If you have ordered a Grab, Bolt or Maxim in Chiang Mai this month, you have probably not noticed anything different. Behind the app, though, something important changed on 1 October. Ride-hailing platforms in Thailand can now only send jobs to drivers who hold a public driving licence, and the Department of Land Transport is scoring each platform on how well it keeps to the rule.
For a city heading into its busiest months, that matters. Hotels, restaurants and tour operators book and recommend these rides for guests every day, and visitors want to know that the person collecting them has been checked. We have put together what the rules require, how drivers in Chiang Mai are getting licensed and what local businesses can do to help guests travel with confidence this season.
In short, since 1 October 2026 the eight approved ride-hailing apps in Thailand, including Grab, Bolt, inDrive, Maxim and LINE MAN, may only give jobs to drivers with a public driving licence and to vehicles registered for public hire. Drivers qualify through online training, written and physical tests and a criminal record check, and passengers can recognise legal motorcycle taxis by their yellow plates.
What changed for ride-hailing in Thailand on 1 October 2026?
From 1 October 2026, the eight ride-hailing platforms certified in Thailand may only give jobs to drivers who hold a public driving licence and to vehicles registered for public hire. The Department of Land Transport now tracks each platform with a 100-point scorecard. Platforms that lose more than 40% of their points receive a warning, and repeated breaches lead to suspension.
The eight platforms are Grab, Bolt, inDrive, TADA, Maxim, LINE MAN, Lalamove and FINGOGO, and all of them attended the Department of Land Transport’s briefing in Bangkok on 24 September. The scorecard, known in Thai as the app report card, starts every platform at 100 points. A platform that reaches the red-card threshold has its certification suspended for three days the first time, and certification can be withdrawn altogether if breaches affect the public interest.
Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat said the ministry is prioritising higher standards for app-based ride-hailing so the public receives convenient and safe service. Department of Land Transport director-general Sorapong Paitoonphong said the department had given drivers full support to enter the system legally, including extended office hours and group appointments arranged with the platforms, so that passengers can be confident every vehicle and driver is legitimate, safe and accountable.
The change has been building all year. Rules from the Electronic Transactions Development Agency took full effect on 31 March 2026, making platforms responsible for checking drivers and vehicles, with penalties for non-compliant platforms of up to one year in prison, a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both. On 29 June, the eight providers signed a declaration of intent to cooperate, and the 1 October deadline followed.
Drivers who missed the deadline have not lost their chance. They can still apply for a public driving licence in the normal way, and the platforms simply cannot give them work until they hold one.
How do drivers get a public driving licence in Chiang Mai?
A ride-hailing driver needs a private driving licence held for more than a year, a medical certificate, online training, a criminal record check and passes in a written test and a physical fitness test at the Land Transport Office. Drivers who arrive with complete documents finish the process in a day. The licence fee is 155 baht for motorcycles and 305 baht for cars.
The process is the same across Thailand, and Grab’s driver guide sets it out step by step. Drivers must also meet minimum ages: 20 for public motorcycle drivers and 22 for public car drivers.
| Step | What is involved |
|---|---|
| Criminal record check | At a police forensic centre or a local police station |
| Online training | Through the Department of Land Transport’s e-learning website |
| Application | Book through DLT Smart Queue or walk in, with a private licence held for more than a year, a medical certificate under 30 days old, an ID card, the training QR code and the record check |
| Tests | A physical fitness test and a written test at the office |
| Licence | Photo and fees: 155 baht for motorcycles, 305 baht for cars, plus 25 baht for the driver identity card |
Chiang Mai drivers have had extra help. On 27 September, Maxim and Chiang Mai Land Transport Office Branch 2 ran a fast-track day from 7am to 3pm, taking drivers through training, the written and fitness tests, the record check and licence issue in one visit. Drivers who passed and had complete documents left the same day with a public licence and the yellow driver card. Maxim Thailand managing director Pongpat Aksarawarakarn said raising standards in the industry needs every sector working together, and that Maxim wants to help build safe and reliable transport for passengers in Chiang Mai.
The platforms are also paying drivers to get licensed. Grab is offering incentives of up to 1,000 baht to drivers who upload a public licence during October.
The national numbers show how many drivers have taken the step. According to the government’s figures released on 24 September, new public car licences averaged 2,915 a month from January to June and 8,499 a month in July and August, and new public motorcycle licences rose from 2,271 to 8,072 a month over the same periods. Thailand now has 162,310 public car licences and 183,415 public motorcycle licences in total. In September alone, new public driving licences rose 110.97% to 35,169, as drivers moved to meet the deadline.
What do the new rules mean for passengers and guests?
For passengers, the rules mean that drivers on Grab, Bolt, Maxim and the other approved apps have passed background and fitness checks, and that their vehicles are registered for public hire with public insurance. Motorcycle taxis booked through the apps carry yellow plates and have engines of 50 to 125cc, and cars must be no more than nine years old.
The public licence is the part passengers never see but benefit from most. As one Land Transport Office official put it earlier this year, a public driving licence is tied to checks on a driver’s background, and passengers should be able to feel confident about that.
The vehicle rules are easier to spot. Officials from the Department of Land Transport and the Electronic Transactions Development Agency set out the requirements in March, and Maxim summarises the paperwork for its Chiang Mai drivers. The two categories look like this.
| Vehicle | Registration | Key requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle taxi | Public motorcycle, yellow plates | Engine of 50 to 125cc, public compulsory insurance |
| Car | Public hire car via app, with registration sticker | Private passenger car only, no more than nine years old, public compulsory insurance and public vehicle insurance |
For guests, the simplest habit is the one most of us already have: check that the driver’s name, photo and plate in the app match the person and vehicle that arrive. A motorcycle taxi from an app now carries yellow plates, which makes a mismatch easy to notice.
We see the change as good news for Chiang Mai’s reputation. Visitors who feel safe getting around stay out longer and recommend the city to their friends, and every licensed driver adds to that.
What should Chiang Mai businesses do about the new ride-hailing rules?
Chiang Mai businesses that book or recommend rides for guests should brief front-line staff on the rules, encourage guests to match the driver, photo and plate in the app, and keep a list of licensed transport partners for busy nights. Hotels can also point guests to the RTC line 24 airport bus, and businesses that employ their own drivers should check those drivers hold public licences.
Most of what businesses need to do is about information. Guests ask front desks and restaurant staff how to get around, and a short, confident answer that mentions licensed drivers and the app checks is reassuring. With Yi Peng on 23 to 25 November and the New Year weekend ahead, demand for rides will be at its highest when guests most need clear advice. Our Chiang Mai high season guide has the full calendar of peak dates.
| Business type | What the rules mean | What to do now |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels and serviced apartments | Guests booking app rides from the lobby, often late at night | Brief front desk staff, share the app safety check with guests, and offer the RTC line 24 bus as an airport option |
| Restaurants, bars and venues | Peak demand for rides at closing time and on festival nights | Keep a list of licensed transport partners for busy nights and help guests check their ride details |
| Tour and activity operators | Guests travelling to pick-up points or between activities | Use licensed transport partners and tell guests what to expect at pick-up |
| Businesses with their own drivers | Staff who drive guests as part of a paid service | Check with the Land Transport Office which licence your service requires, and support staff through the process |
| Delivery-based businesses | Riders delivering goods through the same apps | Confirm with your platform how the rules apply to delivery riders in your category |
If you run a transport, transfer or tour business that already holds the right licences, make sure guests and hotel partners can find you. Listing verified details in the Golden Pages business directory helps hotels and visitors choose licensed operators with confidence, and joining CMBN connects you with the hotels and venues that book transport every day.
Frequently asked questions
Do Grab and Bolt drivers in Chiang Mai need a public driving licence?
Yes. Since 1 October 2026, all eight certified ride-hailing platforms in Thailand, including Grab, Bolt, inDrive, Maxim and LINE MAN, may only give jobs to drivers who hold a public driving licence.
Which ride-hailing apps are approved in Thailand?
The eight certified platforms are Grab, Bolt, inDrive, TADA, Maxim, LINE MAN, Lalamove and FINGOGO.
How much does a public driving licence cost?
The licence fee is 155 baht for a motorcycle and 305 baht for a car, plus 25 baht for the driver identity card. Drivers also need a medical certificate and a criminal record check.
How can passengers tell a legal motorcycle taxi?
Motorcycle taxis registered for public hire carry yellow plates and have engines of 50 to 125cc. Passengers should also check that the driver’s name, photo and plate match the details in the app.
What happens to platforms that use unlicensed drivers?
The Department of Land Transport deducts points from a platform’s 100-point scorecard. Losing more than 40% of points brings a warning, and repeated breaches lead to suspension of the platform’s certification.
Where do Chiang Mai drivers apply for a public driving licence?
Drivers apply at the Chiang Mai Land Transport Office, booking through the DLT Smart Queue system or walking in, after completing online training and a criminal record check.
Chiang Mai’s ride-hailing drivers have spent the past few months getting licensed, and the result is a system that guests can trust a little more each time they open the app. For the businesses that recommend those rides, a few minutes spent briefing staff this month will pay off across the busiest weeks of the year.
