Transport Thailand Tightens Grip on Ride-Hailing with Tough New Rules

[webfact]

Reference picture courtesy of The Nation
 

Thailand's Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) has introduced stringent regulations for ride-hailing services. All drivers must now register their vehicles as public transport and have a public transport driving licence. These new measures are set to take effect 90 days after the announcement on 9 July.

 

The Royal Gazette has detailed that digital platforms for public hire cars and motorcycles must meet requirements under Article 18 (3) of the 2022 Royal Decree on digital platform business operations. This move prioritises security and reliability concerning state interests in security, health, environment, energy, and communications.

 

A joint committee of relevant state agencies has invoked powers under Article 21 of the Royal Decree, following decisions from meetings on 19 November 2024 and 9 April 2025. The announcement imposes conditions for digital platforms, ensuring a higher standard of service safety and compliance with national regulations.

 

Driver responsibilities now include daily face scans, GPS tracking, and mandatory in-app communication, enhancing monitoring and accountability across the board. The rules aim to address concerns over safety and service standards while strengthening state oversight.

 

These changes come as the government seeks to balance technological advancement with public safety, making sure that modernisation does not compromise security. The focus is on maintaining the integrity of services affecting transport, logistics, and public utilities.

 

Ride-hailing companies must now align with these strict standards, reflecting a broader governmental push towards robust digital platform governance. Compliance will be crucial for continued operation, ensuring passenger safety and improved service delivery.

 

With these regulations set to be enforced soon, the industry's adaptability will be tested. Companies must move quickly to update protocols and make necessary adjustments to meet the newly laid-out criteria.

 

The impact on drivers and companies alike could be substantial, with adaptation costs potentially influencing pricing structures. These changes highlight the broader implications of regulatory shifts in the digital economy.

 

The evolving regulatory landscape marks a defining moment for Thailand's digital transportation sector. Both opportunities and challenges lie ahead as stakeholders adjust to these significant new demands.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from [source] 2025-07-10

 

 

[smedly]

18 minutes ago, webfact said:

These changes come as the government seeks to balance technological advancement with public safety, making sure that modernisation does not compromise security. The focus is on maintaining the integrity of services affecting transport, logistics, and public utilities.

works well for bus services - right ?

[Yagoda]

So whats the change?

[ChrisY1]

Meanwhile....normal taxis can continue their cheating and threatening ways unhindered.......

[bamnutsak]

Zero steps forward, two steps back.

 

Thailand 0.0

 

 

[Olmate]

Roadworthy checks of vehicles not mentioned,.. Strange that! I use daily 2/3 times, 50% at least have crap cars.

[DonniePeverley]

Two cars went past me today, both blowing out black smoke. 

 

A minute later those red public busses, not one BUT TWO - come blasting past. Again emitting jet black smoke. 

 

Then a little scooter comes roaring past. A strange white pungent smelling emission coming from it. 

 

FUNNY NOTHING ON THAT. 

[henryford1958]

Will taxis be required to use their meters? thought not.

[redwood1]

The system works fine now....No need for 10 more layers of bureaucratic nonsense.... 

[Olmate]

54 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

The system works fine now....No need for 10 more layers of bureaucratic nonsense.... 

System is fine if your a dumb arse passenger not into safe vehicles.

[ezzra]

Worrds are cheap, as a lot of grips Tightening lately coming out only not to be forced at all like '' strongly enforcing''

wearing helmets and such in Pattaya, very commendable had there were policemen to enforce

the edict.

[BerndD]

Shouldn't the same happen with delivery services like GRAB, etc.? Their motorcycles should also receive special license plates. But as is so often the case: planned, decided, forgotten.

[JAG]

All ride hailing cars are required to have a meter attached to the dashboard with some double sided sticky tape. It shall be covered with a piece cut from an old towel, 'cos it is broken.

 

Another piece of double sided tape shall hold a badly scratched perspex mount, containing a driver's ID which, if visible through the scratched perspex and damaged bubbled laminate bears no resemblance whatsoever to the chap behind the wheel.

 

The suspension will sag and clunk, and the ball joints emit a startling clicking sound when going round corners.

 

When the car arrives, the driver should either demand twice the fare quoted on the ride hailing app, or refuse the journey as he doesn't want to go that way anyway.

 

These measures will ensure that the peerless standards offered by existing taxi services are maintained. 

[connda]

"Daily face scans???"  Wtf? 

[Toby1947]

Not a word on public liability, passenger, or vehicle insurance, not a mention of vehicle roadworthy checks. Just a bunch of clowns 🤡 

[garzhe]

Please, Thailand, don't pass any more laws if there's no will to uphold them, which there rarely is.

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Driver responsibilities now include daily face scans, GPS tracking, and mandatory in-app communication, enhancing monitoring and accountability across the board. The rules aim to address concerns over safety and service standards while strengthening state oversight.

I wonder what the taxi mafia think of this.

[Sir Dude]

Looks more like to me that the taxis mafia has got its way and these new rules look like doing its bidding... seems intentionally complicated now for both drivers and passangers.

[SamSpade]

55 minutes ago, Olmate said:

System is fine if your a dumb arse passenger not into safe vehicles.

I use Bolt 30-40 times pm & I’ve never had a car turn up that was > 3 years old. 
 

If you’re concerned about it, book a Luxury Car (Have booked a few when times are really busy, not my idea of luxury motor but they’ve all been in immaculate condition).

Now as for metered taxis, I’ve been in some really sh1tty cars & I don’t use them at all nowadays (Have contacts for trips to/from airport & when we’re going to Koh Samet / Chang).

[khunjeff]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand's Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) has introduced stringent regulations for ride-hailing services.

 

Yes, clearly an agency that regulates electronic transactions is the most knowledgeable and appropriate group to determine rules for public transport 🙄

 

Anf it's amazing how they need all of these very detailed regulations for ride hailing services - which generally provide quite reliable and efficient service - but zero mention of taxis, which are BY FAR the biggest source of complaints from both Thais and foreigners. It's almost as though this was all pushed through by an influential lobby, rather than by concern for the public 🤔

[BexMan]

As it's not in Bolt or Grabs interest to implement these changes, it will be interesting to see how they handle the oversight and how much fares increase by. Also I expect the changes may slightly reduce the number of vehicles available as some drivers won't want the extra hassle of complying with the new regulations, if they are strictly enforced. 

[Watawattana]

7 hours ago, henryford1958 said:

Will taxis be required to use their meters? thought not.

I thought they are required to use them.  But they simply don't bother, and there's zero enforcement.

[black tabby12345]

12 hours ago, Yagoda said:

So whats the change?

 

Imposing financial burden on the free-lancing drivers.

[Yagoda]

Just now, black tabby12345 said:

 

Imposing financial burden on the free-lancing drivers.

Freelance drivers are illegal aren't they? Don't they have to be either off of a platform or working a license cab? All I'm trying to find out is what this new rule does. Do you know?

[JAG]

6 hours ago, Sir Dude said:

Looks more like to me that the taxis mafia has got its way and these new rules look like doing its bidding... seems intentionally complicated now for both drivers and passangers.

Since the taxi mafia blatantly flout all the regulations which supposedly apply to their cars, one assumes that these regulations applying to ride hailing cars will also be ignored.

 

The differenceis that the likes of Grab and Bolt rely on being more comfortable, reliable and providing a better service than the metered (!) Taxis. That is why people prefer them. The metered taxis have scammed, cheated and been unreliable for years, and now are facing competition. They don't like It!

[0ffshore360]

12 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Two cars went past me today, both blowing out black smoke. 

 

A minute later those red public busses, not one BUT TWO - come blasting past. Again emitting jet black smoke. 

 

Then a little scooter comes roaring past. A strange white pungent smelling emission coming from it. 

 

FUNNY NOTHING ON THAT. 

You missed the p person  on the scooter in front . The one following up was possibly wondering why the  person up front  was so  so aggressive ? The black smoke? oh yeah, sh.t happens .

 

[Oliver Holzerfilled]

13 hours ago, Olmate said:

Roadworthy checks of vehicles not mentioned,.. Strange that! I use daily 2/3 times, 50% at least have crap cars.

 

8 hours ago, redwood1 said:

The system works fine now....No need for 10 more layers of bureaucratic nonsense.... 

 

7 hours ago, Olmate said:

System is fine if your a dumb arse passenger not into safe vehicles.

 

😂

[ericbj]

Forget the gobbledegook exemplified by such expressions as
"The focus is on maintaining the integrity of services affecting transport, logistics, and public utilities."

 

Key phrases are:
"enhancing monitoring and accountability"
"strict standards, reflecting a broader governmental push towards robust digital platform governance"
"The impact … could be substantial, with adaptation costs potentially influencing pricing structures."
"challenges lie ahead as stakeholders adjust to these significant new demands."

 

In other words:
More government controls (including face-scans) paid for by the consumers, who will have less choice, but who are to be persuaded, as usual, this is all for their benefit.

 

Having recently made frequent use of Grab taxis for about a month in my border district - as result of a fractured arm and the need for regular hospital visits and for shopping trips - I can testify to the utility, rapidity and economy of the service.  The cars, of many types, and including now-and-again meter-taxis, were all seemingly new, and the drivers careful, competent, and polite.

[StayinThailand2much]

How about enforcing 'Taxi Meters' always using their meters?

[black tabby12345]

5 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Freelance drivers are illegal aren't they? Don't they have to be either off of a platform or working a license cab? All I'm trying to find out is what this new rule does. Do you know?

 

They legalized it(share ride app) in 2021; during the previous military regime.

So not illegal.