What Insurance Do You Need to Rent a Car in Phuket?
To rent a car in Phuket you need insurance issued for rental, that is, for commercial use of the car. At MonkeyCar this basic policy is included in the rental price with a ฿5,000 excess, and on rentals from 7 days Full Insurance removes both the excess and the deposit. Any policy applies only if the driver holds an IDP.
In short
- You need a commercial-use policy; on MonkeyCar's own fleet the basic one is included in the rental price.
- With the basic policy the excess is ฿5,000; Full Insurance removes it entirely.
- The deposit is refundable, and with full insurance from 7 days you rent with no deposit at all.
- Your passport is never taken as a deposit.
- Prices from ฿1,180 a day, no prepayment, payment at pickup.
When do you choose the insurance?
You choose the insurance when booking, so it helps to know the terms before you arrive. At MonkeyCar the deposit amount and the price of full insurance show in the calculator before booking, so you decide about Full Insurance in advance.
Rental starts from ฿1,180 a day with no prepayment: the rental, full insurance if you chose it, and the deposit are paid when you collect the car.
More: Deposit-Free Rental. Next on this topic: Rental Car Excess in Thailand: What It Is, What Pays Off. Short version in the driver guide: What to do after an accident.
Want a rental with no deposit? It is available with full insurance from 7 days; how it works is on a separate page.
Deposit-Free RentalWhich policy do you need, and how does basic differ from full cover?
You need commercial-use insurance: only that kind of policy expects a tourist to drive the car under a rental contract. Cars in MonkeyCar's own fleet are insured this way, and the basic policy is included in the rental price. Private owners usually carry a first-class policy for personal use, and that is the main risk of renting from a private owner.
Basic and full insurance differ in the excess. With the basic policy you are liable for damage up to ฿5,000, while Full Insurance removes the excess entirely. Full Insurance costs 35% of the rental, at least ฿3,000, is available on rentals from 7 days, and with it no deposit is needed. There is no in-between level of cover.
In peak season, usually in January, we get more requests than our fleet has cars, so we take some cars from partners in Phuket. Some of them carry first class insurance for private use. The rental terms on such a car are the same as on ours: if you are sober and hold a valid licence, an insurance agent or the police decide who caused the accident. If you are at fault, no more than the ฿5,000 excess is taken from the deposit, as on our own cars, and with full insurance we pay for the repair ourselves. Ask the manager which policy your car has before you book.
| Term | Basic insurance | Full Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Included in the rental price | 35% of the rental, at least ฿3,000 |
| Excess | ฿5,000 | None |
| Deposit | Refundable, depends on the model | Not needed |
| Rental term | Any | From 7 days |
| When it pays | If the driver holds an IDP and a national licence | If the driver holds an IDP and a national licence |
- Basic policy: ฿5,000 excess; fine for careful driving around the island.
- Full Insurance is paid extra: no excess and nothing to pay for damage to the car, except wheels, glass, interior and keys.
- No deposit with full insurance from 7 days, if you would rather not tie up money for the rental.
What types of insurance are there, and what does each cover?
Every car in Thailand carries compulsory CMI insurance (Por Ror Bor): it pays for treatment and compensation for people injured in an accident, but not for repairs to cars. On top of it the owner takes out voluntary insurance. MonkeyCar cars have a policy for rental use: the basic one is included in the price, and Full Insurance is an extra.
| What is covered | CMI (compulsory) | MonkeyCar basic | Full Insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who arranges and pays | The car owner, by law | Included in the rental price | 35% of the rental, at least ฿3,000, from 7 days |
| Treatment of injured people | Yes, within the legal limits | Through the same car's CMI policy | Through the same car's CMI policy |
| Repairs to the rental car when you are at fault | No | Yes, you pay the ฿5,000 excess | Yes, no excess |
| Deposit | Not linked | Refundable, amount depends on the model | Not needed |
| Wheels, glass, interior, keys | No | No | No |
| Drink-driving, no IDP, leaving the scene | n/a | Policy does not apply | Policy does not apply |
How are the excess and the deposit linked?
The excess is the amount the renter pays if the car is damaged; the insurer covers everything above it. The deposit is a refundable sum paid at pickup in cash or as a hold on your card. It is returned in full if the car comes back without new damage or unpaid fines.
The deposit depends on the model and shows in the calculator before booking. Your passport is never taken as a deposit. How the excess is calculated and when you pay it is explained in the excess on a car rental in Thailand.
- The excess is your share of the damage; Full Insurance removes it.
- The deposit is refundable: returned in full if there is no damage or fines.
- The deposit depends on the model and shows in the calculator before booking.
What does even full insurance not cover?
Full Insurance does not pay for wheels (tyres, rims, punctures), glass, the interior or lost keys, as set out in the rental terms. The renter pays for that damage, with or without a deposit; a lost key costs from ฿5,000.
The policy also does not apply at all after a serious breach: the driver was drunk, drove without an IDP, left the scene of an accident or let someone not on the contract drive. In that case the renter covers the damage in full. At pickup, photograph the windscreen, tyres and interior separately: only new damage is taken from the deposit.
- Wheels: tyres, rims, punctures
- Glass: windscreen, side and rear windows
- Interior and lost keys (from ฿5,000)
- Any damage after drink-driving, driving without an IDP or leaving the scene
What does it take for the insurance to pay out?
Four conditions: the driver is on the contract; they carry a valid IDP and national licence; they are sober; and the car has not left Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi provinces. After an accident with another car, a scooter or a pedestrian, wait for the police and get the report. With no other party (a post, a kerb, a stone in the windscreen) you do not need the police: photograph the damage and message MonkeyCar straight away.
The car's condition is recorded at pickup and return, so photograph it when you collect it. Travel medical insurance does not pay for repairs to the car.
- An IDP is not needed to collect the car, but without it the insurance does not apply, so get one at home.
- Everyone who will drive goes on the contract.
- Photos at pickup protect you from disputes over scratches.
Frequently asked questions
What does basic insurance cover on a Phuket car rental?
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Do you need full insurance for a one-week rental?
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How do you choose between basic and full insurance?
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Can you rent a car in Phuket without a deposit?
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When is the deposit returned after the rental?
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More on this topic: Insurance, accidents and breakdowns
Rental Car Excess in Thailand: What It Is, What Pays Off
What the excess means in a Thai rental contract, how much it is at MonkeyCar, and when full insurance from 7 days beats basic cover with a deposit.
Read SafetyWhat to Do After an Accident in a Rental Car in Phuket
What to do after a crash in a rental car: who to call, what to photograph, why you need a police report even for a scratch, and what happens to the deposit.
Read EmergenciesWhat to Do If Your Rental Car Breaks Down in Phuket
What to do when a rental car breaks down, who pays for towing and repairs, how MonkeyCar arranges a replacement and how to avoid a breakdown that is your fault.
ReadWhich area of Phuket should we deliver the car to?
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