Renew car compulsory motor insurance (CMI) online in 2026: check the cover dates match your tax cycle before you buy
- Published: 1 September 2026
Renew car compulsory motor insurance (CMI) online in 2026: check the cover dates match your tax cycle before you buy
Renew car compulsory motor insurance (CMI) online in 2026: check the cover dates match your tax cycle before you buy
Compulsory motor insurance (CMI) is not just something you need to renew your vehicle tax; it is the basic cover required by law for drivers, passengers and third parties who are injured or killed by a vehicle.
From 1 September 2026, when you buy CMI to renew your vehicle tax, you need to check more carefully that the start and end dates line up with your tax cycle. Choosing the wrong dates may leave a gap in cover or a policy period too short for the tax renewal.
That is why Prakanthai.com recommends sending your car details and expiry dates for a check before you pay, especially if your current CMI and your tax disc expire on different dates.
The 30-second summary
- Private saloon or 4-door pickup with up to 7 seats: the 1-year premium is usually THB 645.21
- Preliminary medical expenses at actual cost, up to THB 30,000 per person, without waiting for liability to be proven
- Once it is proven that you are not legally liable, medical expenses up to THB 80,000 per person in total
- Death or total permanent disability, up to THB 500,000 per person, subject to conditions
- Maximum total cover per person: THB 504,000
- Maximum total limit per accident: THB 20 million
- CMI covers death and bodily injury; it does not cover car repairs or property
Not sure which start and end dates to choose?
Send photos of your registration book and current CMI, and your tax expiry date, for the Prakanthai.com team to check the cover period before you pay.
Check cover dates and renew CMI on LINE
LINE Official: @prakanthai | Tel: +66 2 459 2223
Car CMI prices 2026
| Private-use vehicle type | Typical premium incl. tax and duty for 1 year |
|---|---|
| Saloon / 4-door pickup, up to 7 seats (RY.1) | THB 645.21 |
| Pickup truck, up to 3 tonnes (RY.3) | THB 967.28 |
| Private van, more than 7 seats (RY.2) | THB 1,182.35 |
Prices in the table are rates for private-use vehicles with a 1-year cover period. Other vehicle types, uses and cover periods may have different premiums.
From 1 September 2026, if the cover period is set at less than 1 year, or more than 1 year but no more than 2 years, the premium is calculated pro rata by the day. So let our team check your registration book, your current CMI expiry date and your tax expiry date before confirming the actual amount.
Send your registration book on LINE to check the price and cover period
What does car CMI cover?
Cover comes in 2 tiers, which need to be kept clearly apart
1. Preliminary compensation—no need to wait to prove who is at fault
| Loss | Limit per person |
|---|---|
| Medical expenses and necessary treatment costs, paid at actual cost | Up to THB 30,000 |
| Dismemberment, permanent disability or death, in the cases set out in the policy | THB 35,000 |
| Where there are medical expenses as well as a qualifying loss or death | Up to THB 65,000 in total |
Preliminary compensation is part of the total amount of cover, not a limit added on top in every case.
2. Compensation above preliminary compensation
This part is considered after it has been proven that the victim is not legally liable
| Loss | Amount of cover per person |
|---|---|
| Medical expenses for injury, at actual cost | Up to THB 80,000 in total |
| Death or total permanent disability | THB 500,000 |
| Permanent disability | THB 300,000 |
| Loss of a finger at or above the knuckle | THB 200,000 |
| Loss of one body part as set out in the policy | THB 250,000 |
| Loss of two or more body parts as set out in the policy | THB 500,000 |
| Daily compensation when treated as an inpatient | THB 200 per day, up to 20 days |
The maximum total cover is THB 504,000 per person and THB 20 million per accident in total. Actual payment depends on liability, the facts, documents and the policy conditions.
How much does a driver at fault receive?
The driver of the insured vehicle who is the liable party is covered up to preliminary compensation only. For passengers, third parties and other victims, entitlement is assessed according to liability and the conditions of each case.
So the statement “CMI pays THB 500,000 to everyone” is not entirely accurate.
What does CMI not cover?
CMI focuses on bodily injury or death of road accident victims, so it is not cover for
- Repairs to your own car
- Repairs to the other party's car
- Damage to walls, lamp posts, buildings or other property
- Theft, fire or flood
- An excess (deductible) or loss-of-use compensation
If you want cover for car repairs or third-party property, you need voluntary motor insurance as well, such as Class 1, 2+ or 3+.
How does CMI differ from Class 1, 2+ and 3+ insurance?
| Point | CMI | Voluntary motor insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Required by law | Yes | Not compulsory |
| Covers death and injury to victims | Up to the statutory limits | Up to the policy limits and conditions |
| Covers repairs to your car | Not covered | Depends on the class and the covered event |
| Covers the other party's property | Not covered | Covered up to the policy limit |
| Used to renew vehicle tax | Yes | Cannot replace CMI |
Even if you already have Class 1 insurance, your car still needs CMI, because they are different types of policy that do different jobs.
New CMI period rules from 1 September 2026
Key rules under Registrar's Order No. 17/2569 (2026) include
- The standard CMI period is 1 year
- The insured may ask for a period shorter than 1 year, or longer than 1 year but not more than 2 years
- If the period is not 1 year, the premium is calculated pro rata by the day
- If CMI is used to renew vehicle tax, cover must run continuously at least until the tax expiry date of the cycle being renewed
In practice, don't buy short-term CMI just because it is cheap or based only on the old expiry date. Also check which tax cycle you will use it to renew and whether the cover runs to the tax expiry date of the new cycle.
Documents that help you set the right dates
- The registration details page of your vehicle registration book
- Your current CMI policy
- Your vehicle tax disc, or a screenshot from the DLT or Tang Rat app showing the tax expiry date
When asking for a price check, you can cover up unrelated personal information first. Never send your OTP or password to anyone.
Can I cancel CMI after buying it?
CMI is not a policy the insured can freely cancel for any reason. Under the conditions as amended by Registrar's Order No. 16/2569 (2026), the insured may cancel when there is evidence that
- The vehicle has been legally taken out of use, or
- The vehicle has more than one overlapping CMI policy
Selling or transferring the car, switching insurer or changing your mind may not be enough reason to cancel, because when a car is transferred, the existing policy stays with the car and the new owner is treated as the insured for the rest of the policy period, under the policy conditions.
So always check that the registration number, chassis number, start date and end date are correct before you pay.
What do I need to renew CMI?
For an initial check, send the following to the Prakanthai.com team
- A photo of the vehicle details page in the registration book
- Your current CMI, if you have one
- The tax expiry date from your tax disc or a government app
- The date you want cover to start
- A phone number or LINE ID for us to send the details back to
Our team will check the vehicle type, start and end dates, and the premium for the period before the policy is issued. The insurer issues the policy, while Prakanthai.com acts as a non-life insurance broker and coordinates for customers.
Send your details to renew CMI on LINE Official
LINE: @prakanthai
Call +66 2 459 2223
What should I do if there is an accident?
- Help the injured and get them to a hospital quickly
- Notify the insurer that issued the CMI, and the police when the incident requires legal proceedings
- Keep medical receipts or invoices, medical certificates and proof of identity
- In the event of death, prepare the death certificate and the documents of the heirs or entitled persons as the insurer requires
- Claim preliminary compensation within 180 days of the date of the loss
Under the policy conditions, the insurer must pay preliminary compensation within 7 days of receiving the claim and supporting evidence. The insurer may ask for further documents depending on the facts of the incident.
If you don't know which insurer a vehicle's CMI is with, or the vehicle was uninsured or it was a hit-and-run, you can ask Road Accident Victims Protection Company Limited on 1791 or the OIC (Office of Insurance Commission) on 1186 for advice on your case.
Frequently asked questions about car CMI
Is car CMI the same price at every insurer?
Premium rates are set by vehicle type and use under regulated rules. Insurers may have different permitted sales channels or promotional terms, but check the net price, cover period and details of the issuing insurer before you pay.
Does CMI cover me if I have no driving licence?
Having no driving licence does not automatically take away the rights of passengers or third parties, because CMI exists to protect road accident victims. However, a driver who is the liable party receives no more than preliminary compensation, and may also face separate legal liability or penalties for driving without a licence.
Does CMI still cover victims if the driver was drunk?
The rights of passengers and third parties are assessed under the law and the CMI conditions, while a driver who is the liable party receives no more than preliminary compensation. Drink-driving also carries separate criminal penalties and other liabilities. Having insurance does not mean you can avoid liability.
I already have Class 1 insurance. Do I still need to buy CMI?
Yes, because Class 1 is voluntary insurance and cannot replace CMI.
Does CMI cover damage to cars?
No. CMI covers bodily injury and death of victims; it does not pay for car repairs or property.
Can I buy short-term CMI to renew my vehicle tax?
From 1 September 2026, although you can ask for a period of less than 1 year, if you use it to renew your tax, the cover must run to the tax expiry date of the cycle being renewed, so the dates must be checked before the policy is issued.
Does CMI end as soon as I sell or transfer the car?
It does not end automatically. The new owner is treated as the insured under the existing policy for the rest of its period. Cancellation must meet the set conditions.
Do electric cars need CMI?
Electric vehicles that must be registered and are used on the road need compulsory motor insurance just like engine-powered vehicles. The vehicle type in the registration details must be checked so that the premium is set correctly.
Renew CMI on the right dates and avoid problems when renewing your tax
Don't just ask “how much is CMI?”, because from 1 September 2026 the start date, end date and your vehicle tax cycle matter as much as the price.
Send photos of your registration book and current CMI, and your tax expiry date, for the Prakanthai.com team to check before you pay. If you want cover for car repairs or the other party's property, our team can compare Class 1, 2+ or 3+ insurance to suit your car and budget in the same chat.
Check cover dates and renew CMI on LINE
LINE Official: @prakanthai
Call +66 2 459 2223
Website: www.prakanthai.com
Prakanthai.com has been providing non-life insurance services since 2004 and is run by Mr Prasert Kiatveerapat, non-life insurance broker, licence no. 5104000004.
Important note: This content is general information and is not part of the insurance contract. Rights and claim payments depend on the facts, legal liability, the policy schedule, and the policy's conditions and exclusions. The insurer decides on underwriting and claims. Buyers should check the vehicle type, price, start and end dates, and the details of the issuing insurer before paying.
References
Price: - | Start date: 10 August 2026 |
End date: - |
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