How many types of car insurance are there? How Class 1, 2+ and 3+ cover differs
- Published: 27 July 2020
- Category: Insurance guides
How many types of car insurance are there? How Class 1, 2+ and 3+ cover differs
How many types of car insurance are there? How Class 1, 2+, 3+, 2, 3 and 4 differ
First published: 27 July 2020
Last reviewed and updated: 9 August 2026
Content reviewed by: Prasert Kiatveerapat, non-life insurance broker, licence no. 5104000004, providing non-life insurance services since 2004
The short answer
Voluntary motor insurance is divided into Class 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and the plans known as 2+ and 3+ fall under Class 5. The key differences are in which incidents the insurance pays for repairs to your car, whether it covers theft, fire or flood, and what the conditions are regarding the other party, drivers, the excess (deductible) and where the car is repaired.
To put it as simply as possible:
- Class 1 gives the widest cover for damage to your car, subject to the conditions.
- 2+ and 3+ cover your car in a collision with a land vehicle, under the stated conditions.
- Class 2 focuses on third parties, plus theft and fire, but does not cover repairs to your car after a collision.
- Class 3 focuses on third-party liability.
- Class 4 covers only damage to third-party property, up to the limit in the policy.
Compulsory motor insurance (CMI) and voluntary motor insurance are not the same thing
CMI is the compulsory motor insurance that every vehicle must have by law. Its main job is to cover injury or death of road accident victims under set rules, but it does not pay for repairs to your car or to the other party's property.
Class 1, 2+, 3+, 2, 3 and 4, on the other hand, are voluntary motor insurance, which helps with third-party liability and damage to your car depending on the class you choose. So even if you have voluntary insurance, your car still needs CMI.
One table says it all: how the cover differs between classes of car insurance
| Class | Third-party death / injury | Other party's property | Your car: collision with a vehicle | Your car: hitting an object / no other party | Theft / fire | Flood / natural disasters | Key points and who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Covered up to the liability and limits in the policy | Covered up to the liability and limits in the policy | Covered subject to the sum insured and conditions, whether you are at fault or not | The widest cover, e.g. hitting a post or fence, overturning, or no other party found, though an excess (deductible) may apply in some cases | Covered | Generally covered under own damage and the policy conditions | Suits new cars, high-value cars, cars on finance, cars used every day, or people who would struggle to pay a large repair bill themselves. Check the sum insured, drivers, garage / dealer repair and the excess (deductible). |
| Class 2 | Covered up to the liability and limits in the policy | Covered up to the liability and limits in the policy | Does not cover repairs to your car after a collision | Not covered | Covered | Generally not covered, unless an endorsement adds the cover | Suits people who can accept paying for their own collision repairs but still want protection against theft or fire. These days it is not sold as widely as 2+. |
| Class 3 | Covered up to the liability and limits in the policy | Covered up to the liability and limits in the policy | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Suits older cars or people who can pay for their own repairs, but want a liability limit for when they injure someone or damage other people's property. |
| Class 4 | No cover for this in Class 4 voluntary insurance; you rely on CMI for the rights set by law | Covers third-party property only, up to the limit in the policy | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Limited cover and not widely available. Suitable only for those who want basic protection against damage to other people's property. Read the policy schedule carefully. |
| 2+ (Class 5) | Covered as in basic Class 2, up to the limits in the policy | Covered as in basic Class 2, up to the limits in the policy | Covered in a collision with a land vehicle, subject to the definitions and evidence the policy requires | Generally not covered unless it is a collision with a land vehicle as defined in the conditions | Generally covered | Not standard in every plan; some products add it | Suits cars that still have value, where you want the insurance to help with repairs in a car-to-car collision but with a lower premium than Class 1. Check the sum insured, the condition that the other party must be identified, and the excess (deductible). |
| 3+ (Class 5) | Covered as in basic Class 3, up to the limits in the policy | Covered as in basic Class 3, up to the limits in the policy | Covered in a collision with a land vehicle, subject to the definitions and evidence the policy requires | Generally not covered unless it is a collision with a land vehicle as defined in the conditions | Generally not covered | Not standard in every plan; some products may add it | Suits older cars whose owners still want cover for their own repairs in a car-to-car collision, but can accept the risk of theft, fire and collisions with no other party. |
This table is an overview for comparison. Actual cover is governed by each insurer's policy schedule, insuring agreements, exclusions and endorsements. Limits for personal accident, medical expenses and driver bail bond may differ, so check them separately from the class name.
Which car insurance suits you? Decide in 30 seconds
- If your car is new, high-value or on finance, or you don't want to take on the risk of a large repair bill → start by comparing Class 1
- If your car is getting older but you still want cover for your own repairs in a car-to-car collision, and you still worry about theft or fire → compare 2+
- If you want cover for your own repairs only in a car-to-car collision, and theft or fire is not a priority → compare 3+
- If you can pay for your own repairs and want to focus on third-party liability → compare Class 3
- If you only want liability cover for other people's property up to a limited amount → check the details of Class 4 carefully
Vehicle age is just one factor. An 8-year-old car used for long journeys every day may need more cover than a 3-year-old car that is mostly parked. The right choice should take into account the car's value, how it is used, the drivers, where it is parked, flood risk and how much repair cost you can cover yourself.
Before you buy, don't look only at the words “Class 1” or “2+”
The class name only tells you the basic structure of the cover. What really makes two policies different are the following details:
- Is the sum insured on the car enough for its value?
- Is the limit for the other party's property enough for the damage that could occur?
- Do the named drivers match the people who actually drive the car?
- Is the vehicle use private, for hire, for deliveries or commercial?
- Which is specified: garage repair or dealer repair?
- When does an excess (deductible) apply, and how much is it?
- Do any endorsements add or reduce cover for flood, natural disasters, accessories or anything else?
For privately used combustion-engine cars, the new policy format used across the whole market from 1 January 2026 puts more emphasis on naming drivers and their driving records. Buyers should therefore declare the drivers who actually use the car and check that the policy is correct before paying.
Example: choosing cover based on “the damage you can bear yourself”
Suppose a car is worth THB 450,000, and it hits a wall and needs THB 120,000 of repairs:
- If you are not ready to pay THB 120,000 in repairs yourself, you should consider cover that protects your own car broadly, such as Class 1.
- If you can bear the risk of hitting a wall yourself but want the insurance to help in a car-to-car collision, you might consider 2+ or 3+.
- If you have savings to cover your own repairs and want protection against the cost of hitting someone else's expensive car, you might consider Class 3, paying close attention to the limit for the other party's property.
So the right way to think about it is not “the cheapest premium” but which incidents you are not ready to pay for yourself, and whether that policy really covers those risks.
Frequently asked questions
How many classes of car insurance are there in total?
Voluntary motor insurance comes in Class 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The 2+ and 3+ plans are specified-perils cover under Class 5, built on the cover of Class 2 or Class 3.
What is the difference between 2+ and 3+?
Both cover damage to your car in a collision with a land vehicle, subject to conditions, but 2+ generally includes theft and fire cover while 3+ generally does not. So check the policy schedule of the actual plan before you decide.
Does 2+ or 3+ insurance cover hit-and-run?
It depends on whether there is evidence that it was a collision with a land vehicle and whether it meets that plan's conditions on identifying the other party. If this cannot be proven, the damage to your car may not qualify under 2+ or 3+. Class 1 generally covers own damage more broadly, but an excess (deductible) may apply depending on the incident and the conditions.
Does Class 1 insurance cover everything?
No. Class 1 has the widest scope of cover for the car, but there are still exclusions, driver conditions, vehicle use, the excess (deductible), the sum insured and garage or dealer repair conditions to check.
Which class of insurance covers flood?
Class 1 generally covers flood damage under own damage and the policy conditions. 2+, 3+ or other classes may cover it only in certain products that add flood cover, so don't decide on the class name alone.
Should older cars always have Class 3?
Not necessarily. Look at the car's value, parts costs, how far it is driven, where it is parked, flood risk and how much repair cost the owner can cover. Some older cars are still well suited to 2+ or 3+ if the owner still wants cover for their own repairs.
Can I choose an insurance class for an EV the same way as for a petrol car?
The same principles for comparing classes of cover apply, but EVs need extra checks, such as named drivers, battery cover, software systems, charging equipment, the sum insured and the list of service centres or garages that can handle that model.
Get a comparison that suits your car
If you are still unsure whether to choose Class 1, 2+ or 3+, send your make, model, year, vehicle use, main driver and whether you want garage or dealer repair to the Prakanthai.com team, and we will compare the sum insured, cover, conditions and points to watch from multiple insurers.
[Talk to us on LINE @prakanthai] [Check premiums and compare plans] [Call +66 2 459 2223]
Prakanthai.com has been providing non-life insurance services since 2004, with a real office and team you can contact. We help from choosing your cover and checking your policy through to coordinating when something happens, while underwriting and claim decisions are subject to the insurer's conditions.