Car Insurance Types in Thailand: Class 1, 2, 2+, 3 and 3+ Compared, and Which One Suits a Used Car

Thai car insurance classes differ on three questions: does it repair your own car, does there need to be another vehicle involved, and does it cover theft or fire. Class 1 covers the most, while class 3 only pays for damage you cause to others. This guide from Talata, the Thai marketplace that brings used car listings together in one place, compares every class and explains how to choose one for a used car. Terms vary by insurer.

How Many Classes of Car Insurance Are There, and How Do They Differ From Por Ror Bor?

Voluntary car insurance is the cover an owner chooses to buy on top of what the law requires, to protect their own car and their liability to other people. In Thailand you will come across five types: classes 1, 2 and 3 under the standard policy, plus class 2+ and class 3+, which insurers created by adding cover for your own car when you collide with another vehicle.

Compulsory insurance, known as Por Ror Bor, is something else. Every vehicle must have it by law, you need it to pay your annual car tax, and it pays medical costs and compensation for people injured or killed in an accident. It never pays to repair anyone's car.

So a car can, and usually does, carry both. Voluntary cover cannot replace Por Ror Bor: if the compulsory policy has lapsed, you cannot renew the car tax even with first class insurance in place. Our guide to how much Por Ror Bor costs lists the premium for each vehicle type.

Car Insurance Classes Compared: Coverage Table

One question makes the table easier to read. If you want the insurer to pay for repairs to your own car, your choices are class 1, 2+ and 3+. If you want it to pay even when no other vehicle was involved, only class 1 does that.

What Each Class Covers

What does class 1 car insurance cover?

Class 1, often called first class insurance, covers your car, other people and their property, including accidents with no other party, theft, fire and flood.

It suits cars that still have a high value, cars still under finance, and people who drive daily in traffic where small knocks are likely. The trade-off is the highest premium of any class.

What does class 2 car insurance cover?

Class 2 covers damage to other people, plus theft and fire of your own car, but it does not repair your car after a collision, whether or not another vehicle was involved.

It fits owners who worry more about theft than about crashes, for example someone who parks on the street every night but drives rarely and carefully.

What does class 2+ car insurance cover?

Class 2+ covers everything in class 2 and adds repairs to your car when you collide with another land vehicle whose owner can be identified, for instance from its number plate or dashcam footage.

The common misunderstanding is that 2+ repairs your car in every case. It does not. If you scrape a wall, reverse into a post, or the other car drives off and cannot be traced, 2+ will not pay for your repairs. Flood works the same way: 2+ only covers it if flood cover was added to the policy, so check the schedule.

What does class 3 car insurance cover?

Class 3 only covers damage you cause to other people, their bodies and their property. It does not cover your own car at all, whether from a crash, theft or fire.

Its strength is the lowest premium of any class. It makes sense for an old car whose value has dropped so far that a repair bill can approach the price of the car, or one that is only used for short, occasional trips.

What does class 3+ car insurance cover?

Class 3+ covers damage to others like class 3, and adds repairs to your car after a collision with an identified land vehicle, but it does not cover theft or fire.

It is popular for cars that are several years old but still used every day, where the owner wants someone to pay when they are hit but does not want to pay a class 1 premium.

How the Classes Differ: Side-by-Side Pairs

Class 2 vs class 2+

The difference is that 2+ repairs your car after a collision with an identified vehicle, while class 2 does not repair your car after any collision. Both cover theft and fire. If you drive in the city or use the car daily, 2+ is usually better value, because the extra premium is small compared with paying for repairs yourself.

Class 3 vs class 3+

The difference is that 3+ repairs your car after a collision with an identified vehicle, while class 3 never repairs your car. Neither covers theft or fire. If the car still has some value and spends a lot of time on the road, 3+ reduces the chance of paying out of your own pocket after someone hits you.

Class 2+ vs class 3+

The difference is that 2+ covers theft and fire and 3+ does not. Both repair your car after a collision with an identified vehicle. If you park outside your home, in public places, or own a model that is often stolen, look at 2+. If you have secure parking, 3+ saves on the premium.

Class 1 vs class 2+: which is better value?

Class 1 is better value when the car is still worth a lot, or when you want cover even with no other party involved. Class 2+ is better value when the car is several years old and the driver is confident the risk of a single-car accident is low.

A simple test: compare the yearly premium difference between class 1 and 2+ with the cost of one repair you would pay yourself after reversing into a post or scraping a wall. If the premium difference is close to a single repair bill, 2+ is usually the more sensible choice.

Which Insurance Class Should You Choose for a Used Car?

There is no fixed rule that a car of a certain age needs a certain class. What really matters is whether the car is under finance, how much it is worth compared with the yearly premium, where it is parked, and how often it is driven.

The car is still under finance

If you buy a used car on hire purchase, most finance companies require class 1 cover with the finance company named as beneficiary, because it still owns the car. That is why the registration book lists the finance company as the legal owner and you as the possessor. Terms differ between contracts, so ask before you sign. Our guide to used car finance covers the rest of the process.

The car is fairly new or still valuable

For a car that is still worth a lot, a single accident can cost tens of thousands of baht. Class 1 means you are not left with the bill in any situation. If you want repairs at the dealer, check the insurer's age limit for dealer repair as well.

An older car with little value left

Once the car's price has fallen so far that a year of class 1 premium is a large share of its value, class 3+ or class 3 is usually the more sensible choice, especially for a car that is rarely driven or has secure parking. The one thing not to cut back on is cover for other people, because injury and property claims from the other party can be many times the value of your car.

Street parking or a flood-prone area

If you regularly park on the street or in public places, theft is the bigger risk, so choose a class that covers it: 1, 2+ or 2. If your home is in an area that floods every year, class 1, or a 2+ policy that lists flood cover, will help far more.

Can a Used Car Get Class 1 Insurance, and What Do You Need?

Yes, a used car can get class 1 insurance if its age and condition meet the insurer's criteria. The older the car, the fewer insurers will offer it, and some also look at the model and how easy its parts are to find.

Most used cars go through an inspection before cover starts. The insurer will ask for photos of the whole car or send someone to look at it, so that existing damage is recorded. Damage that was there before the policy began cannot be claimed later.

Documents to prepare:

• A copy of the vehicle registration book, or the registration details page
• A copy of the policyholder's ID card
• Photos of the car from all sides, and of the odometer if the insurer asks
• The names and ID card or driving licence numbers of the drivers to be listed on the policy (up to 5)

Before applying, it is worth checking the used car's history, especially for major accidents and flood damage. Insurers care about both, and the history also tells you whether the car is worth a class 1 premium.

Buying a Used Car With Insurance Still Running: What to Do

A voluntary policy that has not expired gives you two main options: transfer the cover to the buyer, or have the seller cancel the policy and get a refund for the remaining days. Both depend on the insurer's terms.

For the buyer, if you agree to keep the existing policy, ask the seller for the original policy, then take a copy of the seller's ID card, a letter of consent and proof of sale to the insurer to change the policyholder's name.

The bigger issue now is the driver's name. Since 1 January 2026, voluntary insurance for private cars in Thailand has been named-driver only, with up to 5 drivers per policy. A policy taken over from the seller will list the seller's drivers, so ask the insurer to add yourself and anyone at home who will drive. If an unnamed driver causes an accident, the owner pays an excess of 2,000 baht towards the other party's property and 6,000 baht towards your own car. Foreign buyers should ask which ID the insurer accepts for the driver list.

For the seller, if the buyer will take out their own policy, you can ask the insurer to cancel yours and refund the premium for the remaining days at the rate set by the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC). The refund is usually less than a straight pro-rata share of the days left.

Por Ror Bor is tied to the vehicle. Even if the policy is still in the previous owner's name, it continues to cover accident victims as normal. Note the expiry date, because you will need a valid policy to pay next year's annual car tax. Sort out all of the insurance alongside the transfer at the land transport office, where you will also need the vehicle transfer documents and the car transfer fee.

Why Premiums Differ Between Classes

Premiums differ mainly because the cover differs: the more situations in which a class pays for your own car, the higher the premium. Beyond the class, several factors mean two cars in the same class can pay very different amounts.

• Make, model and age of the car, with expensive parts or frequently stolen models usually costing more
• Sum insured, where a higher figure raises the premium and an unrealistically low one leaves you short if the car is stolen or written off
• Dealer or garage repair, with dealer repair costing more
• Excess, where accepting part of each claim yourself lowers the premium
• The named drivers and their records, as the new policy gives a driving-behaviour discount of up to 40% for drivers with no accidents or claims

When comparing quotes from several insurers, always look at the sum insured and the excess together. A cheaper quote sometimes comes from a lower sum insured or a higher excess. Check those details before deciding, just as you would compare several cars before buying one. When you find the right car, you can start talking to the seller on Talata.

Buying or Selling a Used Car on Talata: Why It Helps

For buyers, Talata brings used car listings from many sellers together in one place. You can filter by model, year and price range, compare several cars before deciding, and contact sellers directly to ask about remaining insurance, claim history or a viewing.

For sellers, listing on Talata is straightforward. Give full details of the car, including the insurance class and expiry date, so buyers can decide faster. Have the car's documents and policy ready before viewings, then get started on Talata.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need insurance when I buy a used car?

You must always have valid Por Ror Bor, because compulsory insurance is required by law. Voluntary insurance is not mandatory, unless you buy on finance, where it is usually a condition. If the car's existing policy has not expired, agree with the seller whether to transfer it or start a new one.

Up to what age will insurers offer class 1 on a car?

There is no single age limit that every insurer uses, and each sets its own maximum for class 1. Some will still insure cars over 10 years old if the car is in good condition and its parts are easy to find. Ask several insurers for quotes and state the car's year clearly.

For how many years can a car be repaired at the dealer under class 1?

Many insurers offer dealer repair for cars up to around 5 years old, and some have dealer-repair plans for older cars at a higher premium. Under the new policy, dealer repair is a separate endorsement with its own premium, so check whether the schedule says garage or dealer repair before you pay.

Can I switch from class 1 to 2+ or 3+ when I renew?

Yes. Renewal means choosing a new plan for the next year, so you can change class if the insurer will cover the car. The new policy bases discounts on the named drivers' records, which you can check yourself in the Thai government's Tang Rat app or the OIC's LINE account. Ask the insurer how much discount you will get after switching class.

Does insurance claim history affect a used car's resale price?

Indirectly, yes. Many buyers ask to see the claim history to judge whether the car has been in a serious accident. Small scratch repairs rarely make much difference, but a history of major accidents or flood damage gives buyers more room to negotiate. Sellers who share this upfront tend to close faster.

Should I mention remaining insurance in my used car listing?

Yes. Insurance with several months left means the buyer does not have to pay a new premium straight away. State the class, the expiry date and whether it can be transferred or will be cancelled, so buyers can compare it with other cars.

If I crash with no other party involved, which class pays for repairs?

Only class 1 pays for repairs to your car when no other party is involved, such as reversing into a post or scraping a wall. Class 2+ and 3+ only pay after a collision with an identified vehicle, and class 2 and 3 never repair your car after a collision.

If the driver isn't named on the policy, will the insurer still pay?

Yes, but if an unnamed driver is at fault, the owner pays an excess of 2,000 baht towards the other party's property and 6,000 baht towards your own car. This applies to all private-car policies from 1 January 2026. If someone at home or a new driver will use the car regularly, add their name to the policy first.

Is class 3 insurance worth it?

Class 3 is worth it for an old car with little value left that is rarely driven, because the premium is low and it still covers the damage you cause to others. If the car still has some value or is on the road every day, class 3+, which repairs your car after a collision with another party, is usually better value for the extra cost.

Is there a grace period after car insurance expires?

No. Voluntary insurance ends exactly at the date and time stated in the policy schedule, with no grace period. Anything that happens after that is entirely your responsibility, so renew before the expiry date.