TURAC paper calls for smarter regulation to improve compliance, safety, and oversight in Thailand's ride-hailing sector

TURAC paper calls for smarter regulation

to improve compliance, safety, and

oversight in Thailand's ride-hailing sector

Bangkok, 19 June 2026 - The Thammasat University Research and Consultancy Institute (TURAC) has published a new paper examining how Thailand can strengthen compliance, safety and oversight in the ride-hailing sector through more efficient registration processes and digitally enabled regulation.

The paper, Unlocking the Potential of Thailand's Ride-Hailing Sector: Safety, Competition, and Economic Opportunity in the Digital Age, argues that as Thailand's ride-hailing framework enters a more mature stage of implementation, policymakers have an opportunity to focus on improving pathways to legal compliance while maintaining strong standards for passenger safety, transparency and consumer protection.

Thailand took an important step in formalising the ride-hailing sector through the 2021 Ministerial Regulation on Electronic Vehicle-Hailing Services, which introduced requirements including driver background checks, vehicle standards, emergency assistance systems and data management obligations.

However, the paper notes that practical challenges remain for some drivers seeking to complete the registration process, including insurance requirements, vehicle financing conditions and administrative procedures. According to the authors, addressing these challenges could support higher levels of compliance, strengthen regulatory oversight and enable more drivers to participate within the formal system.

Dr. Suthikorn Kingkaew, economist and project lead from TURAC, said: "Ride-hailing is no longer just an alternative tech innovation; it has evolved into a critical digital economic infrastructure supporting the livelihoods and earnings of hundreds of thousands of citizens. Thailand has made significant progress in establishing a framework that protects consumers and improves accountability in the ride-hailing sector. The next challenge is ensuring that regulatory systems remain effective, practical and accessible so that more drivers can participate legally while maintaining high standards of safety."

"The question is no longer whether ride-hailing should be regulated. The question is how to design regulations that achieve public policy objectives while remaining practical for citizens to comply with."

To support greater compliance and strengthen oversight across the ride-hailing sector, the paper outlines four key recommendations:

• Transition to an end-to-end digital registration process: Accelerate the development of a fully digital system for issuing electronic public driving licences (e-Licences). Integrating identity verification, criminal background checks and document submission into a single platform would reduce administrative burdens for drivers while supporting the government's Digital Government agenda.

• Address financial and insurance barriers to registration: Encourage collaboration between regulators, financial institutions, insurance providers and platform operators to explore solutions that make legal registration more accessible for the actual working patterns of flexible labor while maintaining appropriate safety and consumer protection standards.

• Adopt outcome-based regulation: Focus regulatory efforts on measurable outcomes such as passenger safety, transparency and consumer protection, while allowing flexibility in how these objectives are achieved through technology and innovation.

• Improve registration and compliance pathways: Streamline registration procedures and reduce unnecessary administrative friction for drivers seeking to operate legally. The paper also highlights the potential role of digital tools and transitional support measures in encouraging participation within the regulated system. Higher compliance rates can strengthen safety oversight, consumer protection and regulatory visibility across the sector.

Dr. Suthikorn added: "Modernising regulatory processes through digital tools can help achieve an important balance between safety, compliance and economic opportunity. By making registration more accessible and efficient, Thailand can strengthen oversight while supporting the continued development of its digital economy."

The paper concludes that effective regulation should not only establish clear standards but also create practical pathways for compliance. By improving registration processes and reducing unnecessary barriers, Thailand can strengthen consumer protection, enhance safety oversight and support the long-term development of a competitive and sustainable ride-hailing sector.

The full paper is available here.