• Home
  • Learn Thai
    • Lessons
    • Books
  • Live in Thailand
    • Most Useful Posts
    • Visas
    • Women/Dating
    • Culture
    • Bangkok Living
    • Money/Jobs
    • Law/Politics
  • Travel in Thailand
    • Most Useful Posts
    • Book a Hotel
    • Bus/Train Tickets
    • Travel Insurance
    • Vaccinations Guide
    • Weather Guide
    • Diving Guide
  • Jobs
  • About
  • Support My Work
You are here: Home / Work & Money / The Lucrative & Dangerous Business of Being a Motorbike Taxi Driver in Thailand

The Lucrative & Dangerous Business of Being a Motorbike Taxi Driver in Thailand

At the time of writing there are 104,134 recognised motorcycle taxis in Bangkok, working from nearly 6,000 official pickup spots.

Motorbike taxis are a big part of Thai life and it’s a seemingly easy job to get into.

But how much does the average motorbike taxi worker in Thailand make per month? And is it worth it for the return?

It's a tough gig: late nights, early mornings, hazardous roads and high levels of pollution.

I recently read an article where a rider said he earned about 600 baht (£15) a day. Not bad. But I also heard that that they have to pay high fees to a “soi boss”, which considerably cuts down their takings.

So how do you become a motorbike taxi, what fees do you have to pay – both legal and to mafia figures- and how much do you earn a month?

Well, I recently got some first hand insight on the industry…

motorcycle taxis thailand

1,500 Baht a Day? No Way!

I was speaking with my coconut shake lady, who, for the sake of clarification is a different lady to the coconut pancake lady you may have heard me mention before.

She explained that her husband had recently become a motorbike taxi driver.

She said the money was great and he could earn up to 1,500 Baht a day!

That's more than the average foreign English teacher working in Thailand.

Hell, that's more than some pretty decent jobs in Thailand: think junior app developer or lawyer, and way more than office or hotel clerical staff.

Most university graduates don't earn over 20k (Baht) until they hit their mid-twenties and over.

She noted that even though the profession was considered “lo-so”, he had given up his previous job because this one made more cash. Makes sense.

But, she explained, a position with a good soi (street) isn't easy to come by, and comes at a price.

She broke down the employment process like this:

For a busy street, like the one her husband is working at near the station, positions are rare.

Drivers initially buy positions when a new rank starts on a road. When a position is retired, it is auctioned off to the highest new bidder.

Her husband apparently paid 300,000 Baht to another motorbike taxi guy who was giving up his position.

She explained that initially the original owner might have bought the position for as little as 100,000 Baht, but what with all the apartments being built in the area, the value of the position has escalated quickly over 5 or so years.

So that was her version of how it works, and after doing some research appears she isn't far off.

motorbike-taxi-bangkok

The Legal Way to Become a Motorbike Taxi Driver

After our conversation, I was left with a number of questions:

  • Who applies for a taxi rank to be started in the first place?
  • Who assumes responsibility of offering the positions at the taxi rank?

I mean, when a street first acquires motorbike taxi drivers / gets a licence to have a rank, does the first to arrive become the boss and charge others to join the ranks, or do a few guys simply take control of a street and then auction positions off?

And what are the regulations, if any, for starting a taxi rank in a street?

After some research I found out that motorbike taxis have to first register with the Department of Land Transport and obtain a certificate. They are then required to register for a yellow-plated driving licence for public service (1).

At this point a motorbike taxi can technically drive around offering their service to commuters.

However, the problem is that you need to join a taxi rank; otherwise you risk encroaching on the territory of other taxi ranks and risk being beaten up.

We have seen this first hand with the grab a taxi situation. Grab has tried to move into the market, and while they are waiting for official documentation from the government, many of their riders have been attacked.

If you are not attached to a rank, and you have not paid your dues, you are basically alone rider in the wild West.

grab-taxi-rider-beaten-up

A Grab bike driver is visited by Get staff workers in hospital after he was beaten by a motorcycle taxi group in Sukhumvit 33 area. Image credit: Grab For Recreation Group

What also struck me when reading into this is that there are probably a large number of unlicensed motorbike taxis. I would imagine it is also the case that those who are licensed sometimes rent their jacket and bike out to others looking for a job.

You have probably encountered this in taxis in Bangkok: Sometimes you get in and you look at the identification on the dashboard and the person in no way looks like the person who is driving. This is because when the taxi driver wants a day off, or can't work for some reason, he/she can simply sub-rent the taxi.

The Motorbike Taxi Underworld

Taxi rank spots are also supposed to be officially licensed. But this is where there appears to be a disconnect between law and reality.

No profitable taxi rank is going to just allow a rider to join and take a piece of the pie, unless they have so much work that they can't keep up.

So as my informant alluded to: you need to wait for a position in a rank to become available, and the likelihood is that if the rank is a profitable one you will have to pay for that position.

And that's when I came across an article in the Guardian regarding the turf wars between ranks that flared up in early 2019.

Gang mentalities were, he explains, reinforced by unofficial “boss” drivers running the best pickup locations, demanding payments in addition to official city fees to share spots. These costs motivate many drivers to fervently defend their territory, which has no legally binding demarcation (2).

So in addition to the fees you pay to the Department of Land Transport for your certificate, which may or may not be required to be renewed – perhaps someone can enlighten me on that – you will likely have to pay to join a rank, or at the very least pay some kind of on-going fee to a boss, or both!

This is contrary to what my coconut shake lady told me. She said that once a position has been bought, there is no big boss to pay weekly or policeman to occasionally pay off.

I guess different ranks have different rules. Maybe some are truly independent, but I'm willing to bet those that are won't earn you over 200-300 Baht a day. If you want the big paper, you have to pay your dues.

Smash & Grab

As I mentioned previously, Grab Taxi is moving into the market and this has had unforeseen consequences.

Grab probably underestimated the power of the Mafia figures that run the motorbike taxi ranks. They are also operating illegally, which has really rubbed the official taxis up the wrong way (3).

They aren't just going to sit by and let Grab motorbike taxis pickup customers from wherever they want and essentially steal revenue from their ranks.

The Grab workers will have to go the normal route and get licensed, join a rank and pay their dues. Money earned through hail-a-ride apps will be attached to the rank, and the boss will charge a levy at his discretion.

Grab thought it could move into the market and disrupt it by undercutting local operators with short rides for as little as 40 baht (£1). But this isn't London or New York.

What is actually happening is that the market is absorbing Grab and Grab will have to play by the market's rules.

—————-

Being a motorbike taxi can be pretty lucrative for someone with no qualifications and little hope of landing a job for more than 10k a month. But it's a grind. It's a health hazard, and if you come up against another taxi mafia, potentially fatal.

I would imagine to get in at a good rank must be pretty hard these days, and one would need the capital to buy a valuable position on a busy street.

loader

GET MY NEWSLETTER

Join thousands of others who receive my monthly roundup of content & insider tips on how to survive & thrive in Thailand.

  • Share it
  • Tweet it
  • Pin it
  • Email it

Last Updated on October 15, 2019

  • Am I Too Old to Teach in Thailand? 4 Options for Mature Teachers
    Am I Too Old to Teach in Thailand? 4 Options for Mature…
  • Doing Business Vs. Working in Thailand: Key Differences & Visa Requirements
    Doing Business Vs. Working in Thailand: Key Differences &…
  • State Pension Guide for UK Nationals Living in Thailand
    State Pension Guide for UK Nationals Living in Thailand

Comments Sort by : newest | oldest

  1. Martin Oliver says

    October 14, 2019 at 1:12 pm

    A very interesting topic of everyday life in Thailand. I always enjoy this site,
    Reply

    Oct 14, 2019 at 1:12 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      October 14, 2019 at 7:05 pm

      Cheers Martin.
      Reply

      Oct 14, 2019 at 7:05 pm

  2. Kim Lawrence says

    September 27, 2019 at 2:11 pm

    Interesting. Not an easy job. Many positions have too many bikes. They are not supposed to pick up on street randomly although they do. Look for yellow number plate for proper license. Look at back of jacket for photo license. I have never heard of paying 300,000 baht for a pitch. No way!!! No Thai working class have that sort of money to buy into job.
    Reply

    Sep 27, 2019 at 2:11 pm

  3. kyle says

    November 19, 2015 at 3:25 pm

    Good info from you. You say that they can earn THB 1500 in a good day in a crowded spot. I'm curious how much they can earn for a normal day if they work somewhere near the universities. As I know, each location, they come in group, around 5-8ppl, they are queueing for the business, 1 by 1 when the customer come to them, but I see them spend most of their time waiting and talking.
    Reply

    Nov 19, 2015 at 3:25 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      November 19, 2015 at 4:27 pm

      I guess about 1,000 a day. If the average trip is 10 minutes there and back for 30 Baht and they have regular work for 10 hours a day, they must make between 800-1000 a day. Some work as many as 14 hours a day, but some like you say sit around a lot sometimes.
      Reply

      Nov 19, 2015 at 4:27 pm

  4. Kim Lawrence says

    July 6, 2015 at 7:33 pm

    Wow I wish it were true! Money goes on upkeep of bike and all sorts of other expenses, not many people have to pay tax in Thailand BTW
    Reply

    Jul 06, 2015 at 7:33 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      July 6, 2015 at 9:00 pm

      Indeed, certainly not motorbike taxis; only an underground tax to the Soi boss.
      Reply

      Jul 06, 2015 at 9:00 pm

  5. teapigs says

    May 23, 2013 at 7:21 pm

    Awesome site my man! Keep up the good work!
    Reply

    May 23, 2013 at 7:21 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      May 24, 2013 at 7:14 pm

      Thanks a bunch!
      Reply

      May 24, 2013 at 7:14 pm

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

thethailandlife

Hi! I’m Peter. I’ve been living & traveling in Thailand for 14 years. I’m here to give you all the information you need to make your Thai adventure safe, happy, & successful.

Recommended Thailand Services

I get a lot of requests for recommendations on services related to living in Thailand. To make things easier for you, I’ve compiled a list of those I use below.

Learning Thai

Thaipod101 is the best way to learn Thai online. It's how I started learning. They have hundreds of video and audio lessons to help you start speaking Thai today. Start free here.

Sending Money

Wise is the cheapest and fastest way to send money to Thailand. I use it and so do many of my readers. Go here to get your first transfer free.

Financial Planning

Whether you need life insurance, pension planning or other investment advice, I can connect you with my personal IFA. Simply fill out this form.

Health Insurance

I recommend getting a quote from Cigna for international Insurance, and then comparing that with local insurance premiums on Mr Prakan.

Travel Services

Hotels: Agoda offers good deals on hotels in Thailand. This is because they are located in the region and secure lots of special promotions. It's also worth trying Booking.com and Hotels.com for comparison.

Travel Insurance: SafetyWing is great for trips to Thailand and elsewhere. I've used them many times. If you're from the UK/Europe you can also try True Traveller.

Over 70? Insure My Trip. has policies for those struggling to find travel insurance cover due to age restrictions.

Bank Account

Need an international bank account that holds multiple currencies and lets you transfer, receive & spend wherever you are, with a MasterCard. I've used one for 4 years. Check out Wise.

Rent / Buy Property

Looking for an apartment to rent or a home to buy? For the largest selection of properties in Thailand, and a completely free service, visit PropertyScout here.

Data Security

To keep your data secure you should use a VPN when using public WIFI and when accessing internet banking and other sensitive information online. I use both Vypr VPN and Nord VPN.

Reader Favourites

1. Cheapest Way to Send Money to Thailand

2. Top 15 Thai Love Phrases [Video]

3. 100 Interesting Facts About Thailand

4. Best VPN to Protect Your Online Privacy

5. Buying a Condo: 9 Questions Before You Decide

6. Get Fluent in Thai in 3 Months!

7. Top 12 Jobs for Thailand Expats

8. Expat Life Insurance: 10 Must-Know Facts

9. The 4 Best Thai Dating Sites

loader

GET MY NEWSLETTER

Join thousands of others who receive my monthly roundup of content & insider tips on how to survive & thrive in Thailand.

*Please check your inbox to confirm your email address

Helpful Posts

+ Get the Right Visa
+ Get COVID Insurance
+ Get Health Insurance
+ Learn Basic Thai
+ Check Cost of Retirement
+ Check Cost of Living
+ Find a TEFL Course
+ Find a Job
+ Open a Thai Bank Account
+ Get Married
+ Best Visa Run Option

Join The Conversation

  • TheThailandLife on 10 Things to Do in Pattaya Other Than Sit in a Bar
  • Munnster on 10 Things to Do in Pattaya Other Than Sit in a Bar
  • TheThailandLife on 10 Things to Do in Pattaya Other Than Sit in a Bar
  • TheThailandLife on A Guide to Thai Spirit Houses

Contact | Privacy Policy | Site Terms & Disclaimer| Media Pack 

Copyright © TheThailandLife.com 2023. All Rights Reserved.
No content on this site may be copied without written consent from TheThailandLife.com