Thailand

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

Transport Operator Licence Required

Yes

Yes, for the company operating the trucks. Under the Land Transport Act, carrying goods for hire by truck without a fixed route is “non-fixed route transport” and requires a licence from the DLT. A company carrying only its own goods in its own trucks needs a different licence, for “private transport”. A professional mover carrying a client’s household goods for payment falls under non-fixed route transport.

Majority Thai Ownership Required

Yes, for a company holding a DLT transport licence. The Land Transport Act requires a limited company holding a transport licence to be at least 51% owned by Thai nationals. Separately, the Foreign Business Act lists domestic land transport as a restricted business, so a company that is half or more foreign-owned needs permission from the Minister of Commerce, with Cabinet approval, before it can operate domestic transport. The DLT has also stated that transport licences cannot pass to foreign owners through a takeover.

Vehicle Registration and Driver Licensing Required

Yes, where the mover operates its own trucks. Each truck must be registered with the DLT. Drivers of goods vehicles need a driving licence issued under the Land Transport Act, in a class that matches the truck’s laden weight, rather than an ordinary private driving licence.

Compulsory Motor Insurance

Secondary sources report that every vehicle must carry compulsory motor insurance, known locally as “Por Ror Bor”, under the Protection for Motor Vehicle Accident Victims Act B.E. 2535 (1992); this has not yet been verified against the statute text. It would apply where the mover operates its own trucks. This insurance covers death and bodily injury to accident victims. It does not cover the goods being carried. This research could not confirm any rule requiring movers to insure customers’ goods, so customers should ask what protection, if any, is offered.

Carrier Liability Rules

Set by the Civil and Commercial Code, as summarised in secondary sources (the statute text has not yet been checked for this page). A carrier is generally liable for loss of, damage to, or late delivery of goods unless it proves an excepted cause, such as force majeure or the nature of the goods. The carrier is not liable for valuables such as cash, jewelry, or precious items unless their value was declared. A clause on a receipt or waybill that excludes or limits the carrier’s liability is void unless the customer expressly agreed to it.

Consumer Protection

Yes. The Consumer Protection Act B.E. 2522 is Thailand’s general consumer protection law, administered by the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB).

Consumer Complaint Resources (For Movers Not Vetted as ITMs)

Yes. The OCPB accepts consumer complaints and offers mediation between the consumer and the business. Where mediation fails and the matter affects consumers more broadly, the Consumer Protection Board can appoint a public prosecutor or legal officer to take legal action.

Industry Association

None found. No dedicated Thai household-moving trade association was identified in this research.

OverviewOverview & Scope

Thailand regulates the business of carrying goods for hire at the company level, through a transport operator licence from the Department of Land Transport. This is closer to the licence-the-company model used in Malaysia and mainland China than to the vehicle-only model used in Singapore and Hong Kong. For a household goods mover, the relevant licence is for non-fixed route transport by truck: carriage for hire with no set route. The licence attaches to whichever company operates the trucks. A mover that uses its own trucks needs it directly. Where a mover subcontracts the trucking, the carrier’s own licence covers the transport it performs, and the mover uses carriers that hold it. Ownership is the most distinctive requirement. A licensed company must be at least 51% Thai-owned, and domestic transport is also a restricted business for foreign-majority companies under the Foreign Business Act. Liability for the goods follows the carriage provisions of the Civil and Commercial Code, and consumer complaints go to the Office of the Consumer Protection Board.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Company licensing

1. Obtain a non-fixed route transport licence for trucks from the DLT if the company operates its own trucks to carry clients’ goods.
2. Confirm that Thai nationals hold at least 51% of the company if it holds a DLT transport licence, as the Land Transport Act requires.
3. If the company is half or more foreign-owned, obtain permission under the Foreign Business Act before carrying out any domestic transport.

Subcontracted transport

4. Where transport is subcontracted, use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own trucks)

5. Register every truck with the DLT.
6. Ensure every driver holds the correct class of Land Transport Act driving licence for the truck’s laden weight.
7. Keep compulsory motor insurance in force for each truck (reported in secondary sources; confirm with the DLT).

Customer practices

8. Ensure consumer-facing practices comply with the Consumer Protection Act B.E. 2522.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• DLT non-fixed route transport licence for trucks heldWhere applicable (mover operates its own trucks)Verified by DocumentRequired
• At least 51% Thai ownership (Land Transport Act Section 24(3))Where applicable (company holds a DLT transport licence)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Foreign Business Act permission heldWhere applicable (company is half or more foreign-owned and carries out domestic transport)Verified by DocumentRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own trucks)

• Every truck registered with the DLTWhere applicable (mover operates its own trucks)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Every driver holds the correct Land Transport Act driving licence class for the truck’s laden weightWhere applicable (mover operates its own trucks)Verified by DocumentRequired

Customer practices

• Contracts and practices comply with the Consumer Protection Act B.E. 2522Verified by AffirmationRequired