How to Register Grab Account without a Phone Number

Posted on 29/11/24 12:44 pm

How to Register Grab Account without a Phone Number

Are you going to spend your next vacation in Thailand or Malaysia? Then, you’ve probably heard that in South-Asian countries, there are significant issues with public transport. The truth is that these countries lack public transport altogether, except for Tuk-Tuk amateur scooters. The solution to this problem would be to register for a Grab account to order taxis from wherever you are and travel around the country without any issues.

However, the app requires SMS verification. What can you do if you don’t have a Malaysian phone number? The solution is to purchase a temporary phone number to receive the Grab code. Let’s learn more about this, but first, let’s explore some history and the main benefits of this South-Asian app.

What is Grab?

Grab is the leading taxi-ordering aggregator in Southeast Asian countries. In addition to taxi-booking, it also offers other transportation-related services, such as food and grocery delivery. So far, Grab operates in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar.

Initially, the app was created by Harvard students Tan Ling and Andrew Tan. They developed an Uber-like taxi-booking app to improve logistics in their native country, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asian countries. This region is known for its severe lack of public transport, relying instead on Tuk-Tuk amateur scooters and private drivers. Unfortunately, the latter often inflate prices, rig meters, and cheat passengers by charging higher prices for rides.

The app’s initial functionality resembled Uber’s early version. Here’s how a typical Grab user would use the app: the passenger would enter a pick-up point and destination, then select a car type. The app’s algorithms would find the most suitable option and display the ride price and estimated arrival time.

However, the app quickly gained significant success, prompting the team to expand the services and launch a bike taxi-booking service in Singapore. In 2016, the company was rebranded as Grab to continue its expansion. Grab expanded to cover all types of transport for urban travel and later added services such as food delivery, grocery shopping, and parcel delivery. This is how Grab became the first Southeast Asian super app, providing a full ecosystem of services for mobility and convenience, meeting the demands of modern customers.

Grab App Services

Here is an overview of the Grab app’s services:

  • GrabTaxi: Classic metered taxis.
  • GrabCar: Private cars (Uber-like) with a fixed price.
  • GrabVan: Minivan cars.
  • GrabCar+/Lux: Premium private cars (available in some countries).
  • GrabBike: A motorcycle taxi service for those who prefer two-wheel vehicles.
  • GrabFamily: Private cars equipped with a child seat (for children up to 7 years).

In addition, Grab account holders can access other services in the app’s ecosystem:

  • GrabFood: A food delivery service that allows you to order ready meals from cafes, restaurants, and other eateries, as well as groceries to be delivered to your doorstep.
  • GrabPay: Grab’s proprietary payment system, integrated with all of its services. With GrabPay, you can pay for a taxi, food orders, grocery shopping, and more. It also includes a QR-code scanner for convenient and secure payments.
  • GrabExpress: A service for individuals and businesses to send and receive parcels, documents, and other items via taxi delivery.

Pros & Cons to Consider for Grab Users

According to various user reviews, here are the main benefits of using Grab:

  • GPS-based: This is essential in South Asian countries, where most locals don’t speak English. Explaining a route verbally can often be difficult.
  • Built-in messaging chat with translation: This feature simplifies communication between the driver and passenger, reducing the risk of misunderstanding or confusion. You can also attach screenshots for clearer explanations.
  • Tracking feature: You can track the driver’s location on the map, see their arrival time, and be ready when they arrive.
  • Fixed price: You can see the final cost of the ride right after entering your location and destination. However, additional charges may apply if riding a paid track.
  • Loyalty program: Grab offers a loyalty program where account holders can earn bonuses and promo codes, such as a 50-batt bonus or a discount coupon for the next ride.

Despite these advantages, there are some downsides:

  • Long waiting times during rush hour: It can take up to 20 minutes to get a car during peak or nighttime hours.
  • Paid app: Grab charges a 25-batt monthly fee for using the service.

After learning about the key features of Grab, let’s see how to register for Grab.

Why Do You Need to Register a Grab Account?

Grab taxi-ordering services solve many issues for both locals and tourists. For locals, it provides a quick way to order a taxi to get from one point in the city to another. The service is highly demanded due to its affordability (and limited alternatives).

For foreigners visiting Thailand, Bali, or other South Asian countries, GrabTaxi is an invaluable tool when traveling to or from the airport. Normally, there is no transfer option, and taking a regular taxi can be costly. It’s common for Thai drivers to pretend not to understand English and manipulate the meter to charge more.

What’s more, GrabTaxi is a very convenient tool for tourists looking to move across cities and explore local sights.

How to Register for Grab as a Customer

The registration process for customers is quite standard:

When you open the app after installation, it will first ask you to enter your mobile number to receive a Grab code and secure your account and data. After that, you will need to provide your name and grant permission for location access, as the app relies on GPS. That’s it! Now you can start using your Grab account.

The only challenge might arise from the lack of a local SIM card for account verification. However, this can be easily solved with modern technology. Next, let’s see how you can register for a Grab account without a phone number.

How to Create a Grab Account Without a Phone Number

If you need to register on a foreign platform or app, there’s no longer a need to purchase a local SIM card. It’s much easier and more convenient to buy a virtual phone number from the SMSOTPVerify platform.

Virtual phone numbers are special tools operating on remote virtual software that allow you to receive SMS just like conventional mobile numbers. This is a reliable method to receive a one-time password (OTP) for completing account verification on modern online platforms that require 2FA for additional security. This is why it can help with Grab account registration.

These numbers are also useful for accessing platforms or apps that are restricted in your area or require a local number for registration. Additionally, you can buy multiple numbers at once for multi-accounting or rent a long-term number for use in various services for up to 3 months. The price is very affordable, starting from $0.16 per number (depending on the platform).

How to Buy a Phone Number for Grab Using SMSOTPVerify

  1. Join SMSOTPVerify via social media.
  2. Click "Top Up" in the top-right corner to add funds to your account. Both traditional (fiat) and crypto payments are accepted.
  3. In the "Receive SMS" tab, choose the country and the service you need. Click “Purchase.”
  4. Scroll down to "History" and copy the number provided there.
  5. Use this number to apply it in the Grab registration form.
  6. In your SMSOTPVerify account, retrieve the Grab code and use it to verify your account.

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