Car and Motorbike Insurance in Thailand: A Practical Guide

A scooter can be inexpensive to buy and still cause an expensive accident. A car can have its annual tax sticker up to date and still leave its owner paying another driver's repair bill. In Thailand, “the vehicle is insured” is only the start of the conversation.

The useful question is what happens in a specific situation: you damage a parked car, drop your bike without hitting anyone, discover it has been stolen, or need a repair while living in Hua Hin. This guide explains the cover to look for, the questions to ask and why Roojai is worth considering when you want a straightforward online option.

Referral disclosure: Ananas Insider may receive a reward if you buy through our Roojai referral links. Any rewards or offers depend on Roojai's current terms.

Start with the compulsory policy: Por Ror Bor

Por Ror Bor is Thailand's compulsory motor insurance. It provides defined benefits for people injured or killed in road accidents. It is not comprehensive car or bike cover, and it is not a substitute for a broader medical policy.

The distinction that catches people out is property damage. As Roojai's compulsory-insurance explanation makes clear, Por Ror Bor does not pay for damage to your vehicle or someone else's vehicle. Theft and flood damage to the vehicle are not included either. Benefits have limits and conditions; do not read a maximum benefit as the amount every injured person automatically receives.

Keep compulsory cover current and check it separately from your voluntary policy. A road-tax payment, a voluntary-insurance renewal and a compulsory-insurance renewal are not the same transaction. If you want Roojai to arrange both policies, check the quote: its current compulsory-insurance page offers Por Ror Bor as an add-on to voluntary insurance, not a standalone purchase.

What Type 1, 2+, 3+, 2 and 3 actually tell you

Voluntary insurance is the extra protection you choose. The type gives you a useful starting point, but you still need the policy schedule: the document showing your vehicle, drivers, limits, excess and dates.

Type	Usual starting point	Question to ask
1	The broadest package: third-party liability, damage to your vehicle, theft and fire.	Are single-vehicle accidents, flood damage and the repair option I want included?
2+	Third-party liability, qualifying collisions with another vehicle, theft and fire.	Must the other vehicle be identified? What happens if I hit a wall?
3+	Third-party liability and qualifying collisions with another vehicle.	What evidence of the other vehicle is needed? Theft and fire are generally outside this type.
2	Third-party liability, with theft and fire cover for your vehicle.	Can I afford my own collision repairs, which this type does not normally cover?
3	Third-party liability rather than cover for damage to your own vehicle.	Are the liability limits adequate, and can I fund replacement of my own vehicle?

This is an orientation, not a promise that every insurer sells identical benefits. Roojai publishes separate car plans and motorbike plans. Check availability for your actual make, model, age and use before choosing a type.

The plus sign deserves attention. For example, Roojai's Type 3+ motorcycle page links own-bike collision cover to an identified third party. Falling on a slippery road without another vehicle is a different event. Ask that question directly rather than assuming the word “accident” settles it.

Why we suggest getting a Roojai quote

Roojai is a useful place to start if you prefer to compare options online instead of arranging everything through an office visit. It offers car and motorcycle quotations, an English-language website and customer-service channel, and app-based claim options. Those are practical conveniences for a foreign resident organising cover in Thailand.

Our recommendation is to get a quote and check it against your needs. We are not claiming that Roojai is the cheapest for every driver, that every vehicle will qualify, or that we have personally tested its claims service. A clear online process is valuable, but the accepted quotation and policy wording still decide what you are buying.

Need insurance for your car or bike? Explore Roojai through our referral link and check your insurance options. Choose the relevant vehicle product and review the cover before paying. The link is a referral, not a guarantee of a discount or acceptance.

Compare the bill you could face, not just the premium

A cheaper annual premium can come with a larger amount for you to pay after an accident. That contribution is often called the excess or deductible. Ask when it applies, whether more than one excess can apply, and whether the amount changes when a driver is not named on the policy.

Get two quotations on the same basis. Use the same drivers, vehicle value, annual use, repair option and cover dates. Then check these points:

• Liability: limits for injury to other people and damage to their property, including any per-person and per-accident limits.
• Your vehicle: the insured value, covered causes of damage, theft conditions and treatment of accessories or modifications.
• Repairs: which garages you can use, whether dealer repairs are included, and what approval is needed before work begins.
• People in the vehicle: separate medical or personal-accident benefits and their limits, rather than assuming everyone has unlimited treatment.
• Practical help: towing, roadside assistance, replacement transport and whether each is included, optional or unavailable.

If you live in Hua Hin, ask for suitable repair options near your home before buying. A national network is useful only if the available repair arrangement works for your vehicle and circumstances. Roojai's claims page links to a garage finder by province.

Flood cover needs its own question

Do not assume every Type 2+ policy excludes flooding, or that every policy mentioning natural disasters includes all of them. Roojai's current Type 2+ car page, for example, lists flood cover while excluding certain other natural disasters. That is a product-specific detail, not a rule for all policies or motorcycles.

Ask whether flood cover appears in your selected plan, what excess applies, and what you should do if the vehicle is flooded. Insurance is not a reason to drive through standing water. If the engine stops in water, get to safety and contact assistance for instructions instead of repeatedly trying to restart it.

For bike owners, licence and usage details are essential

Declare who will ride, the correct engine capacity and how the bike will be used. A car licence does not become a motorcycle licence because the bike has an automatic gearbox. See our guide to driving rules and licences in Thailand before taking to the road.

Personal use and earning money from the bike are different risks. Roojai's current FAQ says its motorcycle insurance is for personal use and does not cover food delivery or ride-hailing work. If that is your work, do not buy a personal-use policy on the assumption that you can explain it later. Ask for an appropriate product.

For a rented scooter or car, ask the owner for the actual insurance arrangements and rental contract. Do not assume an ordinary owner policy covers commercial rental use or your liability under that contract. Your travel insurer may separately restrict motorcycle engine size, licence categories or activities. Vehicle cover and cover for your own injuries need checking independently.

Before payment, ask for these details in writing

Send the insurer a short, specific request: “Please confirm the insured vehicle and value, accepted drivers and licences, intended use, excesses, repair option, flood and theft cover, liability limits, start date and any inspection required before cover begins.”

Read the exclusions and the documents for the actual product. Roojai keeps car and motorcycle policy wordings in separate sections. Ask which wording and endorsements apply to your quotation and how any English translation relates to the issued contract. Do not rely on a sales-page summary when a condition matters to you.

Make sure a vehicle inspection, if required, is completed and accepted, and that the effective time is confirmed. Paying, receiving an email and having active cover are not details to leave ambiguous. Save the policy and claims number where you can reach them without searching through old messages.

What to do after an accident

Get yourself out of immediate danger and call 1669 if someone needs emergency medical help. Contact the insurer promptly and follow police and insurer instructions. Photograph the vehicles and surroundings when safe, keep the other party's details, and avoid promising a private settlement before speaking to the insurer.

Roojai lists 02 080 9194 as its 24/7 claims hotline and 02 080 9196 for English customer service. Its claims guidance describes app/video and surveyor options. Keep your licence, registration and policy details available, and ask what additional documents your particular claim needs. Reporting a claim does not mean it has already been accepted.

Quick answers

Does Por Ror Bor pay for another driver's damaged car?

No. Compulsory motor insurance covers defined injury and death benefits, not vehicle damage. Third-party property cover is something to check in a voluntary policy.

Does Type 3+ cover dropping my bike without another vehicle?

Do not assume so. Roojai's Type 3+ motorcycle description ties own-bike collision cover to an identified third party. Check the exact terms for single-vehicle accidents before buying.

Can I buy the cheapest plan now and add cover after an accident?

You cannot insure an accident that has already happened by buying or upgrading afterwards. Arrange the cover you need before driving, with the start time and any inspection requirements confirmed.

You do not need the longest list of benefits. You need a policy that matches your vehicle, your drivers and the bills you could not comfortably pay yourself.

Ready to arrange cover? Use our Roojai referral link to explore car or motorbike insurance, then check the quotation against the questions above. We recommend considering its online service; buy only once the terms fit your situation.

Product information checked September 2026. This guide is general information, not a personal insurance recommendation. Cover, eligibility, prices and referral offers can change.