride from the taxi just before their return time, people sometimes want to refuse.
But also: times in a hurry and said 100 baht tip if we are at that hotel before 17:30 PM. He gently pushed my hand back. At 17:35 we were there, and .. he had really done his best. So.. 100 TH extra.
Several years in advance I sent a message to “my” taxi driver. It was agreed that he would pick me up at my hotel between 07:00 and 07:30. Early there = breakfast with it. Drove with it all day, and .. he knew the way PERFECTLY: if necessary, crawl through-sneak through intermediate roads. Was also a “tour operator” during those business trips. Even kept an eye on the departure times for the trip to the next one. Included with lunch and dinner. Spent his money on profit in travel time: meter off, and simple on km + daily rate, and I took care of payment for a full tank (also cost little). 4500 THB day trip Chonburi – Sri Racha – Sattahip – Rayong, 06:00 away, 24:00 home, or: 4 visits in one day ! I dozed while he drove and he while I had the meetings.
The last experience I had with taxis in Bangkok was at the beginning of March this year.
When me and my Thai stepson stood in front of a renowned hotel in the morning, where I had spent the night, around 08.00 am.
And asked for a ride to the Dutch embassy , nobody knew where that was .
I said do you know the American Embasssy .
Yes they found it.
I say to my stepson , then we go there .
Once we have arrived there , I will indicate the direction and the place where we need to be .
He was able to quickly find the new showroom and location of importer Harley Davidson , that was the second taxi driver that day .
Harley swoi swoi he said .
The total taxi costs , and there were a few that day , were not too bad thanks to my Thai stepson .
I think if I had to do it alone I would have lost more than double.
But taxi drivers are the same all over the world, not just in Bangkok.
Jan Beute.
Jan Beute,
taxi drivers are not the same everywhere in the world; it must be everywhere in the world you will also find scammers, so also among the taxi drivers. in general, the level in that industry, including in Thailand, is getting better and better and there is no need to label these people. that also applies to all professions.
In contrast to the Bangkok taxis, the Hua Hin taxis are very expensive, they drive without a meter and just ask, they are even ridiculously expensive, a trip of three km costs about 250 baht.
that is a good 6 €, which you can drive to the corner of the street in the Netherlands, so to speak.
incidentally, a 3 km drive in hua hin, where I come almost every year, is usually to a beach or hotel outside the built-up area, from which the driver often returns empty. and you've obviously never heard of haggling? i ride from hua hin center to 5 km out of town for max; 120 baht!!! even if one asked for 200bht first, never 250bht!
Dear Marc, could it be that the authorities involved turn a blind eye to this, and in other words are more corrupt than in other places? Or there must be a taxi mafia; if everyone maintains this system.
Do you think it's a punishment anyway that to drive from where you live to the beach, for example, is about 7 km that would cost 500 THB? Luckily you have a car and scooter. Regards, David.
Compared to a year ago, I think the taxis have become more difficult.
Especially at Siam Paragon they want to drive purely and alone without a meter.
The amount they ask to go from Siam to Chinese market is between 150 and 200 bath.
The normal fare is about 70 baht.
Refusals are also more rule than order.
From Ratchatewi (so 5 minutes walk) it is no problem.
Conversely, from Chinese Market back to Siam is more difficult than before.
The Tuk Tuk also ask for extreme prices.
The ride can sometimes be made for 250 baht.
Last week from Hua Lampong to Chinese market for 250 bath. Not. The same ride by taxi only costs 45 baht.
Since I use this mode of transport almost every day, it is striking that it has become a lot more difficult with higher asking prices (without a meter)
Simply letting 12 taxis pass by sometimes is the solution.
It is true that you have to pay a 50 bath fee from an airport, this is not for the driver but is paid at the airport.
Refusing to drive a certain route has happened to me 1 time. This was from Don Muang airport to Pak Kret.
The driver (with a nicely decorated Hello Kitty taxi) did not want to cross the Chaeng Wattana road.
Found them dangerous. Nor did she want to go behind the Government complex. Conclusion a ride of 1.5 hours. Have asked a number of times that I would like to go home anyway.. I didn't have to complain because she knew the way.
Although I also knew the way, she didn't care about anything.
At one point I took a picture of the yellow number plate in the car after which she went completely crazy and she got very angry. Started immediately about the police and stuff. I said we can drive right up there.
Then she started telling me that I didn't have to pay. Just refused, the meter price was 350 bath and it was thrown back in the car by her. Grabbed it again and gave it and walked away.
Whether she eventually took it from the backseat will never be clear to me.
Furthermore, mostly only positive drivers.
Few years ago we came back from chiang mai and took a taxi to don muang.the driver opened the suitcase and we put our luggage inside.also my shoulder bag with money and passport.it was 8 pm and dark.we left and few kms furthermore he stopped in an abandoned parking lot.he said he couldn't go any further and his friend would transport us further to pattaya.
he opened the suitcase and my friend took his bag i took my suitcase.then the man slammed his suitcase with my shoulder bag still in it.he quickly jumped into his taxi and disappeared with my money and passport.filed a complaint at the airport but nothing heard more about it.also a short ride in pattaya costs 10 bath.
I once gave 100 b through the window and… in 1 flash he was already gone. So pay attention and pay with the exact amount
I've never experienced this too. one motto stay on your guard everywhere and at all times and the chance of this happening is very small. for 22 years i have crossed 90 countries, been in countries at war, in countries with a bad reputation, such as nigeria, uganda and somalia, but i was always on the alert and never did anyone steal a dime from me. looking for money, my suitcase was broken open in a five star hotel in singapore, but nothing was taken, because most thieves are after money.
and in thailand I have never experienced anything of that nature, except of course the detour if it was noticed that you do not know the way, but that has not happened to me for a long time.
always write down the number of the taxi and even write down the number plate, if there is an opportunity. the worst experience I have had in the Netherlands, but still not worth mentioning.