Car And Motorbike Insurance ?, How Does It Work In Thailand ?

[paul1970]

I have never owned a car in Thailand as until now I never really needed one, but now with a sprog on the way I'm will be buying soon. I am actually going to be buying 2 cars, one an old probably Suzuki jeep for teaching the gf to drive in (value less than 100k) and as a knock about and the second will probably be a new Fortuner (value 1.4M). So any advice on what insurance level you would recommend and how much I can expect to pay.

The Toyota garage quoted insurance at 26000 pa but the gf didn't ask what level coverage that was !

Anyway I was wondering if anybody has information on how insurance works in Thailand ? As I understand it there is the lowest class insurance at around 700B pa, <deleted> is covered with that ??? I guess this may be OK for the old car as if it gets written off or damaged <deleted> it's less than 100k.

As for the Fortuner I would probably go for max coverage, does 26000pa sound about right for the maximum level or do you think I was quoted an intermediate level maybe the same as TPF+T in the UK ?

Also does anyone know if there is a compulsory insurance for bikes as well or does it only apply to cars ?

Thanks for any advice and sorry if this has been covered elsewhere.

[ThaivisaInsurance]

The Toyota garage quoted insurance at 26000 pa but the gf didn't ask what level coverage that was ! That would be for 1st Class (Fully comprehensive)

Anyway I was wondering if anybody has information on how insurance works in Thailand ? As I understand it there is the lowest class insurance at around 700B pa, <deleted> is covered with that ??? I guess this may be OK for the old car as if it gets written off or damaged <deleted> it's less than 100k.

Please look at the excellent explanation on Thai Visa : http://insurance.thaivisa.com/news/car-ins...hould-know.html

As for the Fortuner I would probably go for max coverage, does 26000pa sound about right for the maximum level or do you think I was quoted an intermediate level maybe the same as TPF+T in the UK ? See above

Also does anyone know if there is a compulsory insurance for bikes as well or does it only apply to cars ?

Again please look at the Thai Visa explanation : http://insurance.thaivisa.com/our-products/motorcycle-insurance.html

[torrenova]

I also bought a vehicle when I had a baby on the way so I've been down your road.

I bought a new truck which came with "free" insurance as well as other things (bells and whistles etc.). You can try a further discount on the price and get your own insurance. Certainly find out the insurance company the garage would use if included.

One critical point to note here is that there is no "new for old" here if say you had a total loss within 6 months or a year. All insurances have an agreed value and it is likely that this value will be set at 80% of the new value you pay for your car. So on Bt1.4m, you could lose Bt280,000 if you totalled it driving off the forecourt !

So what I did was ask for the insurance % to be raised to 90% or 95%. This was easily arranged and noted on the paperwork for an extra fee of a couple of thousand baht. Thus, I would lose only 5% if I had a total loss.

When renewal came around, the offer from the original company was rubbish so I shopped around, bearing in mind that some insurers are more financially stable than others.

Originally they quoted a value of something like 70% of the new value as they based it on my having only 80% in the first year. When they saw my paperwork showing the higher insured value and after looking at the vehicle and taking photos they agreed a valuation of 85% I think of the new value. The cost was marginally more than the 70%. You also have the option of main dealer or contract dealer to fix any accidents.

For renewal I was quoted something like Bt29k but got the renewal with AXA through Thai Visa I might add for about Bt18k (main dealer would have been another 8k or so for the year). I chose contract dealer as it is my impression (based on some fact and not just a whim) that some things will go to the main deal anyway and others will get farmed out to a contract garage.

Unless you have found an old banger then be prepared to pay loads for a car which would be worth £50 or less in the UK. Seriously. Not much at only Bt100k and still safe. If you have time then ok but not an easy task.

As for no claims here then it is on the car as is the insurance rather than the person. Thus a car which has accidents could be called an "unlucky" car rather than a bad driver ! Any accident you claim for forfeits all the no claims no bear that in mind as well.

If you have an accident where an uninsured Somchai hits you and he is 100% in the wrong then they will try and make you claim on your 1st class (fully comprehensive) insurance. <deleted> to that. You could lose 50% no claims but they don't know that and think it is somehow all magically free ! Stand your ground and they will (in my expereince) pay up to avoid police and the rest. Remember the police may have no interest in helping you.

I was in Pattaya so could visit TV Insurance at their offices. I have no business with them save for a pollicy etc. but trying to deal with insurance companies direct when you don't speak teir language is hard as I found out. It is doubtful that your Thai partner knows anything at all about any form of insurance so they cannot make any judgement calls even if they speak perfect english.

As for bikes I know nothing as I would never have one.

Congratulations on your forthcoming arrival. Happy to talk om PM if you want to.

[henryalleman]

The Toyota garage quoted insurance at 26000 pa but the gf didn't ask what level coverage that was ! That would be for 1st Class (Fully comprehensive)

Anyway I was wondering if anybody has information on how insurance works in Thailand ? As I understand it there is the lowest class insurance at around 700B pa, <deleted> is covered with that ??? I guess this may be OK for the old car as if it gets written off or damaged <deleted> it's less than 100k.

Please look at the excellent explanation on Thai Visa : http://insurance.thaivisa.com/news/car-ins...hould-know.html

As for the Fortuner I would probably go for max coverage, does 26000pa sound about right for the maximum level or do you think I was quoted an intermediate level maybe the same as TPF+T in the UK ? See above

Also does anyone know if there is a compulsory insurance for bikes as well or does it only apply to cars ?

Again please look at the Thai Visa explanation : http://insurance.thaivisa.com/our-products/motorcycle-insurance.html

That would be for 1st Class (Fully comprehensive)

I did visit the website

http://insurance.thaivisa.com/news/car-ins...hould-know.html

but there are some thinghs not clear to me.

1 Personal Accident - Minimum should be 100,000 Bt. per person

whats meaning personal accident?

2 Medical Treatment - Should be minimum 100,000 Bt.

are this medical treatments of injuries of yourself, your passengers and the third party, and is this limited to amount agreed in the contract? Is their a possibility to make this an unlimited amount.

3 is there a legal assistance provided in case of a law suit, and if so do you have the fre choice of lawyer?

Many times I read about a 24 hours road assistance. Can somebody explaine what kind of service that is?

In Europe this is meaning that when you have some technical problem on the road they send a mechanic to fix the prblem and you only pay for the spare parts, if they can not fixit on the spot they tow you free of charge to the next dealer ship and provide you with a free of charge rental car for the time needed to repair.

Is this so in Thailand?

Thanks in advance for the given information

[ThaivisaInsurance]

The Toyota garage quoted insurance at 26000 pa but the gf didn't ask what level coverage that was ! That would be for 1st Class (Fully comprehensive)

Anyway I was wondering if anybody has information on how insurance works in Thailand ? As I understand it there is the lowest class insurance at around 700B pa, <deleted> is covered with that ??? I guess this may be OK for the old car as if it gets written off or damaged <deleted> it's less than 100k.

Please look at the excellent explanation on Thai Visa : http://insurance.thaivisa.com/news/car-ins...hould-know.html

As for the Fortuner I would probably go for max coverage, does 26000pa sound about right for the maximum level or do you think I was quoted an intermediate level maybe the same as TPF+T in the UK ? See above

Also does anyone know if there is a compulsory insurance for bikes as well or does it only apply to cars ?

Again please look at the Thai Visa explanation : http://insurance.thaivisa.com/our-products/motorcycle-insurance.html

That would be for 1st Class (Fully comprehensive)

I did visit the website

http://insurance.thaivisa.com/news/car-ins...hould-know.html

but there are some thinghs not clear to me.

1 Personal Accident - Minimum should be 100,000 Bt. per person

whats meaning personal accident?

As the words suggest, an accident to yourself i.e. not a 'natural' problem

2 Medical Treatment - Should be minimum 100,000 Bt.

are this medical treatments of injuries of yourself, your passengers and the third party, and is this limited to amount agreed in the contract? Is their a possibility to make this an unlimited amount.

Yes the amounts are fixed - but may be increased if required

3 is there a legal assistance provided in case of a law suit, and if so do you have the fre choice of lawyer?

The Insurance company will supply a Lawyer if necessary

Many times I read about a 24 hours road assistance. Can somebody explaine what kind of service that is?

In Europe this is meaning that when you have some technical problem on the road they send a mechanic to fix the prblem and you only pay for the spare parts, if they can not fixit on the spot they tow you free of charge to the next dealer ship and provide you with a free of charge rental car for the time needed to repair.

Please see attached for details of Roadside Assist - with 24/7 English speakers

Is this so in Thailand?

Thanks in advance for the given information

Roadside_Service.doc

[henryalleman]

The Toyota garage quoted insurance at 26000 pa but the gf didn't ask what level coverage that was ! That would be for 1st Class (Fully comprehensive)

Anyway I was wondering if anybody has information on how insurance works in Thailand ? As I understand it there is the lowest class insurance at around 700B pa, <deleted> is covered with that ??? I guess this may be OK for the old car as if it gets written off or damaged <deleted> it's less than 100k.

Please look at the excellent explanation on Thai Visa : http://insurance.thaivisa.com/news/car-ins...hould-know.html

As for the Fortuner I would probably go for max coverage, does 26000pa sound about right for the maximum level or do you think I was quoted an intermediate level maybe the same as TPF+T in the UK ? See above

Also does anyone know if there is a compulsory insurance for bikes as well or does it only apply to cars ?

Again please look at the Thai Visa explanation : http://insurance.thaivisa.com/our-products/motorcycle-insurance.html

That would be for 1st Class (Fully comprehensive)

I did visit the website

http://insurance.thaivisa.com/news/car-ins...hould-know.html

but there are some thinghs not clear to me.

1 Personal Accident - Minimum should be 100,000 Bt. per person

whats meaning personal accident?

As the words suggest, an accident to yourself i.e. not a 'natural' problem

2 Medical Treatment - Should be minimum 100,000 Bt.

are this medical treatments of injuries of yourself, your passengers and the third party, and is this limited to amount agreed in the contract? Is their a possibility to make this an unlimited amount.

Yes the amounts are fixed - but may be increased if required

3 is there a legal assistance provided in case of a law suit, and if so do you have the fre choice of lawyer?

The Insurance company will supply a Lawyer if necessary

Many times I read about a 24 hours road assistance. Can somebody explaine what kind of service that is?

In Europe this is meaning that when you have some technical problem on the road they send a mechanic to fix the prblem and you only pay for the spare parts, if they can not fixit on the spot they tow you free of charge to the next dealer ship and provide you with a free of charge rental car for the time needed to repair.

Please see attached for details of Roadside Assist - with 24/7 English speakers

Is this so in Thailand?

Thanks in advance for the given information

thanks a lot