Do foreigners need accident insurance in Thailand even if not planning on driving? (2024)

When visiting Thailand, is it a requirement that you purchase some insurance? It’s a complicated question and very much depends on your travel plans. If you are concerned, do visitors need vehicle insurance while in Thailand? The short answer is no. This is because if you plan to rent a car, car rental companies are required by law to ensure that rental vehicles have car insurance coverage. However, that is not to say that you shouldn’t look for additional insurance coverage to protect you, especially if you intend to live, work, study, or enjoy a long holiday in Thailand. Sure, your travel insurance will cover you if you plan on staying for a month or less, but if you are planning to stay for three months or more and have a Thailand resident address, the travel insurance policies can get quite expensive If you were to get hurt while long term holidaying in Thailand, you would want to be sure that you have some kind of accident insurance to cover any medical treatment while visiting a local hospital. This is especially true if you plan to engage in any extreme sports or activities that would increase your chances of getting an injury.

Why should you seek out additional personal accident insurance coverage in Thailand?

While you may feel comfortable enough with the standard auto insurance that comes with a typical car rental in Thailand, it is always worth considering additional protection that will protect you personally from any unexpected medical costs especially if you plan on riding a motorcycle. Here’s why:

You’re traveling to unfamiliar places: You can be the most experienced traveler in the world and feel like you’ve gotten to know the roads after being here for a month. That doesn’t change the fact that you’re still in an unfamiliar location — no matter how strong or skilled — the rules and norms are different from your home country or what’s in the guidebooks. As such, it is not uncommon for people to get a personal injury while on a long holiday and require a visit to the local hospital.

You are riding on unfamiliar roads

Another important consideration when planning to stay in Thailand, is whether you plan to rent a motorcycle or motorbike? Unlike renting a car that automatically comes equipped with auto insurance, when you rent a motorbike in Thailand, in some cases, your motorbike will not have an insurance policy. There are many reasons as to why this is and the intricacies of the legalities are a whole different subject. While it may not be possible for foreigners to purchase motorcycle insurance because they aren’t the owners of the vehicle, it is possible to buy accident insurance according to the conditions of each insurance company at a low cost, which can cover you for a whole year and save you significantly more than getting long term travel insurance. Here’s why it’s a good idea: you will be riding in a foreign country and doing so on unfamiliar roads with different driving customs. Sure, Google Maps or SatNav will certainly help you find your way around, but that doesn’t change the fact that you will be unfamiliar with your surroundings. As such, it is important that you are completely covered for every eventuality, including potential road accidents. Having adequate insurance coverage is essential to protect yourself in case of unforeseen circ*mstances on the road.

Thai roads aren’t the safest in the world

This isn’t to put fear in you and put you off driving or crossing the street in Thailand. The roads are safe enough provided that you pay attention to your surroundings and don’t run through traffic after a night out. However, you may come across your fair share of roads that have fallen into disrepair or a large number of motorbikes on the roads that seem to follow their own legal system. So much so that even the sidewalks could be used by motorbikes when traffic congestion hits peak time. Whether you’re a driver, a pedestrian or even just a passenger on a motorbike taxi, your chances of getting a personal injury are higher on Thai roads than the roads back home.

The annual road accidents in Thailand are comparatively high

In 2020 and 2021, there were approximately 97,000 minor injuries caused by road accidents in Thailand; with a further 32,000 accidents that resulted in moderate injury as claimed by the Thai Transport Ministry. This is compared to 27,450 in 2020 as reported by the UK government. As such, it is important to be completely covered in the event of a road accident whether in a rented vehicle or a passenger on a motorcycle taxi.

Things to do and activities in Thailand

No doubt that while you are in Thailand, you will not sit in a hotel the entire time and will want to go out and partake in some additional activities that are less commonly found in your home country. While it may depend on your interest, certain activities may increase your risk of personal accidents. A significant number of foreigners decide to have a long term stay in Thailand for the pristine blue waters and white sand beaches and many choose to go kayaking or renting jet skis. While kayaking could be a relatively safe pass time, if you fall off in shallow water, chances are high that you would step on a sea urchin or sharp coral. That is not an injury you would want to leave untreated because you didn’t want to spare a bit of cash on an insurance policy. Additionally, many other activities in Thailand may not appear as ‘extreme’ but are still considered as ‘extreme sports’ because they increase your level of risk for a personal accident. Some higher risk activities for foreigners in Thailand would include jet skiing, rock climbing at Railey beach, ziplining around the hills of Chiang Mai, water rafting the River Kwai, hiking around Doi Inthanon or even riding a bicycle around Bang Krachao in Bangkok. If you plan to stay busy while on holiday, definitely consider topping up your coverage with some basic PA insurance.

Travel safely!

Whether you are a long term holiday stayer wanting to bump up your protection, or you are an expat living in Thailand and looking for comprehensive insurance coverage on a new vehicle, Roojai is always there when you need us.

Don’t waste your time sifting through different comparison websites; Find out why locals choose Roojai and save up to 30% on their insurance premiums. Check your quote with Roojai.com and allow us to cut through all of the nonsense and get straight to protecting you and yours!

Definitions:

Author by

Roman S Rybiy

Read more articles by this author