Renting a Car or Scooter in Thailand: Is It Insured?

Updated: 17 October 2026
Compiled by PrakanThai.com

It's high season. A visitor in Phuket rents a scooter for a few hundred baht a day. The shop keeps the passport and says, "It's insured." On day three the scooter clips a car turning into a side street, and the shop asks for repairs to both vehicles, over THB 30,000 in total.

"Insured" can mean nothing more than compulsory insurance. This guide explains what cover a rental vehicle has, which costs fall on you, and what to ask before you sign.

What does a rental vehicle's insurance cover in Thailand?

Short answer: Every rental vehicle must carry compulsory motor insurance (CMI), which pays only for injury and death, not for repairs to the rental or the other party's vehicle. Voluntary insurance such as Class 1 or 3+ is the owner's choice, and your rental agreement sets the excess and deposit you are liable for. The simple rule: before you sign, ask what class of insurance the vehicle has, and how much you pay if something happens.

What insurance might a rental vehicle have?

For a full explanation of compulsory and voluntary cover, see Compulsory vs Voluntary Car Insurance in Thailand Explained

What should you ask before signing a rental agreement?

1. What insurance does the vehicle have besides CMI? Ask to see the policy page or the insurer's name
2. The excess: how much you pay per incident if the vehicle is damaged, and whether it is written in the agreement
3. The deposit: how much, when it is returned, and what it can be deducted for
4. Who may drive: whether the agreement names the driver, and which licence is required
5. Who to call: get the shop's number and the insurer's claims number before you leave

Before you take the vehicle, photograph and video it all round, with the mileage and fuel level, as evidence of existing damage.

Worked example: a rented scooter clips a car

• Scooter repairs cost THB 8,000 and the car's repairs THB 25,000. You are at fault
• If the rental has CMI only: 8,000 + 25,000 = THB 33,000 in repairs may fall on you under the agreement
• If the rental has 3+ and the agreement sets a THB 3,000 excess: the insurer considers the claim under its terms, and you pay the THB 3,000 excess under the agreement

This example is for illustration only. The actual amount depends on the vehicle's insurance, who is at fault and your rental agreement.

Does your licence affect the rental's insurance?

Yes. Under the standard policy terms, if the driver has never held a licence, holds the wrong class of licence, or has been disqualified, and is at fault, the insurer may refuse to pay for repairs to the insured vehicle. With a rental, the shop will usually charge you under the agreement. To ride a scooter you should hold a motorcycle licence, not just a car licence. Check with the Department of Land Transport that your licence is valid for driving in Thailand.

Who pays your own medical costs?

The rental's CMI pays an initial amount for injury of up to THB 30,000 per person, at actual cost. Anything above that depends on your own health or accident insurance. Short-stay visitors should rely on travel insurance bought at home, and check that it covers riding a motorbike.

Foreigners living legally in Thailand can buy accident insurance here, such as Happy PA, which states that it covers riding or riding pillion on a motorbike up to the sum insured, under the policy terms.

What do you do after an accident in a rental?

1. If anyone is hurt, call 1669 or 191. Foreigners can call 1155, the Tourist Police
2. Call the rental shop and the insurance number in your agreement straight away
3. Photograph the scene, every vehicle and the other party's licence plate
4. Don't agree to pay or sign anything you don't understand. Wait for the insurer's representative

Full steps: Car Accident in Thailand: What to Do, Step by Step

Want us to review your cover? What do you need to send?

Just 2 things

1. Your date of birth and visa type
2. Whether you rent a car or a scooter, and for how long

We suggest accident insurance that accepts foreigners, or short-term car insurance if you have bought a vehicle, and send a quote within one working day, in English or Thai.

LINE Official: @prakanthai · Tel. +66 2 459 2223

Frequently asked questions

The shop wants to keep my passport. Should I agree?

Some shops keep passports as security. Ask whether they accept an alternative, such as a cash deposit or a copy, because you need your passport to check in at hotels and to leave the country.

I fell off with no other vehicle involved. Does the rental's insurance pay?

It depends on the class. Class 1 covers accidents with no other party under its terms. 2+ and 3+ cover the vehicle only in a collision with an identified vehicle.

The rental was stolen. Who is responsible?

If the vehicle has insurance that covers theft, such as Class 1 or 2+, the insurer considers the claim under its terms. Your own liability is set by the rental agreement, for example if you left the key in the vehicle.

Can a friend drive my rental?

It depends on the agreement and the policy. Some agreements name the driver. If someone else drives and there's an accident, you may be liable. Ask the shop first.

Who approves claims?

The vehicle's insurer assesses and pays claims. Costs between you and the shop follow the rental agreement. Prakanthai, as a broker, explains the conditions and looks after policies bought through us.

Note
This article is based on the Protection for Motor Vehicle Accident Victims Act B.E. 2535, the policy wording published by the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) and the standard motor policy terms, as at 17 October 2026. It is general information, not part of any insurance contract or rental agreement, and not legal advice. Acceptance and claims payment are decided by the insurer. Prakanthai.com is a non-life insurance broker, not an insurer, licence no. 5104000004, serving customers since 2004. Read the policy and the rental agreement in full before you decide.