Thailand Mandates Public Licenses for Ride-Hailing Drivers

Thailand-

As of July 8th, 2025, the Royal Thai Government Gazette announced new regulations by the ETDA requiring all ride-hailing drivers and motorcycle riders on apps like Grab and Bolt to register their vehicles as public transport and obtain a public driver’s license. The rules, effective in early October 2025 (90 days from announcement), aim to enhance safety and compliance.

What Drivers Must Do:

– Vehicle Registration: Cars and motorcycles must be registered as public transport with the Department of Land Transport (DLT), requiring yellow plates for cars (4+ doors).

– Public Driver’s License: Drivers need a public driver’s license, obtainable via DLT training (online at www.dlt-elearning.com), a medical certificate, and a valid private license.

– Platform Compliance: Update documents on app portals to avoid suspension.

Costs and Deadlines:

Expect fees for registration (several thousand THB) and licenses (100–500 THB). Non-compliance after October 2025 may lead to fines or suspension. Platforms like Grab may offer incentives for early compliance.

For details, visit www.dlt.go.th or contact your platform. Stay compliant to keep riding!

Source: Royal Thai Government Gazette, DLT guidelines

For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.

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Adam Judd
Mr. Adam Judd is the Chief of Content of TPN media, English language, since December 2017. He is originally from Washington D.C., America. His background is in HR and Operations and has written about news and Thailand for a decade now. He has lived in Pattaya for about ten years as a full-time resident, is well known locally and been visiting the country as a regular visitor for over 15 years. His full contact information, including office contact information, can be found on our Contact Us page below. Stories please e-mail Editor@ThePattayanews.com About Us: https://thephuketexpress.com/about-us/ Contact Us: https://thephuketexpress.com/contact-us/