How many types of car insurance are there in Thailand?
Compare the cover of each type, then pick the one that fits your car and how you use it.
Car insurance in Thailand comes in two groups: PRB (พ.ร.บ.), which the law requires for every car, and voluntary insurance you choose to add. Voluntary cover comes in 5 main types: Type 1, 2+, 2, 3+ and 3. They differ in when they pay to repair your own car, and whether they cover theft and fire.
Last updated 17 October 2026
Compulsory and voluntary car insurance: what's the difference?
PRB (พ.ร.บ.), or compulsory third-party liability insurance, is required by law for every car. It covers medical costs, disability and death for people hurt by the car, including the driver, passengers and people outside it. It does not pay to repair anyone's car or property.
Voluntary insurance is cover you buy on top of PRB to protect property: repairs to your car, repairs to the other party's car and other people's property damaged in an accident. It also covers injury and death of third parties above the PRB limits.
Every voluntary type covers your liability to the other party and third parties when you are at fault. What sets the types apart is the cover for your own car: which collisions it pays to repair, and whether it covers theft, fire or flood. If you already know which type you want, compare premiums from several insurers on the car insurance comparison page.
Comparison of the 5 car insurance types and PRB
| Coverage | Type 1 | Type 2+ | Type 2 | Type 3+ | Type 3 | PRB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damage to your car, no other vehicle involved | Covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered |
| Damage to your car, collision with an identified land vehicle | Covered | Covered | Not covered | Covered | Not covered | Not covered |
| Theft | Covered | Covered | Covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered |
| Fire | Covered | Covered | Covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered |
| Flood | Depends on plan | Depends on plan | Depends on plan | Depends on plan | Not covered | Not covered |
| Broken glass, no other party | Covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered |
| The other party's car and third-party property | Covered | Covered | Covered | Covered | Covered | Not covered |
| Third-party injury and death | Covered | Covered | Covered | Covered | Covered | Covered |
| Medical expenses for driver and passengers | Depends on plan | Depends on plan | Depends on plan | Depends on plan | Depends on plan | Covered |
| Personal accident (death, disability) | Depends on plan | Depends on plan | Depends on plan | Depends on plan | Depends on plan | Covered |
| Bail bond for driver | Depends on plan | Depends on plan | Depends on plan | Depends on plan | Depends on plan | Not covered |
This table summarizes the usual cover of each type. Limits, deductibles and actual conditions follow each insurer's policy. Some Type 1 plans cap or exclude flood. Standard Type 2+, 2 and 3+ policies don't cover flood, but some plans add flood or natural disaster cover. Medical expenses, personal accident and bail bond cover may or may not be in a plan, so check the quote before you buy. No type of car insurance covers wear and tear, or breakdowns that are not caused by an accident.
What each type of car insurance covers, and who it suits
Ordered from the widest cover for your own car to the least. GengMak compares plans of every type from several insurers, so you can see the difference before you choose.
Type 1 car insurance
Type 1 has the widest cover of any voluntary type. It pays to repair your car after an accident, both when you hit another vehicle and when no other vehicle is involved, such as hitting a post, scraping a wall or driving into a pothole. It also covers theft, fire and usually flood, plus your liability to the other party and third parties. That is why finance companies usually require Type 1 on cars still being paid off.
See Type 1 car insurance and get a quoteWhat does Type 1 cover?
- Repairs to your car after a collision with another vehicle, whether you were at fault or not
- Repairs to your car when no other vehicle is involved, such as reversing into a post or rolling over
- Theft and fire, paid up to the sum insured
- Broken glass even with no other party
- The other party's car and property, and third-party injury and death, when you are at fault
Depends on the plan
- Flood: usually covered, but some plans cap or exclude it, so check the quote
- Medical expenses, personal accident and driver bail bond, included in many plans
What doesn't Type 1 cover?
- Wear and tear, such as tires, brake pads or a worn-out battery
- Engine or electrical breakdowns that are not caused by an accident
- Repairs to your car in cases the policy excludes, such as a driver who is drunk or has never held a license and is at fault
Who is Type 1 for?
- New cars, or cars up to 5 years old that you want repaired at the dealer
- Cars up to 10-15 years old that still need full cover with garage repair, depending on the insurer
- Cars still being paid off with a finance company
- New drivers, or people who drive every day and often go long distances
- People who park on the street or live in flood-prone areas
Type 2+ car insurance
Type 2+ sits between Type 1 and Type 3+. It pays to repair your car after a collision with a land vehicle, such as a car or motorcycle, as long as the other party can be identified, and it also covers theft and fire. Liability to the other party and third parties is covered as in every other type. For the same car, Type 2+ usually costs less than Type 1.
See Type 2+ car insurance and get a quoteWhat does Type 2+ cover?
- Repairs to your car after a collision with an identified land vehicle
- Theft and fire, paid up to the sum insured
- The other party's car and property, and third-party injury and death, when you are at fault
Depends on the plan
- Flood and natural disasters: some plans cover them and some don't, so check the quote
- Medical expenses, personal accident and driver bail bond
What doesn't Type 2+ cover?
- Accidents with no other vehicle, such as hitting a post or a tree, or running off the road
- A collision where the other driver leaves and can't be identified
- Wear and tear, and breakdowns not caused by an accident
Who is Type 2+ for?
- Cars around 3-7 years old that still have reasonable value
- Careful drivers who rarely have single-car accidents
- People who park in open car parks and still worry about theft or fire
- Owners who have paid off their car and want a lower premium than Type 1, but still want repairs after a collision with another vehicle
Type 2 car insurance
Type 2 covers your car only for theft and fire, plus your liability to the other party and third parties. It does not pay to repair your car after any collision, with another vehicle or on your own. That is the main difference from Type 2+, which adds repairs to your car after a collision with an identified land vehicle.
See Type 2 car insurance and get a quoteWhat does Type 2 cover?
- Theft, paid up to the sum insured
- Fire damage to your car
- The other party's car and property, and third-party injury and death, when you are at fault
Depends on the plan
- Flood and natural disasters: some plans cover them and some don't, so check the quote
- Medical expenses, personal accident and driver bail bond
What doesn't Type 2 cover?
- Repairs to your car after any collision, with or without another party
- Wear and tear, and breakdowns not caused by an accident
Who is Type 2 for?
- People more worried about theft and fire than about collision repairs
- Cars used rarely but parked outside or in public car parks
- People ready to pay for their own repairs after a collision
Type 3+ car insurance
Type 3+ usually has the lowest premium of the types that still pay to repair your car. It pays only after a collision with a land vehicle where the other party can be identified, and covers your liability to the other party and third parties, but not theft or fire. It suits people who want basic cover for car-to-car collisions.
See Type 3+ car insurance and get a quoteWhat does Type 3+ cover?
- Repairs to your car after a collision with an identified land vehicle
- The other party's car and property, when you are at fault
- Third-party injury and death above the PRB limits
Depends on the plan
- Flood, offered as extra cover by some plans, so check the quote
- Medical expenses, personal accident and driver bail bond
What doesn't Type 3+ cover?
- Theft
- Fire
- Accidents with no other vehicle, or where the other party can't be identified
- Wear and tear, and breakdowns not caused by an accident
Who is Type 3+ for?
- Cars 7 years old or more whose value has dropped
- Cars used rarely, or parked somewhere safe such as at home or in a building
- Careful drivers who want a lower premium but still want repairs after a collision with another vehicle
Type 3 car insurance
Type 3 doesn't cover your car, but it covers the other party. It pays for the other party's car and property, and third-party injury and death, when you are at fault. You pay for your own repairs, theft and fire yourself. If the other party is at fault, you can claim your repairs from them or their insurer.
See Type 3 car insurance and get a quoteWhat does Type 3 cover?
- The other party's car, when you are at fault
- Other people's property damaged by your car, such as a fence or wall
- Third-party injury and death above the PRB limits
Depends on the plan
- Medical expenses, personal accident and driver bail bond
What doesn't Type 3 cover?
- Repairs to your car after any collision
- Theft and fire
- Flood or natural disaster damage to your car
Who is Type 3 for?
- Older cars with little value left, where you're ready to pay for your own repairs
- People who want third-party cover beyond PRB for a low premium
- Cars used very rarely, or kept as a second car
Which type should you choose?
Start with your car's age and value, whether it's still being paid off, and what worries you most. The examples below are a starting point, not fixed rules.
New car, or still on finance
Choose Type 1. Finance companies usually require it, and cars up to 5 years old can usually still get dealer repair.
Car 3-7 years old, driven every day
Type 1 with garage repair, or Type 2+ if you want a lower premium and still worry about theft or fire.
Car 7 years or older, rarely used
Type 3+ pays to repair your car after a collision with another vehicle for a lower premium. If theft still worries you, look at Type 2+.
Parked on the street, or in a flood-prone area
Type 1 covers theft and fire, and usually flood, though some plans cap or exclude it, so check the quote. If you choose Type 2+ or 3+, check that the plan covers flood.
New driver
Type 1, because it pays for repairs even with no other vehicle involved, like reversing into a post in a car park or scraping your gate.
Only want cover for the other party
Type 3 covers the other party for a low premium. If you also want your car repaired after a collision with another vehicle, choose Type 3+.
Dealer repair or garage repair: how to choose
With Type 1 you can usually choose dealer repair or garage repair. Dealer repair means repairs at the brand's service center. It costs more than garage repair, and is usually for cars up to 5 years old, depending on the insurer.
Garage repair means repairs at a garage in the insurer's network. It is available for cars up to about 10-15 years old, depending on the insurer. So a car past the dealer-repair age can still have Type 1, and switching to garage repair lowers the premium noticeably.
For any type that pays to repair your car, check the insurer's list of network garages or dealers before you buy, and see whether one is near your home or work. Repairs close to home make a claim much easier.
Sum insured and deductibles: what to look for
The sum insured is the most the insurer pays for your car itself, for example when it is a total loss, stolen or burned. Set it close to your car's current market value. Set it too low and the payout after a theft may not be enough to replace the car. Set it too high and you pay more premium than you need to.
A deductible is the amount you pay yourself first when you claim. Some are set by the policy, for example when you claim without an identified other party, and some you choose yourself to lower the premium. Before you buy, check when the plan you picked has a deductible.
Third-party limits, such as the limit for the other party's property per accident and for injury or death per person, differ from plan to plan. When you compare plans of the same type, look at these figures too, not just the premium.
PRB and voluntary insurance: do you need both?
PRB (พ.ร.บ.) is required by law for every car, and you need it to renew your annual road tax. Without it you can be fined. Type 1, 2+, 2, 3+ and 3 are voluntary and not required by law, but finance companies usually require Type 1 on cars still being paid off.
PRB covers medical costs and death for people hurt by the car, but it doesn't pay for repairs to cars or property. The big costs that often follow an accident, such as repairs to your car, the other party's car or someone's fence, need voluntary insurance. That is why most cars have both PRB and at least one type of voluntary cover.
Common exclusions in every type of car insurance
In these cases the insurer usually doesn't pay for your car. In some of them it still pays the other party first, then claims the money back from the policyholder.
- The driver is drunk and at fault
- The driver has never held a license, or has had it revoked, and is at fault
- Using the car for racing
- Using the car differently from what the policy states, such as declaring private use but driving for hire
- Wear and tear, and breakdowns not caused by an accident
- Damage from acting in bad faith, such as damaging the car on purpose to claim
How to compare car insurance and find a plan that's worth it
Choose the type first, then compare plans of that type from several insurers. Check these 6 things.
- Compare plans of the same type with a similar sum insured
- Check dealer or garage repair, and whether a network garage is near you
- Check the deductible and when you have to pay it
- Check the limits for the other party and third-party property
- For Type 2+ or 3+, check whether the plan covers flood
- Check each insurer's roadside assistance and how to report a claim
Important
Actual cover, limits, deductibles and exclusions follow each insurer's policy and the plan you choose. Read the quote and conditions before you buy. If you have questions, message our team on LINE.