Car Insurance in Thailand: Compulsory Cover, Voluntary Classes and Claims
The Two Layers of Thai Car Insurance
Thai car insurance has two layers: compulsory insurance (พ.ร.บ., "Por Ror Bor"), legally required and a prerequisite for renewing your annual road tax, and voluntary insurance sold in Classes 1, 2 and 3 with plus variants. Driving with only the compulsory policy is legal but leaves you badly exposed — it covers third-party bodily injury only, with no cover at all for vehicle damage or property.
What Does Por Ror Bor Pay?
- Initial medical expenses regardless of fault, up to about 30,000 THB per person
- After fault is determined, medical cover rises to about 80,000 THB per person
- Death or disability benefit of about 500,000 THB per person
- Not covered: your own car, the other car, or any property damage
The premium is fixed by vehicle type — around 600-1,200 THB per year for a private car. Amounts follow the current rules of Thailand's insurance regulator (OIC).
Which Voluntary Class Should You Buy?
| Class | Coverage | Reference premium (THB/year) |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 (comprehensive) | Own damage incl. single-car accidents, theft, fire, third-party injury and property | approx. 12,000-25,000 |
| Class 2+ | Theft, fire, own damage from collision with an identifiable vehicle, third party | approx. 7,000-12,000 |
| Class 3+ | Own damage from collision with an identifiable vehicle (capped), third party | approx. 6,000-9,000 |
| Class 3 | Third-party injury and property only | approx. 2,000-5,000 |
The usual advice: Class 1 for a car's first three to five years; Class 2+ or 3+ for older, lower-value cars. Watch the "identifiable vehicle" clause in 2+/3+ — single-car accidents (hitting a tree, scraping a wall, reversing into a pillar) are not covered. That is the core difference from Class 1.
What Drives the Premium?
- Repair type: dealer garage repair (som hang) costs 20%-40% more than general garage repair (som u)
- Named drivers: naming 1-2 drivers earns a discount, but claims with an unnamed driver at the wheel may be reduced or carry an extra deductible
- No Claim Bonus (NCB): the discount grows each claim-free year up to 50%, and transfers when you switch insurers — have the new company verify it before renewal
- Deductible: choosing a deductible lowers the premium; you absorb minor scrapes yourself
What to Do When You Have an Accident
- Injuries first: call 1669 for an ambulance, then police 191
- Call your insurer's hotline immediately and wait for the claim surveyor — in Thailand the surveyor comes to the scene and issues the liability paperwork
- Photograph everything: damage, positions, the other plate, the whole scene
- For minor undisputed accidents both sides can go through their insurers' fast-track process, but never settle privately without surveyor paperwork and expect to claim later
- With the surveyor's claim slip (bai claim), take the car to an approved garage
Where People Lose Money
- No valid license at the time of the accident: driving without a Thai license (or a recognized international permit) gives the insurer grounds to refuse the claim — the single most common trap for foreigners
- Drink or drug driving: always excluded, and the compulsory insurer will recover its payouts from the driver
- Private roadside settlements with no paperwork: if the other party backtracks or injuries worsen, you can neither claim nor prove liability
- Lapsed policies: driving with expired compulsory insurance is itself an offense, and you can't renew the road tax
FAQ
Is driving with only compulsory insurance enough?
It's legal but strongly discouraged. Por Ror Bor pays nothing for vehicle or property damage — hit a luxury car or cause serious injury and everything beyond the caps is out of pocket. Third-party property is a high-frequency risk in Bangkok; carry at least Class 3.
Will insurance pay if I was driving on my home-country license?
Risky. Most policies require a Thai license or a recognized international driving permit; an unrecognized national license lets the insurer refuse. If you live in Thailand, get the Thai license before you drive — see our Thai driver's license guide.
Should I move the car after a minor accident?
With no injuries, photograph the full scene and then move aside to avoid an obstruction fine. With injuries or disputed fault, keep the scene intact and wait for police and the surveyor. Unsure? Call your insurer's hotline first and follow their instructions.
Need Help?
TaiHuBang assists with car ownership and insurance matters: plain-language policy review, class comparison, claim communication support and legal referral for refused claims. See our legal consulting service, or submit an inquiry — a consultant will reply within 24 hours.