Licensed taxis and airport transfers in Thailand: what is legal and what you pay

What are my options from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)?

Four legal choices: the public taxi rank, the Airport Rail Link, a certified ride-hailing app, or a transfer booked in advance. Anyone who approaches you in the terminal offering a ride is none of these.

How much is the airport surcharge and the luggage fee?

The airport surcharge is 50 THB, paid to the driver on top of the meter, and you also pay every expressway toll. Since 17 November 2020, Bangkok meter taxis on trips to or from BKK and DMK may also charge for luggage, and the driver must tell you before charging:

• up to 20 THB per bag larger than 26 inches;
• up to 20 THB for each piece beyond two;
• up to 100 THB per item of 50 inches or more (golf bags, bicycles, surfboards, instruments, long boxes);
• nothing for carry-on items such as a handbag, laptop bag or backpack.

The taxi counter at Suvarnabhumi can be reached on +66 2 132 0360.

What are my options from Don Mueang Airport (DMK)?

Take a meter taxi from the official rank or the SRT Dark Red Line train. The taxi rank is at Terminal 1 (international), 1st floor, Gate 8, and at Terminal 2 (domestic), next to Gate 15, open 24 hours; you pay the meter + 50 THB airport surcharge + tolls, and the same luggage rules apply.

The Dark Red Line runs from Don Mueang station, next to the airport, to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (Bang Sue Grand) for the MRT: 33 THB for that trip (fares run 12–42 THB), from about 05:00 to 24:00. Until 30 November 2026, paying by contactless (EMV) bank card caps Red and Purple line fares at 40 THB a day; we could not confirm whether foreign cards qualify. The old 20 THB flat fare ended on 30 September 2025.

How much does a Bangkok meter taxi cost?

The meter starts at 35 THB (40 THB in a large taxi) and adds a per-kilometre rate that rises with distance. These rates took effect on 13 January 2023; in October 2025 the Department of Land Transport (DLT) said no increase was planned, and we found no newer revision.

How can I tell if a taxi or transfer car is licensed?

Look at the licence plate. Under the Motor Vehicle Act and its 2011 plate rules, yellow means registered for hire, green with white characters marks a "service car" (transfer, tour or rental car) and white means private.

In practice, a paid van transfer should carry a yellow plate in the 30s, and a paid car transfer (up to 7 seats) a yellow or green plate. That is our reading of the plate rules, not a DLT quotation.

Is Grab legal in Thailand?

Yes. Ride-hailing is legal when the ride is booked through a DLT-certified app, in a registered vehicle, with a driver who holds a public driving licence. The legal basis is a 2021 ministerial regulation that lets private cars register as ride-hailing cars (Ry.18; motorcycles Ry.17).

• 31 March 2026: platform rules took effect; apps must suspend non-compliant drivers.
• 30 September 2026: deadline for drivers to hold public licences.
• 1 October 2026: stricter enforcement starts, with fines or jail and possible loss of app certification.

The latest full DLT list we found (February 2024) names 11 certified apps, including Grab, Bolt, LINE MAN, inDrive, Maxim and TADA; it may have changed since. At Suvarnabhumi, Airports of Thailand designates the Grab pickup at Level 1, Gate 4, and states that the Grab cars there are DLT-certified.

What are the red flags?

Most bad airport rides start with someone who finds you rather than a vehicle you chose.

• A driver or "agent" approaching you in the arrivals hall or at the baggage belt.
• A rank taxi that quotes a flat price and refuses to use the meter.
• A white-plate car offering a ride without an app booking.
• A luggage charge for a backpack or carry-on bag, or a charge you were not told about before the trip.
• A "shortcut" or unexpected stop at a shop, gem store or tailor.

If something goes wrong, note the plate and taxi number, keep the receipt, and call the Tourist Police on 1155. The tourist scams guide covers the taxi and tuk-tuk tricks in more detail.

How do I pre-book a private transfer the approved way?

Book with an operator that states the full price per vehicle in writing, includes tolls, gives free waiting time at the airport and publishes its cancellation terms. Check these points before you confirm:

• A fixed price per vehicle, one way, tolls included, not "per person" or "plus tolls".
• A written confirmation with date, time, vehicle, price and meeting point.
• Free waiting time and a person who checks your flight.
• Clear cancellation terms, with a stated free-cancellation window.
• The right vehicle size: count suitcases as well as people.
• Child seats requested in writing, fee stated. The law requires a seat for children aged 6 and under in private cars but exempts taxis and public transport, and it is not settled whether transfer cars are exempt.
• No full prepayment to a company you cannot reach by phone or chat.

How the Smile Taxi Service network handles these points

Smile Taxi Service and its regional booking sites publish terms that match the checklist: a fixed price per vehicle, one way, tolls included; nothing charged when you book; pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end, or ask on WhatsApp or LINE for a PayPal card link (5% added); free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup; 60 minutes of free waiting at airport pickups, with a person checking your flight. Child seats are on request, 100 THB per seat on the regional booking sites (the fee is shown when you book). A sedan takes 3 passengers and 2 bags, an SUV 5 and 4, a van 7 and 5. An English-speaking driver can be requested, subject to availability, and the meeting point is confirmed with your booking. The operator is rated 5.0 on Google and Tripadvisor.

For Bangkok's airports, Bangkok Taxi Services is the network's Bangkok desk; nationwide routes are on Thailand Taxi Services. See also our trusted services page.

Transparency: Smile Taxi Service and the regional transfer sites named on this page are affiliated with Approved Thailand. Everything we say about them comes from the operator's published terms; we do not inspect vehicles.

Which regional airports have pre-booked transfers?

Walk-up taxis or ride-hailing usually cost less for the short run into town. A pre-booked car earns its price on longer runs, late arrivals and trips with children or heavy luggage.

Sukhothai Airport has flights from Suvarnabhumi and Phitsanulok from Don Mueang, so choose by where your flight leaves. At Udon Thani a shared van runs to Nong Khai until about 17:00, and Thai taxis stop at the Thai immigration checkpoint at the bridge; they do not cross into Laos.

Private car, bus, train or flight for long distances?

Fly for trips over about 600 km, such as Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Phuket or Ubon Ratchathani. Under about 300 km, a private car priced per vehicle is often simplest for families and groups; buses and trains are the budget options.

Distances and realistic drive times for every region are on our destinations page.