Starting in 2025, car insurance policies from all insurance companies in Thailand will undergo significant changes. The Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) has revamped the rules and guidelines for voluntary car insurance to make them more modern, transparent, and aligned with current driving behaviours.
Wondering what’s changing with car insurance in Thailand? Why are the rules being updated? What do the new policy terms look like? And most importantly, how will these changes affect you? We’ve got all the answers right here.
Want to skip ahead? Pick the topics you’re most interested in!
- Overview – What are the new car insurance regulations and why the change?
- What are the new rules for car insurance in Thailand?
Overview – What are the new car insurance regulations and why the change?
Following the announcement by the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC), under Order No. 46/2567 dated December 25, 2024, the new car insurance rules will focus more on driver behaviour, with key updates including:
- Up to 5 named drivers must be specified in the insurance policy.
- Good drivers, meaning those with no accident history or insurance claims, may receive discounts on premiums up to 80%.
- Drivers with risky behaviour or frequent claims history may face higher premiums.
Why the change?
The goal is to make insurance premiums more accurately reflect each driver’s behaviour. Under the new rules, driving habits play a bigger role, making the system fairer, especially for those who drive safely and have never made a claim.
The longer you maintain a clean driving record, the more you can save up to 80% in discounts. This initiative not only rewards responsible drivers but also encourages safer driving and helps reduce road accidents across the country.
What do you need to do?
Starting June 1, 2025, for newly registered vehicles, and January 1, 2026, for all vehicles, car insurance policies in Thailand will require you to name specific drivers in the policy. Whether you’re purchasing voluntary car insurance or electric vehicle insurance, you’ll need to provide:
- List at least one, and up to five named drivers in your insurance policy.
- Driving data and history will be securely stored in a centralised system managed by the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC). All insurers will have access to this database to help calculate premiums more accurately.
- Insurance companies will use the driver’s personal driving history, including accident records and claim frequency, as key factors in determining the premium rate.
We’ll break down these new policy conditions in more detail in the sections below.
What are the new rules for car insurance in Thailand?
Now that we’ve covered the overview, let’s take a closer look at the key details of Thailand’s new car insurance regulations, which will take effect between 2025 and 2026 as follows:
When do the new rules start?
| Vehicle type | Effective date |
| Electric vehicles (EVs) | Already in effect (June 1, 2024) |
| New cars (red plates) | Already in effect (June 1, 2025) |
| All personal vehicles | Effective January 1, 2026 |
Exceptions: Company-owned vehicles, rental cars, taxis, and other public transport vehicles are exempt from this requirement.
Old vs. new car insurance rules in Thailand
| Old rules (before 2024) | New rules (effective 2025–2026) |
| No named drivers required where anyone could drive. Named drivers received a small discount. | Must list all primary drivers (up to 5 people). |
| Discounts ranged from 20–50%, based only on past claim history. | Discounts up to 80%: 40% for no claims bonus (NCB) + 40% for safe driving behaviour. |
The new rules focus more on actual driving behaviour. This means fairer pricing for policyholders, with discounts of up to 80% based on how safely they drive. We’ll dive into more of the benefits in the next section.
Benefits of naming drivers
Listing named drivers under the new car insurance rules comes with real benefits. It’s a fairer way to calculate premiums and encourages responsible driving. If you’ve always driven safely and haven’t caused any accidents, this is designed to reward you. Here’s how:
1. Safe drivers can get up to 80% off premiums
If you’re a careful driver with no at-fault claims, you could get up to 80% off your insurance premium.
The discount is split into two parts:
- Up to 40% for no claim bonus (NCB) with the insured vehicle.
- Up to 40% based on safe driving behaviour.
So, if you consistently drive safely and stick with the same car, you’ll get even more value over time.
2. Pay based on your actual risk
By naming drivers, insurers can calculate premiums using real data, like your gender, driving behaviour, and accident history. That means you’ll only pay for the actual risk you pose. If you drive safely, you pay less. If your risk is higher, your premium reflects that. It’s a fairer system for everyone.
3. Safer driving means safer roads
The new rules aren’t just about penalising high-risk drivers, they’re also about rewarding good drivers. Safe habits like driving at appropriate speeds, avoiding sudden braking, and not using your phone while driving can all help lower your premium. This gives everyone a reason to drive more responsibly, which means fewer accidents and safer roads for everyone.
4. More fairness, less inequality
In the past, safe drivers often ended up paying the same premiums as high-risk drivers.
With the new system, safe drivers get meaningful discounts while high-risk drivers lose special benefits
This is a big step toward a more fair and transparent insurance model.
If you’re a responsible, disciplined driver, this change means more value and more protection—for both you and your car.
How is the maximum 80% discount calculated?
The maximum 80% car insurance premium discount comes from a combination of the No-Claims Bonus and the Driving Behaviour Discount. The breakdown is as follows:
Maximum 80% Premium Discount = 40% No Claims Bonus + 40% Driving Behaviour Discount
1. No claims bonus
If you hold a car insurance policy and have no at-fault claims, you’ll receive a discount on your next year’s premium as follows:
- No claims for 1 year → Get 20% discount
- No claims for 2 consecutive years → Get 30% discount
- No claims for 3 consecutive years → Get 40% discount
If you’re found at fault in a claim, the discount will be reduced by one level.
For example, if you currently receive a 30% NCB discount in this policy year and make an at-fault claim during the year, your discount for the next year will be reduced to 20%.
2. Driving behaviour discount
In the first year (2025), no driving behaviour discounts will be applied. From the second year onward, if you consistently drive safely and avoid accidents caused by carelessness, you’ll start receiving discounts. These discounts will be based on your driving behaviour level.
| Driving behaviour level | Risk level | Discount received |
| Level 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Level 2 | 90% | 10% |
| Level 3 | 80% | 20% |
| Level 4 | 70% | 30% |
| Level 5 | 60% | 40% |
In the first year of your policy, everyone starts at Level 1 and won’t receive any driving behaviour discount yet. After that, if you maintain safe driving habits, your level will increase each year along with your discount:
- Drive safely for 12 months → Move to Level 2 → Get 10% discount
- Drive safely for 24 months → Move to Level 3 → Get 20% discount
- Drive safely for 36 months → Move to Level 4 → Get 30% discount
- Drive safely for 48 months or more → Move to Level 5 → Get 40% discount
Note: Driving behaviour levels will begin to take effect after June 2026.
Accidents that may reduce your driving behaviour discount
If the driver is involved in an accident due to their own negligence (not caused by natural disasters or unforeseeable circumstances), the driving behaviour level will be immediately reduced to level 1 (0% discount).
Examples of driver negligence include:
- Being at fault in a collision with another party.
- Single-vehicle accidents (no third-party involved).
- Driving under the influence of alcohol.
- Changing the designated driver at the time of the incident.
Accidents that do not affect the discount
The following types of claims will not affect your driving behaviour discount:
- Accidents in which the insured is not at fault.
- Damages caused by natural disasters, such as floods, storms, or earthquakes.
- Damages from malicious acts, such as vandalism (scratching or smashing the car).
- Damages not caused by driving, such as a fallen tree hitting the vehicle.
How does an at-fault claim impact the discount?
If you’re involved in an at-fault claim such as hitting with no other party involved, or causing an accident due to careless driving. your discount for the following year will be adjusted as follows:
- NoClaim Bonus (NCB) will be reduced by one level.
- Driving Behavior Discount will reset to 0% immediately.
Example:
In 2029, Mr. A receives a total discount 50% of premium, from 30% No Claim Bonus and 20% Driving Behavior Discount. Later that year, he causes an accident and is found to be at fault. In the following year (2030), his discount will be adjusted as follows:
- No-Claim Discount drops one level to 20%
- Driving Behavior Discount resets to 0%
Total discount in 2030 for Mr. A is : 20% + 0% = 20%
Which cars must list named drivers?
All vehicles used for personal purposes must have a named driver specified.
This applies when the policyholder is an individual (not a legal entity or company) and the vehicle is used for personal use, regardless of the vehicle type, whether it’s a gasoline car, electric vehicle (EV), hybrid, etc.
Do company-owned cars need named drivers?
Not always. The new insurance rules apply to personal-use vehicles. If a car is company-registered and used generally rather than by a specific individual, a named driver isn’t required.
Exception: If the vehicle is assigned to a specific individual (such as an executive), that person must be named on the policy.
Will Roojai’s car insurance customers Be Affected?
- Policies issued before June 1, 2025 – Customers who purchased voluntary car insurance before this date are not affected. Coverage and services will remain unchanged for the duration of the policy term.
- Policies issued on or after June 1, 2025 – Customers insuring new red-plate vehicles (less than one year old) for personal use must list all drivers by name. If there are no at-fault claims during the policy period, a renewal discount will be applied according to conditions. All other coverage and services remain unchanged.
The updated 2025 car insurance regulations aim to make coverage more transparent and reward safe driving. Drivers with no at-fault claims may qualify for renewal discounts—the safer you drive, the more you save. Over time, responsible driving can lead to better value and long-term benefits.
However, it’s important for car owners to understand the new terms to choose the policy that best fits their needs. Being a responsible driver not only saves money, but it also contributes to safer roads for everyone.
Definition
| Natural disaster | An event caused by nature that results in damage to life, property, or the environment, and cannot be directly controlled or prevented by humans. |
| Legal entity | An organisation or institution recognised by law as a person. It can hold rights and responsibilities like individuals, such as signing contracts, owning property, suing, or being sued. |
| Personal use | Using something for one’s own benefit, not related to business, commercial activities, or public distribution. |
