Rental Car Excess in Thailand: What It Is and What Pays Off
The excess on a rental car in Thailand is the share of damage the driver pays out of pocket, even when the car is insured. Each rental company states it in the contract; at MonkeyCar it is ฿5,000 for every car and is taken from the deposit only when the damage is your fault. Full insurance from 7 days removes the excess entirely.
In short
- The excess is the part of the damage you pay yourself in an insured event; everything above it is covered. At MonkeyCar it is ฿5,000 for the whole fleet.
- Basic insurance is included in the rental price and comes with a refundable deposit. Full Insurance from 7 days removes both the excess and the deposit.
- Full insurance costs 35% of the rental, at least ฿3,000. Without it, the most you pay for damage to the car that is your fault is the excess.
- Driving without an international driving permit (IDP) voids any insurance, basic and full alike.
How does the excess work on a real repair?
In an insured event the driver pays the damage up to the excess, and the insurer pays anything above it. If the excess is ฿5,000 and a bumper repair costs ฿3,000, you pay the whole amount: the damage stayed below the threshold. If the repair costs ฿40,000, you pay the ฿5,000 excess and the policy covers the remaining ฿35,000.
With basic insurance a refundable deposit is held against the excess, and damage within that amount is taken from it. Full Insurance removes the excess entirely: you pay nothing for damage to the car itself as long as the contract rules are followed. No deposit is needed with full insurance.
More: Deposit-Free Rental. Next on this topic: What to Do After an Accident in a Rental Car in Phuket. Short version in the driver guide: What to do after an accident.
Want to skip the excess and the deposit? How a deposit-free rental works with full insurance from 7 days is explained on a separate page.
Deposit-Free RentalWhich pays off: the excess with a deposit, or full insurance?
The calculator shows the difference in advance, when you pick the car and dates. Full insurance pays off if damage that is your fault costs more than the insurance itself. Without it you never pay more than the ฿5,000 excess for damage to the car, so compare the price of full insurance for your dates with that figure.
The longer the rental, the higher the chance of a minor scratch: the car is driven daily and parked in tight resort streets. Below 7 days there is no choice: only basic insurance with the excess and a deposit is available.
| Term | Basic insurance | Full Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Included in the rental price | 35% of the rental, at least ฿3,000 |
| Rental length | Any | From 7 days |
| Excess | ฿5,000 for every car | None |
| Deposit | Refundable; the amount depends on the model and shows in the calculator | Not needed |
| Damage to the car that is your fault | Taken from the deposit, up to the excess | You pay nothing if the contract rules are followed |
| When the insurance does not apply | Drink-driving, driving without a licence or without an IDP, leaving the scene of an accident, someone outside the contract at the wheel | The same cases |
- Under 7 days: basic insurance only, a ฿5,000 excess and a deposit
- From 7 days: you can take full insurance and drive with no deposit
- Compare the price of full insurance for your dates with the ฿5,000 excess
When is basic insurance with an excess enough?
Basic insurance with a deposit suits a short compact rental. If you drive on flat roads within one area and park in open lots, the risk of minor damage is low and the deposit is held only briefly.
The same logic works for an experienced driver who knows the route and is not planning mountain switchbacks or busy resort streets like Patong.
- Short compact rental on flat roads
- Experienced driver, familiar route
- No wish to pay for insurance you probably won't need
What stays the same whichever insurance you choose?
MonkeyCar never takes a passport as a deposit, whatever the insurance; it takes only a copy or photo for the contract. The car's condition is photographed at handover and return, and disputes over old damage are settled by those photos.
Driving without an international driving permit (IDP) where one is required voids the policy completely, basic and full alike. This is a standard insurer exclusion. Also check what use the policy covers. Private owners usually have first class insurance for private use, while a car rented out needs commercial insurance; Policies on MonkeyCar's own fleet are taken out for rental. More in the article on renting a car from a private owner.
- No passport as a deposit, whatever the insurance
- Photos of the car's condition at handover and return
- Driving without an IDP voids any insurance
Frequently asked questions
What is the usual excess when renting a car in Thailand?
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Is the excess the same for every car class?
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Will the excess be kept if the accident was not my fault?
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Can I switch to full insurance during the rental?
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What does neither insurance option cover?
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More on this topic: Insurance, accidents and breakdowns
What Insurance Do You Need to Rent a Car in Phuket
Basic cover and Full Insurance, the excess and the deposit: what is included in the rental price and when you can drive with no deposit (full insurance from 7 days).
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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