New Car Insurance Rules Tighten Driver Regulations

The Office of the OIC has introduced updated regulations for car insurance policies. These changes, impacting drivers and insurers, aim to enhance safety and refine existing practices. The new rules focus on driver identification and driving behavior.

Policy Changes and Driver Requirements

The Office of the OIC has issued registrar order No. 46/2567, which sets the text and coordinates of car insurance premiums. This applies to combustion vehicles for personal use. These policies must now specify the driver’s name, up to a maximum of five people. The premium calculation will consider discounts for drivers demonstrating safe driving practices. Drivers without accidents can receive up to a 40% discount.

Vehicles with insurance for non-personal use are exempt from the driver-naming requirement. The new registrar order becomes effective on June 1, 2025, for cars manufactured within the last year, and on January 1, 2026, for older vehicles.

Penalties for Violations Increased

The updated laws include stricter penalties for driving-related offenses. Driving without a driver’s license now carries a maximum sentence of three months’ imprisonment and a fine not exceeding 50,000 baht, up from a one-month imprisonment and a 1,000 baht fine. Operating a vehicle with an expired, suspended, revoked, or confiscated license can lead to a maximum three months in prison and a fine of up to 50,000 baht. Driving without a license previously resulted in a fine of 1,000 baht, but this has increased to a maximum of 10,000 baht.

The increased penalties reflect a broader effort to ensure road safety and enforce driver accountability. These measures are intended to deter dangerous driving behaviors.

These changes are likely to affect a broad range of drivers. These new insurance regulations align with the nation’s ongoing efforts to lower accident rates; in 2024, there were over 13,000 road fatalities, according to a recent study. (Example Source)