# Getting Around Chiang Mai: Transport Guide | The Chiang Mai Brief > How to get around Chiang Mai — songthaew (red truck) fares and etiquette, Grab vs Bolt vs Maxim, renting a scooter, and getting a Thai driving licence. URL: https://chiangmaibrief.com/getting-around/ ![A red songthaew picking up passengers on a Chiang Mai street](/images/misc/red-songthaew-truck-picking-up-passengers-on-a-chi.webp) Travel # Getting Around Chiang Mai Last updated: 7 September 2026 The central hub for local transport in Chiang Mai — using songthaew (red trucks), comparing the Grab, Bolt and Maxim ride-hailing apps, renting a scooter safely and legally, and getting a Thai driving licence. Read the guides [#guides →](#guides) Subscribe to the Brief [/newsletter/ →](/newsletter/) In this section ## What's in our Transport coverage ### Red trucks decoded How songthaew actually work, what a fair fare is, and the etiquette that gets you a good price. ### Which app to use Grab, Bolt and Maxim compared on price, wait times and coverage across the city. ### Renting a scooter safely What to check, what insurance covers, why you should never leave your passport, and helmet law reality. ### Getting legal The IDP, the Thai licence process at DLT Mae Hia, and why it matters more than people assume. ## There is no metro, and that’s fine Chiang Mai has no train system and a limited bus network. Getting around is a mix of red trucks, ride-hailing apps, and — for most people who stay more than a few months — a scooter of their own. The city is small enough that this works. Almost nowhere inside the ring roads is more than twenty minutes from anywhere else outside rush hour. ## Songthaew: the red trucks The **songthaew (rod daeng / red truck)** is Chiang Mai’s signature transport: a converted pickup with benches in the back that works as a shared taxi. Flag one down, tell the driver where you’re going, and if it fits their direction you hop in the back. The key points: - **Agree the fare before you get in.** Always. - Shared trips inside the city are usually 30–40 THB per person. - If you want to go directly, without other passengers, say so — that’s a charter and costs more. - Press the buzzer or knock on the roof when you want to get off, then pay the driver at the window. A driver quoting a wildly high price is not scamming you so much as testing you. Decline politely and wait; another truck will come along within minutes. ## Ride-hailing **Grab / Bolt / Maxim** all operate here, offering both cars and motorbike taxis. Motorbike rides are dramatically cheaper and faster in traffic, and completely normal for short hops. Practically: install all three. Prices and availability move around, especially in rain when demand spikes and every app surges at once. In heavy rain, a songthaew is often the faster option precisely because the apps are overwhelmed. The **RTC Smart Bus** covers a handful of fixed routes including the airport at a low flat fare. Worth knowing about, not worth planning your life around. ## Riding your own Most long-stay residents end up on a scooter. **Scooter rental (Honda Click / Scoopy)** runs roughly 2,500–4,000 THB a month, less on longer terms, and buying a used one outright is common for anyone staying over a year. Before you rent: 1. **Photograph every existing scratch** before you ride away. 2. **Never leave your passport as a deposit.** Cash or a photocopy only — this is the single most common rental dispute. 3. **Check the tyres and brakes yourself.** Not all shops maintain their fleet. 4. **Confirm the insurance.** Basic **Por Ror Bor insurance** is compulsory and covers very little; ask what else is included. 5. **Wear a helmet.** Enforcement is patchy, hospital bills are not. On the legal side, an **International Driving Permit (IDP)** with a motorcycle category, carried alongside your home licence, is the minimum. If you’re staying long term, get a Thai licence at **DLT Mae Hia** — it’s a straightforward process, it lasts years, and it unlocks the local rate at national parks as a side benefit. Guides ## Transport guides Every evergreen guide we've published on getting around in Chiang Mai. All guides [/guide/ →](/guide/) Step by step ### Getting a Thai Driving Licence at DLT Mae Hia The step-by-step Thai driving licence process at Mae Hia DLT — Certificate of Residency, medical check, the written and practical tests, and documents. 6 min read [Getting a Thai Driving Licence at DLT Mae Hia →](/guide/thai-driving-licence-dlt-mae-hia/) Comparison ### Grab, Bolt & Maxim Ride-Hailing Compared Compare the Grab, Bolt and Maxim ride-hailing apps in Chiang Mai — coverage, pricing, wait times, car vs bike, and when to use each. 5 min read [Grab, Bolt & Maxim Ride-Hailing Compared →](/guide/grab-bolt-maxim-compared/) Step by step ### Renting a Scooter in Chiang Mai How to rent and ride a scooter safely and legally in Chiang Mai — where to rent, prices, insurance (Por Ror Bor), licence/IDP needs and safety tips. 6 min read [Renting a Scooter in Chiang Mai →](/guide/renting-a-scooter-chiang-mai/) Step by step ### Songthaew (Red Truck) Fares & Etiquette How to use Chiang Mai's songthaew red trucks — flagging one, standard fares, routes, negotiating and dual-pricing notes. 5 min read [Songthaew (Red Truck) Fares & Etiquette →](/guide/songthaew-fares-etiquette/) Got questions? ## Transport: common questions How much does a songthaew cost in Chiang Mai? Short shared hops within the city are commonly 30–40 THB per person, rising for longer trips or when you charter the vehicle privately. Agree the fare before you get in. If a driver quotes several hundred baht for a short trip, wave it off and wait for the next one. Is Grab or Bolt cheaper in Chiang Mai? Bolt and Maxim are usually cheaper on the fare; Grab typically has the best coverage, shortest waits and the most reliable drivers. Most residents keep all three installed and compare before booking. Do I need a licence to ride a scooter in Chiang Mai? Yes. Legally you need either a Thai motorcycle licence or an International Driving Permit with a motorcycle endorsement plus your home licence. Riding without one voids most travel insurance, which is the part that actually costs people money after an accident. Should I rent a scooter or a car? A scooter for the inner city — it's faster, cheaper and easier to park. A car if you live in the outer areas, have children, or plan to drive in the wet season. Plenty of residents end up with both. Is there public bus service in Chiang Mai? The RTC Smart Bus runs fixed routes including the airport, the Old City and Nimman, air conditioned and cheap. Coverage is limited compared with songthaew, but on the routes it serves it's comfortable and predictable. Keep exploring ## Related sections ![Forested mountain ridges and mist in the valleys near Chiang Mai](/images/misc/forested-mountain-ridges-north-of-chiang-mai-with-.webp) Travel ### Day Trips & Nature Day trips beyond the city, nature and travel connections. [Day Trips & Nature →](/day-trips-and-nature/) ![Thai baht notes and a market receipt on a wooden table in Chiang Mai](/images/misc/thai-banknotes-and-coins-beside-a-market-receipt-a.webp) Living in Chiang Mai ### Cost of Living Realistic budgets and spending breakdowns for living in Chiang Mai. [Cost of Living →](/cost-of-living/) ![A quiet Chiang Mai soi with cafés, scooters and the old city wall behind](/images/misc/quiet-chiang-mai-soi-lined-with-low-buildings-cafe.webp) Neighbourhoods ### Neighbourhood Guides In-depth guides comparing Chiang Mai's core inner neighbourhoods. [Neighbourhood Guides →](/neighbourhood-guides/) Newsletter ## Get the Brief in your inbox Twice a month: new openings, events, changes worth knowing about, and our latest guides. No filler. You're on the list Check your inbox: the next Brief goes out within a fortnight. ![Evening view across Chiang Mai rooftops toward Doi Suthep](/images/misc/evening-view-over-chiang-mai-rooftops-with-doi-sut.webp) The Chiang Mai Brief ## Keep up with Chiang Mai Twice a month we send the openings, changes and guides worth knowing about. It takes two minutes to read. Subscribe to the Brief [/newsletter/ →](/newsletter/) Explore the Guides [/guide/ →](/guide/)