Thailand's Department of Land Transport is seeking public views on a proposal to ban petrol-powered tuk tuks in central Bangkok,particularly around major historic and tourist sites.

The consultation, opened by the Ministry of Transport, runs from July 28 to August 27 through the Department of Land Transport's official website. Officials say the proposal is intended to reduce air and noise pollution in the inner city.

The area under consideration includes locations close to Wat Phra Kaew and several royal temples, among Bangkok's most visited landmarks.

No final decision has been made

Department of Land Transport Director Sorrapong Paithunpong said the measure remains at the legal consultation stage, after confusion led some members of the public and tuk tuk drivers to believe a ban was already in force.

He said petrol tuk tuks could either be completely prohibited in the designated zone or restricted at certain times. Any eventual rules would have a clearly defined implementation period, with advance notice for those affected.

The government also intends to promote electric tuk tuks as part of its environmental policy.

Sorrapong said most tuk tuks operating in Bangkok still use internal combustion engines, contributing to air pollution. Many vehicles currently in service are between 10 and 50 years old and no longer meet modern safety expectations, he added.

What visitors and expats may need to know

For foreign visitors, residents and tour operators, the proposal could eventually change how tuk tuks operate near the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew and other central Bangkok attractions. At present, however, petrol tuk tuks remain legal and there is no confirmed start date for any restriction.

If approved, the change would likely mean that electric tuk tuks become more common in the affected central areas. The proposal does not yet set out a final boundary, operating hours or requirements for drivers.

Tuk tuks remain a familiar part of Bangkok's tourist appeal, but passengers should remember that fares are generally negotiated before travelling rather than set by meter.

Drivers raise cost concerns

The plan has produced mixed reactions online. Supporters said limiting petrol-powered tuk tuks could improve Bangkok's air quality and lower noise levels, while critics questioned whether focusing on tuk tuks alone would significantly affect the capital's broader pollution problem.

Many commenters also described tuk tuks as an important symbol of Bangkok's identity and tourism industry.

Drivers said they were concerned about their livelihoods, having depended on the vehicles for many years. They also said buying the electric replacements encouraged by the government would be difficult to afford.

Join the discussion?

1 August 2026

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11 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

Thailand's Department of Land Transport is seeking public views on a proposal to ban petrol-powered tuk tuks in central Bangkok,particularly

It would be a very sad day if you couldn't take your drunk good friend, on first vacation to Thailand and not go back to your hotel in the middle of the night doing a wheelie in the back of a petrol powered tuk tuk

Edited July 31Jul 31 by SAFETY FIRST

Have they got rid of all the large diesel busses yet?

Good idea!

Make tuk tuks silent so they can sneak up on you better. 👍

I thought most tuk tuks had been converted to run on LPG.

Half of the fun of riding a tuk tuk is the noise it makes,if they go electric then someone should think of another name as they won't make the 'tuk tuk' sounds any more.

10 minutes ago, johng said:

I thought most tuk tuks had been converted to run on LPG.

Half of the fun of riding a tuk tuk is the noise it makes,if they go electric then someone should think of another name as they won't make the 'tuk tuk' sounds any more.

We'll have to ride the hmmmmmm

Hmmmmmm, I think I'll pass on that one.

They race up and down my Soi in Silom at night, sometimes so loud you cannot hear TV. If they installed mufflers and drove responsibly I think the problem would be lessened. Rarely see police in Silom - I wonder where they are hiding.

3 hours ago, johng said:

I thought most tuk tuks had been converted to run on LPG.

Exactly. All the social media muppets will rush to agree and nothing will happen as 98.8% of Tuk-Tuks are not petrol powered anyway. Like most Taxi's they run on some form of gas. BMA gets brownie points and the world continues to turn.

Tuk tuks are more of a tourist thing in Bangkok

Most people would prefer grab taxis ect comfort and less expensive

Maybe in Phuket and Pattaya more tourists would use journeys not to far usually bar resteraunt to hotel not expensive plus short journey 🥳

Tuk-tuks are one of the very few things that I thoroughly hate about Thailand. In my area there are very many. Apart from reckless driving and cheating the unbearable and unnecessary noise they make are a real annoyance. Sometimes the engine noise is enhanced by loud booming "music". Fun for a few, annoyance for many. Even and often in the middle of the night. I don't really know about the pollution, but sometimes you do see dirty smoke coming out. I can't wait for this to happen, but as with many of these plans it probably won't, I understand the problems of these drivers having to invest in modern technology.

9 minutes ago, shackleton said:

Tuk tuks are more of a tourist thing in Bangkok

Most people would prefer grab taxis ect comfort and less expensive

Tuk Tuks are very useful for some who use them to take stuff from say Klong Toie market. They all have a lowerable tailgate. A taxi/Grab doesn't want kilos of dripping fish/vegetables in their car. The cargo volume of a tuk tuk far exceeds that of a common taxi.

11 minutes ago, Dirk Z said:

Tuk-tuks are one of the very few things that I thoroughly hate about Thailand. In my area there are very many. ....... the unbearable and unnecessary noise they make are a real annoyance.

When I lived in Indonesia the call to prayer from the mosque may have seemed an annoyance to some. I viewed it as part of the exotic experience. Tuk Tuks in Thailand I consider to be the same.

If I heard the call to prayers today it would still bring back memories. Similar in a way to the loudspeaker announcements in our village. Fortunately I don't understand Thai so like the BTS adverts the content alludes me so cant annoy me.

5 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Have they got rid of all the large diesel busses yet?

Couldn't agree more. The large diesel buses have to go. The amount of pollution generated from these buses is horrendous. No discussion, just a trip to the scrap yard. End of story.

36 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Tuk Tuks are very useful for some who use them to take stuff from say Klong Toie market. They all have a lowerable tailgate. A taxi/Grab doesn't want kilos of dripping fish/vegetables in their car. The cargo volume of a tuk tuk far exceeds that of a common taxi.

When I lived in Indonesia the call to prayer from the mosque may have seemed an annoyance to some. I viewed it as part of the exotic experience. Tuk Tuks in Thailand I consider to be the same.

If I heard the call to prayers today it would still bring back memories. Similar in a way to the loudspeaker announcements in our village. Fortunately I don't understand Thai so like the BTS adverts the content alludes me so cant annoy me.

Comparing apples and oranges. Prayer calls are at fixed times and more or less of fixed duration. Tuk-tuks roar though my soi day and night in various numbers and with varying decibels (but always too many).

4 minutes ago, Dirk Z said:

Tuk-tuks roar though my soi day and night in various numbers and with varying decibels (but always too many).

We I'm sorry I can't help you. Location, location, location.

Triple glazing would help or double glazing with differing glass thickness.

Edited August 1Aug 1 by VocalNeal

27 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

We I'm sorry I can't help you. Location, location, location.

Triple glazing would help or double glazing with differing glass thickness.

Or removing the cause of the annoyance. Makes more sense. And I also go outside to walk the streets. If the neighbor's house is on fire you put it out instead of insulating your own.

6 minutes ago, Dirk Z said:

If the neighbor's house is on fire you put it out instead of insulating your own.

Sorry silly analogy. The neighbors house is already on fire and maybe cannot be saved but yours if close enough........

Like many things in life once you start to fixate on things they get bigger and bigger the best way is to chill and ignore them and then you won't notice.

As in people not reacting to their own children's noise or their own dog barking

But it is your life.

Edited August 1Aug 1 by VocalNeal

They need to visit Shanghai and see how nice--and quiet--a city can be when all the motorcycles--not just tuk-tuks--are electric. Plus, cleaner air, of course. Bangkok needs to move towards making electric motorcycles mandatory for the inner city area. Be bold for a change.

9 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

It would be a very sad day if you couldn't take your drunk good friend, on first vacation to Thailand and not go back to your hotel in the middle of the night doing a wheelie in the back of a petrol powered tuk tuk

Agree 100% - iconic to BKK.

It'd be like removing Nana plaza - lol.

Edited August 1Aug 1 by PJ71

9 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Have they got rid of all the large diesel busses yet?

The vast majority of those those large diesel-engined buses have been running on LPG for years.

4 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

Exactly. All the social media muppets will rush to agree and nothing will happen as 98.8% of Tuk-Tuks are not petrol powered anyway. Like most Taxi's they run on some form of gas. BMA gets brownie points and the world continues to turn.

Unfortunately, LPG doesn't affect the racket they make.

4 hours ago, shackleton said:

Tuk tuks are more of a tourist thing in Bangkok

Most people would prefer grab taxis ect comfort and less expensive

Maybe in Phuket and Pattaya more tourists would use journeys not to far usually bar resteraunt to hotel not expensive plus short journey 🥳

That's not the case for a massive number of ordinary Thais who are probably the most frequent uses of tuk-tuks.

3 hours ago, riverhigh said:

Couldn't agree more. The large diesel buses have to go. The amount of pollution generated from these buses is horrendous. No discussion, just a trip to the scrap yard. End of story.

The large diesel-engined buses run on clean LPG fuel in the vast majority of cases and have done for years so they do not generate particularly horrendous amounts of pollution. End of story.

Edited August 1Aug 1 by Liverpool Lou

Something really does have to change. Walking in Krung Thep is not pleasant near any main road. Low level exhaust pollution is horrendous, year round.

I use to really enjoy strolling around the city. Now we arrive, have munch & socialize with daughter & son, then out the next day usually. Rarely stay a second night, as she used to just have Sundays off.

Edited August 1Aug 1 by KhunLA

24 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

The large diesel-engined buses run on clean LPG fuel in the vast majority of cases and have done for years so they do not generate particularly horrendous amounts of pollution. End of story.

https://www.pattayamail.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/t-05-Bangkok-officials-check-vehicles-for-black-smoke-emissions-.jpg

Old diesel buses are a primary contributor to Bangkok's hazardous PM2.5 air pollution crisis. These aging vehicles, notoriously nicknamed "hot buses" due to their lack of air conditioning, frequently release thick black smoke caused by incomplete fuel combustion. This creates a severe respiratory health hazard for millions of commuters and residents daily.

Edited August 1Aug 1 by riverhigh

12 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

It would be a very sad day if you couldn't take your drunk good friend, on first vacation to Thailand and not go back to your hotel in the middle of the night doing a wheelie in the back of a petrol powered tuk tuk

BYD Tuk Tuk vs Rimac Tuk Tuk.

6 hours ago, Dirk Z said:

Tuk-tuks are one of the very few things that I thoroughly hate about Thailand. In my area there are very many. Apart from reckless driving and cheating the unbearable and unnecessary noise they make are a real annoyance. Sometimes the engine noise is enhanced by loud booming "music". Fun for a few, annoyance for many. Even and often in the middle of the night. I don't really know about the pollution, but sometimes you do see dirty smoke coming out. I can't wait for this to happen, but as with many of these plans it probably won't, I understand the problems of these drivers having to invest in modern technology.

I have never had a tuk tuk even attempt to cheat me. The key is to talk about baht before you climb in. Not after you get out. I believe they do a good service.

Gotta try them at least once.A proper Bangkok experience .

Apart from needing a gas mask,extortionate price,risking your life and torture for your arse,they are fantastic .

On 8/1/2026 at 6:16 AM, jacko45k said:

Have they got rid of all the large diesel busses yet?

No. Google says there are still over 1,500 of the very old, polluting BMTA dinosaurs, plus another 2,800 to 7,800 other registered diesel buses.

20 hours ago, riverhigh said:

https://www.pattayamail.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/t-05-Bangkok-officials-check-vehicles-for-black-smoke-emissions-.jpg

Old diesel buses are a primary contributor to Bangkok's hazardous PM2.5 air pollution crisis.

https://www.pattayamail.com/wp-content/uploads/2021

Thank you, I do know what black diesel smoke looks like. I also know what '2021' in your link means; it means that the article is at least 5 years old and the photo used in the article could be years older than that, so thank you for confirming my point.