Every week someone asks whether our scooters come "with insurance", and the honest answer is: yes, the insurance Thai law requires, which is a lot less than most visitors imagine. This guide explains exactly what is and isn't covered when you rent from our scooter rental in Phuket Old Town shop, why your travel insurance is the policy that really matters, and what to do minute by minute if you have an accident.
We're not an insurance company and we won't pretend to be. What we can do is tell you how it works on this island, from the shop at 107 Phuket Road where we've dealt with the aftermath of more crashes than we'd like.
What insurance is on the bike
Compulsory Thai motor insurance (Por Ror Bor)
Every vehicle registered with the Department of Land Transport must carry compulsory motor insurance, known in Thai as Por Ror Bor and sometimes written as CTPL (compulsory third-party liability). Our bikes carry it, and the sticker is on the bike alongside the tax disc.
Here is what it does, based on the current limits reported by Thai insurance publishers:
- Pays medical expenses for people injured in the accident: a preliminary amount per person without proof of fault, and a higher maximum for the party not at fault.
- Pays a fixed amount for death or permanent disability per person.
- Pays a small daily allowance for inpatient hospital stays.
Here is what it does not do:
- It does not pay for damage to the scooter.
- It does not pay for damage to the other vehicle, a parked car, a shop front or a fence.
- It does not replace health insurance; the medical limits are modest by private-hospital standards.
- It does not help if you were riding illegally: no licence, drunk, or no helmet can all complicate a claim.
In plain terms: Por Ror Bor is there so that someone hurt on a Thai road gets emergency treatment paid for. It is not "full insurance" and no Phuket rental shop should describe it that way.
Cover for the bike itself
Whether a specific bike carries any voluntary cover beyond Por Ror Bor varies by model and changes as policies renew, so we won't print terms here that could be out of date by the time you read them. Ask us on WhatsApp for the current cover details for your bike, and we'll tell you exactly what applies to that registration on your dates.
What is always true: damage to the scooter is settled from your refundable deposit at the actual garage cost. The deposit amounts per bike are on the price page, and the deposit guide explains how the handover photos protect you.
Why travel insurance is the policy that matters
Your own travel insurance is the only thing that covers your medical bills properly, your flight home if you can't ride, and your liability to other people beyond the compulsory limits. Three conditions decide whether it pays.
The right licence
GOV.UK's advice for Thailand says it directly: riding a motorcycle without the correct licence could invalidate your travel insurance. Insurers expect you to be licensed for the vehicle both at home and in Thailand, which means a motorcycle category on your home licence plus an International Driving Permit, or a Thai motorcycle licence. This is the single biggest reason we refuse to rent without one. Our guide on whether you need a licence to rent a scooter in Phuket covers the cases.
Engine size limits
Many policies cap motorcycle cover at 125cc, some at 50cc, some exclude motorcycles entirely unless you buy an add-on. Read the wording before you choose between a Honda Click 125 and a Honda PCX 160. If your policy says 125cc, the Click 125 or Scoopy 110 is your bike, and that's a fine choice for most of the island.
Helmet and sobriety
Thai law requires a helmet; almost every policy requires one too. Alcohol voids cover everywhere. We give you two helmets with every bike; the police checkpoint guide explains how strictly it's enforced.
Scooter accident in Phuket: what to do, step by step
Most incidents on our bikes are low-speed: a slide on wet paint at a junction, a tap in a car park, a fall on the gravel at a viewpoint. The steps are the same whether it's a scratch or something serious.
1. Get safe and check for injuries
Move off the road if you can. Don't move anyone who may have a neck or back injury. Check yourself: shock hides pain.
2. Call for help
- 1669 for an ambulance. This is the national medical emergency line run by the National Institute for Emergency Medicine (NIEMS). It is free, 24 hours, and dispatches the nearest unit.
- 191 for the police.
- 1155 for the Tourist Police, who speak English and can help you deal with the local station.
If you're unsure which to call, call 1669 first for anyone hurt, then 1155.
3. Photograph everything
Both vehicles, the road, skid marks, the other party's plate, their licence if they'll show it, and your own injuries. Do it before anything is moved. Send the photos to us on WhatsApp as well; we keep them for the insurance file.
4. Don't settle cash on the roadside without thinking
In Thailand it's common for parties to agree a sum on the spot. If the other party is clearly at fault and wants to pay for a scratched panel, that can be reasonable; message us first and we'll tell you the realistic repair cost so you're not shortchanged. If anyone is injured, or the other party is pushing you to pay, wait for the police.
5. Get a police report if anyone is hurt or if you'll claim
A police report from the station covering the accident area is needed for any Por Ror Bor claim and for most travel insurance claims. Bring your passport and licence. The report should state who caused the accident, because that decides the compensation tier. The Tourist Police can help you through the Thai-language paperwork.
6. Go to hospital, even for "minor" injuries
Road rash and a sore wrist can be a fracture. The two main emergency hospitals on the island are:
- Bangkok Hospital Phuket (private, Phuket Town, part of BDMS). Fast, English-speaking, expensive; this is where most travel insurers direct you, and they can usually bill the insurer directly once you've called the assistance line.
- Vachira Phuket Hospital (government, 650-bed provincial hospital in Phuket Town). Much cheaper, good trauma care, longer waits, less English.
Tell the hospital you are claiming under Por Ror Bor and under your travel insurance; they handle both regularly.
7. Tell your travel insurer within 24 hours
Call the number on your policy card. They will open a case, tell you which hospital to use and confirm what they'll pay. Keep every receipt.
8. Tell us about the bike
We'll collect it if it can't be ridden, give you a replacement if you're fit to ride, and settle any repair from the deposit at the real cost with the quote in your hand. Nobody is charged a "we'll see" number.
What this means when you choose a bike
- If your travel policy stops at 125cc, rent the Click 125 or Honda Scoopy 110 and enjoy the island; most of Phuket Old Town, Chalong and the beaches are easy on a small bike.
- If you hold a full motorcycle licence and your policy allows bigger engines, the ABS on the PCX 160, NMAX 155 and 350s is a genuine safety feature on wet roads, not a luxury. See which scooter to rent in Phuket.
- First time on a scooter in Thailand? Read the first-time rider checklist before you leave the hotel car park.
The checklist before you ride
- Home licence with motorcycle category plus IDP, or a Thai motorcycle licence.
- Travel insurance that names motorcycles up to the engine size you're renting, and the assistance phone number saved in your phone.
- Helmet on, strap done up, both of you.
- 1669, 191 and 1155 saved as contacts.
- Handover photos received on WhatsApp.
- Our WhatsApp number saved, so help is one message away.
Want to know the current cover on a particular bike before you book? Message us on WhatsApp through the contact page with the model and dates, and we'll tell you exactly what applies, no sales talk.