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Thai Taxi Colour Codes Explained

Traveling around the Kingdom of Thailand can be a joy - or a challenge! There are several modes of transport and taxis are one of the most popular for foreign tourists.

So, if you are going to use public transport in Thailand, it is best to understand how colour-coded taxi cars signify different service types or operators.

What Do Coloured Taxis Mean in Thailand?

Take a trip to Bangkok city centre and you'll see pink, two-tone green and yellow, and some light blue taxis.

Yet, this amazing kaleidoscope of coloured taxicabs is not haphazard.

Instead, the colours are coded to give passengers some insight into the owner and operation of the vehicles.

Two-tone Taxis (Light and Dark)

For the most part, there are two (2) variations of two toned taxi cars - green and yellow and blue and yellow.

One of the most recognisable are the vehicles operating out of Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), the green and yellow cars. These cabs are not linked to any of the taxi cooperatives or to any specific company.

Rather, taxis that have been painted with two separate colours will be owned by an individual - and most probably operated by a "self-employed" owner driver.

Along with the yellow and blue two-tone taxicabs, passengers can expect to ride in a well-maintained vehicle and enjoy a "personalised" experience with the driver.

Solid Coloured Taxis

In contrast, taxis that are painted in one solid colour will be owned by some of the large cooperatives or taxi companies.

Furthermore, each particular colour represents a specific group. Thus, it's easy to get a visual clue about the company or operator that is offering the service.

The most common include:

Not all taxi drivers can afford to buy their own vehicle. Hence, it's commonplace for some of these cooperatives to lease vehicles to individual drivers.

Nonetheless, this type of taxi colour coding helps companies - and passengers - determine which taxis belong to certain groups. This system also helps to track lost items or respond to any specific complaints from passengers.

Remember, even though cab colours vary, all taxis in the Kingdom of Thailand need to display a "TAXI-METER" sign on the roof of the vehicle - according to the law.

Pro Tip: Another section contains more information about the airports in Thailand, including the domestic hubs.

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