Stricter Regulations imposed on Ride-hailing Operators for Driver Licensing
The Electronic Transactions Commission, under the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, has announced a new regulation that will significantly impact the ride-hailing sector in Thailand. Effective October 2, 2025, ride-hailing drivers must register their vehicles as public transport and obtain a valid public transport driving license.
This regulation, part of the Electronic Transactions Development Agency's announcement under the Royal Decree on Digital Platform Services, aims to bring ride-hailing platforms under stricter regulatory oversight due to their growing impact on public safety, health, and urban transport infrastructure.
### Key Details of the Regulation:
All ride-hailing drivers must possess a public transport driving license, which legitimises their role as public transport operators. Vehicles used for ride-hailing must also be registered as public vehicles according to Department of Land Transport regulations. Fare collection by ride-hailing services must comply with legal transport fare rates, ensuring transparency and fairness.
Platforms are required to implement official identity verification methods for drivers, including face-to-face checks or verification via government applications like ThaID. Drivers should expect to pay fees for vehicle registration (several thousand Thai Baht) and license issuance (100–500 THB). Non-compliance after the October 2025 deadline may result in fines or suspension of driver and platform licenses.
### Implications:
The regulation aims to elevate safety and accountability by requiring public transport licenses, improving driver qualification standards and enhancing passenger safety. It brings ride-hailing services within the broader public transport framework, aligning them with traditional taxis and buses in terms of legal oversight and operational standards.
The operational impact on drivers and platforms includes navigating administrative steps and associated costs, potentially increasing entry barriers but also professionalising the industry. Platforms must ensure compliance, including driver license verification and fare regulation adherence, increasing their regulatory responsibilities.
The rules reflect Thailand’s push toward safer, more efficient urban transport systems, as part of a comprehensive plan to balance innovation in digital transport platforms with public welfare and infrastructure concerns.
Passengers can view estimated fares, choose vehicle types, and submit complaints more easily via the platforms. Platform operators must submit annual reports to the Department of Land Transport and adhere to legally defined fare structures. The regulation also mandates ride-hailing platforms to maintain 24-hour incident reporting hotlines and implement emergency assistance features.
In summary, the regulation represents a significant shift in Thai ride-hailing governance, imposing public transport registration and licensing on drivers to bolster safety, accountability, and legal compliance in the rapidly growing ride-hailing sector.
The Electronic Transactions Development Agency's announcement under the Royal Decree on Digital Platform Services inclines towards regulating ride-hailing platforms more rigidly due to their expanding influence on public safety, health, and urban transport infrastructure. This regulation calls for technologies such as official identity verification methods and 24-hour incident reporting hotlines to enhance overall safety and accountability within the ride-hailing sector in Thailand.
