Thailand will begin enforcing new rules for app-based ride-hailing services from March 31, 2026, requiring stricter checks on drivers, vehicles and digital platforms. Drivers must hold a public driving licence, vehicles must be correctly registered for public use, and platforms must verify compliance or suspend non-compliant drivers. The move is expected to increase passenger safety and standardise a rapidly growing sector.

Get today's headlines by email

Ride-sharing services, defined as passenger transport arranged via apps rather than traditional taxis or vans, expanded quickly during the COVID-19 period without a clear legal framework. The new regulations mark the first time Thailand has introduced specific legal structures for the sector. Officials from ETDA and the Department of Land Transport outlined the changes during ETDA Live, with PostToday summarising the measures.

A key requirement is that drivers must obtain a public driving licence rather than rely on a private one. This includes criminal background checks and age thresholds: at least 20 for motorcycle drivers and 22 for car drivers. Vehicles must also meet strict criteria, with cars registered as Ry.18 (registration category for cars used in app-based public passenger services) limited to nine years old and motorcycles under Ry.17 (the registration category for motorcycles used in app-based public passenger services) restricted to 50–125cc engines.

Authorities stress that vehicle re-registration is essential to ensure proper insurance, inspections and legal protection. “A public driving licence is not just a piece of paper. It is tied to checks on a driver’s background. That is something passengers should be able to feel confident about,” said Yutthana Mowong of the Bangkok Land Transport Office Area 5. Thakoon Kaewsai added that registration changes are designed to ensure “everyone is genuinely protected when an incident occurs.”

Digital platforms will face greater responsibility under the rules. They must verify driver licences, confirm vehicle registration, provide fare and journey details, and maintain complaint channels. Failure to comply could result in legal action, including orders to suspend operations, withdrawal of business notification, or penalties of up to one year in prison, a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both.

The Nation reported that from March 31, non-compliant drivers will not be permanently banned but temporarily suspended from receiving jobs until requirements are met. Authorities say this creates a shared enforcement system between regulators and platforms. Vehicles under finance can still be registered, provided drivers obtain authorisation and documentation from finance companies, while a proposal to raise the motorcycle engine limit to 250cc remains under consideration.

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

Adapted by ASEAN Now Nation 26 Mar 2026

View full article

12 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

The move is expected to increase passenger safety and standardise a rapidly growing sector.

For me, I expect it will increase prices and take us back to the days of unsatisfactory service!

Thailand loves to fix things that are not broken.

Thais hate pointless rules, so loads will not comply, thankfully..

i am wondering if my family of friends come to Thailand and I pick them up at the airport, what kind of driverslicense I need. Rules and regulations in Thailand are always unclear... Some time ago we could read about a manager who took people to the airport as a service, but that was seen as an illegal taxi...

Seriously? Every time I come across the phrase "Thailand will enforce the law," it makes me chuckle. So far, the country hasn't even effectively enforced existing laws, like helmet usage or riding on the sidewalk.

Thought this was already in place since mid last year... Guess it was postponed?

3 hours ago, jacko45k said:

For me, I expect it will ... take us back to the days of unsatisfactory service!

How could such a sensible amendment to the regulations do that?

This seems like a solution in search of a problem. In my personal experience, the drivers and vehicles from Grab are far better and safer than most of those in the metered taxi business 🤷

3 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Thailand loves to fix things that are not broken.

Thais hate pointless rules, so loads will not comply, thankfully..

Why would you be thankful for unlicenced, uninsured drivers, possibly using ancient vehicles who could have serious criminal records? I don't see a lot there to be thankful for.

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

i am wondering if my family of friends come to Thailand and I pick them up at the airport, what kind of driverslicense I need. Rules and regulations in Thailand are always unclear... Some time ago we could read about a manager who took people to the airport as a service, but that was seen as an illegal taxi...

You'd need a normal drivers licence, very obviously, unless you were collecting them as a commercial service. There is nothing unclear about the current regulations, or the proposed amended regulations, in the context of you and your "family of friends" [sic].

8 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

This seems like a solution in search of a problem. In my personal experience, the drivers and vehicles from Grab are far better and safer than most of those in the metered taxi business 🤷

Agreed... until you come across the unchecked driver with a dodgy background whose inclinations get the better of him.

How many times have I read this? Relatively little has been done. Seems to be working just fine without nanny state over-regulation!

No vehicles over 9 Years old. Why dont they enforce that on all taxis. I bet some of the ones I have used in Bangkok and the provinces could easily gain a place in a motor museum!!

They should enact this on April 1st. 😝

Ride hailing apps. Love ‘em or hate ‘em. Can’t live with them and can’t live without them.

4 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Thailand loves to fix things that are not broken.

Thais hate pointless rules, so loads will not comply, thankfully..

They like to go even further, they generally take something that is running perfectly OK, they take a look at what other "REAL Countries" are doing, then they try to effect the same - Sadly, most of the tech. and infrastructure were simply handed to them, they never had to be in on the ground floor, they never matured with the tech. So they have no idea of how things develop or improve. They just simply try to copy, then they make a pigs ear of it, so more and more of them put in their tuppence ha'penny and it all turns to <deleted>! Too many cooks, or too many useless incompetent cooks at that.

9 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

motorcycles under Ry.17 (the registration category for motorcycles used in app-based public passenger services) restricted to 50–125cc engines.

Who came up with this BS....

7 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Why would you be thankful for unlicenced, uninsured drivers, possibly using ancient vehicles who could have serious criminal records? I don't see a lot there to be thankful for.

You literally just described half of the taxi mafias in tourist areas.

FFS. The only things this will achieve: 1. Fewer drivers, 2. Worse service, 3. Delays, 4. Paranoid drivers. (I still remember back before Covid when a Grab driver was pulled over at a police checkpoint near Ekkamai - he told police I was his boss and he was driving me because he was afraid they'd bust him for driving Grab!)

10 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

i am wondering if my family of friends come to Thailand and I pick them up at the airport, what kind of driverslicense I need. Rules and regulations in Thailand are always unclear... Some time ago we could read about a manager who took people to the airport as a service, but that was seen as an illegal taxi...

Park in the car park. Walk to your family/ friends, greet them, walk back to where you parked your car. No problem.

On 3/26/2026 at 10:09 AM, CLW said:

Who came up with this BS....

It really does sound like nonsense! I'm always happy when I see a Honda PCX 160, Forza 250, or Yamaha NMAX with a big seat show up to my call, rather than an old, underpowered Wave 125 or Honda Scoopy 110.

41 minutes ago, Farangus said:

It really does sound like nonsense! I'm always happy when I see a Honda PCX 160, Forza 250, or Yamaha NMAX with a big seat show up to my call, rather than an old, underpowered Wave 125 or Honda Scoopy 110.

I usually pull a muscle trying to get on the back of a Honda PCX 160, Forza 250, or Yamaha NMAX with a big seat. I fall off at the end of the ride which is easier?