Vehicle insurance in thailand

<font color='#000000'>Vehicle insurance in Thailand covers only the vehicle.  You must be included to have coverage under the policy for both

automobile and motorcycles/motorbikes.

Compulsory Government vehicle insurance – the square sticker you must have on the windshield to pay your road tax.  It pays 80,000 baht in case of death and 15,000 baht for medical expenses.

Voluntary Vehicle Insurance pays in excess of Compulsory, is available in 3 levels of coverage – 1st Class, 2nd class & 3rd

class.  

1st Class pays for 3rd Party injury up to 1,000,000 Baht per person and property damage up to 2,500,000 Baht.  It also pays for the repair of your own vehicle.  

2nd Class pays 3rd Party liability and fire and theft to your own vehicle.  

3rd class only pays for 3rd Party Liability i.e. injury to persons and damage to property outside of your own vehicle.

All 3 classes have a 200,000 baht bond to keep you out of jail if you are in an accident.

If you are in an accident, the first thing to do is call your

insurance company.  Have your cell phone with you, and your

insurance company’s phone number immediately available at all times while driving. Talk as little as possible to anyone else until Your Insurance Company Surveyor gets there.  Settlements are sometimes made right at the accident site – if you are injured or there is real damage to your vehicle, don’t settle it unless you are sure the amount is more than adequate for you and your vehicle if the other party is at fault.  Your Insurance Company representative should go to the police station with you.  

If there is a question as to who is at fault, your insurance may settle the case while you are there. Very few traffic accidents get to Court in Thailand because it can take two or three years at least - most cases are settled at the Police Station. Only the police have the final say as to who is right or wrong in an accident but they do not cover accidents on private property, parking lots, etc.

Motorcycle Insurance – Third party coverage is about 3000 baht.  

Many motorcycle dealerships sell theft insurance - not third

party coverage – also about 3000 baht.

International drivers license – is accepted in Thailand, is

valid for a year.  You need either the International drivers license or a Thai drivers license to drive in Thailand.

If you are renting a car, ask to see the insurance coverage, it should be in English (unless you read Thai), and it should be

un-named driver coverage.

Health insurance – cheaper policies have limits for number of

days of coverage, and daily limits for room, etc.  More expensive international policies generally have a single limit, and cover everything up to that limit.  Costs are based on age & policy limit.  Pre-existing conditions are not covered, unless there are special provisions.  Most commercial policies

in Europe and (probably) the USA limit coverage to 45 days in

another country.

Source:

Paul Chow, PCD Insurance, Pattaya

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