Insurance for Cars and Bikes in Thailand 🚗🏍️

Of course, you’d want to know how to protect yourself from unnecessary expenses if you suddenly find yourself in an unpleasant situation on the road with a rented vehicle.

So, what types of insurance are there? 📜

• Mandatory Insurance (comparable to European Green Card). It only covers damages to the health of those injured in an accident, up to a little over 500,000 baht per person (about 15,000 USD). This insurance is mandatory for all vehicles. Without it, you cannot pay the annual tax at the Transport Department, and without this tax, vehicle operation is prohibited. After paying the tax, each vehicle receives a colorful square token measuring 8×8 cm. It should be attached to the car’s windshield or placed in a clear tube near the seat (or under it) on a bike. Check the year! For example, in Thailand, the token should currently show the future year – 2569. Yes, the future is already here! 🚀 Just kidding. In this country, the calendar is based on the time since Buddha’s nirvana (543 BC).
• Class 2 Insurance. Designed for cars over 14 years old (they cannot get higher class insurance) or for owners looking to save money. This insurance partially (about 60-70%) covers damage to your car ONLY if there’s a second party involved in the accident (it also covers theft, fire, and natural disasters). IMPORTANT! If you crash a rental car with Class 2 insurance into a pole, wall, fall off a cliff, or if an elephant sits on your hood 🐘 — the insurance won’t cover it, as there’s no second party (elephants don’t count).
• Class 1 Insurance (full coverage). The usual and most common insurance in Thailand for cars up to 14 years old. It fully covers all types of damage to your car, whether or not there’s a second party involved. No further explanation needed, I think.
• Business Insurance. A specific subtype of Class 1 insurance, rarely used.

Add-ons for Class 2 and 1 Insurance 🔧

• Deductible. To save money, owners often choose insurance with a deductible of 4-5 thousand baht, and this amount is taken as a deposit. This is the amount you might lose in an accident since the owner would also lose it when filing an insurance claim.
• Additional Coverage Amount. Owners often opt for an extended package that covers third-party damages and property in a larger amount than usual. The more significant this amount, the more expensive the insurance. If you’re planning to show a Mercedes who’s boss on the road 💪, boldly nudging it out of the lane or pushing it at an intersection, such an addition would be handy — European cars here cost astronomical amounts due to high import duties.

Insurance Details to Clarify When Renting ❓

• What class is the insurance (Class 1 or Business — okay, if Class 2 — think twice);
• Is there a deductible and how much;
• Is there additional coverage in case you’re at fault in an accident;
• Check with the renter about the procedure in the event of a claim.

In conclusion, note that bikes with an engine capacity up to 250 cc aren’t insured in Thailand (only health damage, and not yours, but the person you hit, and only up to a maximum of 30,000 baht — just under 1,000 USD). Relatively normal insurance is available only for bikes from 350 cc and up, and not for all, with certain restrictions. So, cars are significantly more reliable in this regard. 🚙

Just a reminder — if you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs or don’t have the appropriate category of license (Thai or international) to operate the vehicle — no insurance will work! 🚫

We’ve selected professional car rental companies with proper insurance and reliable roadside assistance for you. We hope you’ll never need such help, but it’s always good to have protection.

Feel free to leave a car rental request on the Car Rental in Phuket page and enjoy your vacation on this paradise island!