Motor Insurance

The best motor insurance for expats in Thailand

According to Thai law both passenger vehicles and motorcycles are required to have compulsory insurance. However, this provides only modest cover for damage to people, not property. For further information on compulsory motor insurance you can visit the underwriter’s website at http://www.rvp.co.th/

As a foreigner living in Thailand, it is critical to seek advice and ensure you obtain the best motor insurance for expats in Thailand – for example there are some companies who offer 24 hours roadside assistance help lines in languages such as English, French, German and Japanese which can be an invaluable aid if you are involved in a motor accident.

A brief drive in and around any urban area in Thailand should provide you with sufficient evidence to convince you that a more comprehensive insurance cover is probably more appropriate. In the event of an accident you cannot rely on the other party having adequate insurance, and so there is every chance that the only insurance that you will be able to make a claim on is your own.

What should my motor insurance policy cover?

The coverage available varies with the age of the car, so choose the most comprehensive policy you can. The format, coverage and price should not vary much from company to company, so select a reputable insurance company that covers:

Medical Treatment to cover injury to the driver, passengers and any third parties.
Third Party Liability to cover any damage you may cause to people and/or property
Damage to your own vehicle
Bail Bond as necessary in the event that you are arrested and detained by the police.
Personal Accident for injury to driver, passenger and any third parties.

Words of Warning…
The levels of cover offered in the event of an accident may not be what you expect. For example, the benefit for medical expenses on many first-class policies is limited to THB 200,000 per person, which this is likely to be inadequate in the event of a serious accident.

Car Insurance Value-Added Services

Some of the policies available offer add-ons which can be quite attractive to any motorist. These include:

Roadside assistance
24 hours English speaking hotline numbers
Courtesy cars in the event that your car is off the road for a prolonged period.
Accommodation in the event that you are stranded away from home
Installment payments to the customers

Roadside assistance

Cars have become more and more reliable and mechanical or electrical breakdowns are far less frequent than they used to be. However, even if you car is relatively new, please consider the following:

According to one leading roadside assistance company, more than 36% of the services they provided involved vehicles less than one year old.
Typically the average time to be attended to by a quality assistance company is less than 45 minutes, thus avoiding hours of standing by the side of the road.
The most common issues are flat batteries, type problems, fuel problems and keys being locked in the car etc, not always mechanical breakdowns.