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Taxis in Bangkok

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Infromation On Taxis In Bangkok And Thailand

Bangkok, Thailand is awash with taxis. There are hundreds of them and so getting one is not going to be a problem...unless it rains.
Bangkok taxis are now all metered and you will find that most taxi drivers will turn them on and be fair about the total cost. Meters start at 35 Baht. There are however, a few drivers who will try to tell non-Thais that the meter isn't working and will try to bargain a flat rate, usually much higher than the metered fee. If any taxis driver tries to do that then just close the door and flag down the next one. Don't waste your time arguing. What they are trying to do is illegal and they don't deserve any response.
Most taxis in Bangkok will have Buddha images on the dashboard and white markings on the roof by the mirror. These marking have been made by Buddhist monks who have placed a blessing on the taxi to keep it and the driver safe and to bring good luck and wealth. The more rural the areas of Thailand, the more prominent these blessings will be.

An orange metered taxi in Bangkok, Thailand A pink metered taxi in Bangkok, Thailand


The Different Colours:

A few years ago there were just a few different types of taxis and you could guess the quality of the ride by the colours. Now, however, Bangkok taxis come in all sorts of colours:
The different colours of the Bangkok taxis represents the company rather than cost. All taxis metered taxis must charge the same rate for distance traveled and / or time spent sitting in the taxi. A tariff chart usually hangs from the back of the driver's or passenger's seat so you can see the amount you can expect to pay. Presently, taxis do not give out any receipts but this will soon be introduced so you will soon be able to get a mini slip for the amount you have been charged. I've had one taxi provide me with one but it must have been a test taxi because I've not had one since.
Some of the colours are: Yellow and Green, Blue and Red, White and Red, Blue, Red, Pink as well as Orange.

Yellow and Green taxis used to be newer, but many have aged. The drivers own their vehicles and, if new, take care of their property. Although it is not possible to be accurate with this statement, I'd say that you'd have a better ride in a yellow and green taxi than a blue and red one.

Blue and Red taxis in Bangkok are rented from a taxi firm. Drivers rent the taxis for the day and because the drivers don't own them, they are less careful and you generally find that these drivers have less patience and are more aggressive in their driving. However, as a rule of thumb, the older the taxi, the more aggressive the driver. Either that or the driver is really old and you take twice as long to get anywhere.

The other colours, or the single coloured Bangkok taxis, are all fairly new and you'll get a smoother ride.


Taxi ID Tag inside the Bangkok taxi
Meters start at 35 Baht
Inside the taxi, on the door, is the taxi's number. This must be on display.
Taxi Meters are set to 35 Baht when you get in.
Click Images For A Larger View
     


Taxis From The Airport

There are various ways of getting from Bangkok's Don Muang Airport into the center of Bangkok.
You can pay a premium rate for the limousine service ( and if you can afford it, take it then I suggest you take it ). or one option is to follow the signs to the taxi rank just outside the sliding doors just after you walk past all the people waiting to greet people.
Ignore anyone asking you whether you want a taxi, walk outside and join the queue in front and to the right.
When you near the booth someone will ask you where you are going. Give them your destination and you will be directed to your taxi by the driver who has been given a ticket and told of your destination. PLEASE NOTE: you'll pay a small fee of 50 Baht extra at the end of journey which to be added to the amount show on the meter. This is normal for this service.
ALL the taxis working for this company are yellow and green taxis. They are also some of the oldest taxis on the street today. If you have a lot of luggage, this is not the queue for you. These taxis are generally hybrid and so they have a thundering great converter in their boot meaning there is very little room for luggage.
Each time I have joined this queue I have had a very old taxi. The back seat was so old I was at least 6 inches lower that I should have been, the air-conditioning was never very effective and exhaust fumes seeped into the taxi. I get to my destination but I'm always very relieved when I do.

So why do I take those taxis ? Well, it's the cheapest taxi option and the easiest.
You can walk up to departures and try to flag down one of the taxis dropping people off, but after a long haul flight I never want to drag my luggage around and then stand in the heat hoping to grab a taxi.
The limousine taxis going into the center of Bangkok cost 1,500 Baht for a ride that should be no more than 200 Baht and so I can't really justify the extra cost. Call me mean but I can suffer for 30 minutes.

     


Be Careful:

Taxis in Bangkok are generally a decent affair. 99% of the drivers abide by the rules and regulations with regards turning the meter on and not cheating non-Thais. Most are polite and will provide you with a decent ride without going in circles or taking the long way round. However:
There have been reports of taxis taking people from the airport and robbing them and worse. If you are a young back packer or a lady traveling alone, avoid taxis. It's probably unnecessary advice but for the sake of a few extra Baht,Dollars, Pounds etc, be safe.
Travel with others if taking a taxi from the airport or take the bus into town or pay for the limousine service which will keep a record of drivers and their fares.

Taxis drivers work long hours and to help them stay awake some take a drug called Yaa Baa which is an amphetamine based drug that helps keep them going. This drug is much less common than before and so the problem is going away, but sometimes, a driver has been going too long and he gets too stressed and the drive takes on a whole new meaning. I have found myself in taxis that are being driven by a lunatic. Even in the jams of Bangkok, the driver has been going too fast or slamming on the brakes, swearing at others and so on. In this situation, get him to stop, pay whatever is on the meter and get another one.

My usual ploy is to tell the driver I am going to throw up ( Oo-uck ). This always works a treat. It costs me a little more money but it's well worth it.

     

Tips

  • Wait for the nicer looking taxis. If you don't like the look of the taxi that is stopping for you, wave it on and get a newer one. The ride will be more comfortable and the airconditioning will work better.
  • If grabbing a taxi late at night from a friend's place, get your friend to go to the taxi with you and go through the motions of taking a note of the taxi number. The number is not the license plate, but the number on the door outside the taxi, AND on a label attached to each door inside the taxi.
  • If traveling in a taxi alone, you might want to call a friend and tell them the taxi number. Drivers will pick up on the nunbers you mention, even if you speak English, and you'll be less likely to be robbed.
  • Most taxis will have a photo of the driver, along with their license, placed on the dash-board of the taxi they are driving. If There is one, it's a good sign. If there isn't one, or the photo doesn't match the driver, then you might want to wait for a different taxi.
     

Bangkokresidents.com hopes that everyone has a safe visit or stay in Bangkok and so the information provided is meant to give you a few hints and tips as to what to be careful about. We hope you find the information informative but we also suggest you visit Our Forum and read through the various postings and stories.