Thai taxi fares to rise 8% in December — make sure to use the meter to avoid being overcharged

▲ Thai Taxi (Photo / Screenshot fromTaxi BangkokFacebook)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Thailand's Ministry of Transport announced that taxi fares will increase by 8% starting December 1. The flag-down fare remains at 35 baht, but the per-minute rate during traffic congestion will rise from 0.5 to 2 baht. Taiwanese travelers should note that if traveling alone, it's best to use public transport such as the MRT or buses. For groups of two or more, taxis can be an option, but remember to ask the driver to turn on the meter upon boarding to avoid being overcharged.

Currently, the Thai taxi fare structure starts at 35 baht (about NT$35), with a 2-baht charge every 400 meters. Starting December 1, a progressive fare system will be implemented, where longer distances incur higher rates, ranging from 5 to 8.5 baht per kilometer. The initial 12-kilometer rate will not change significantly. Additionally, the previous rate of 0.5 baht per minute when driving under 6 km/h will increase sharply to 2 baht. In case of heavy traffic, this may lead to higher costs.

According to data provided by the Tourism Authority of Thailand Taipei Office, most taxis in Bangkok are equipped with meters, and passengers only need to pay the metered fare—drivers who refuse to use the meter are acting illegally. The only exception is airport queue taxis. When taking a taxi from the airport to central Bangkok, passengers must pay an additional 50 baht service fee to the driver, as well as the bridge toll (approximately 60–80 baht) from the airport to downtown. As a result, a taxi ride from the airport to central Bangkok typically costs around 400–500 baht.

 According to the fare adjustment schedule set by Thailand's Ministry of Transport,the 8% fare increase will apply from December this year through May next year. If passenger satisfaction and service quality improve during this period, an additional 5% increase will take effect from June next year.(News source: Central News Agency)