Whether you’re in the leafy northern town of Pai or the hustle and bustle of Koh Samui, Thailand is a country where everyone seems to be zipping about on mopeds. It’s easy to assume your travel insurance has you covered. But does travel insurance cover mopeds in Thailand? The answer entirely depends on the driving license you hold and what your insurance actually says about it, not what people assume it says.

I took out a True Traveller policy for my own backpacking trip in 2024, so I’ve read through their policy wording and their current activities page. I’m not an insurance expert, and this isn’t advice on your situation, but it should help you ask the right questions before you hire a bike.

What True Traveller’s wording says about mopeds

Here’s what I found:

• Standard cover: “Motorcycling (on road)” sits in the Traveller Pack, which comes with every True Traveller policy. Their current activities page says under 125cc.
• Bigger bikes: on-road riding over 125cc needs the paid Adventure Pack.
• Off-road riding: trail biking under 250cc sits in the Extreme Pack, and motocross is excluded.
• Licence: you need the appropriate valid license for that machine in your country of residence. You then also need to get an international driving permit (IDP) for Thailand.
• Helmet: you must wear one.
• No touring: cover doesn’t apply to motorbike touring, or where a motorbike is your main mode of transport.
• Restrictions on moped cover: under the 2024 wording, there’s no Accidental Disability cover and no Personal Liability cover while you’re riding.

The license rule

This is the one that catches people out. The condition is about your license at home, not what a rental shop in Thailand will let you do. And trust me the rental shop doesn’t care.

For UK residents, True Traveller’s current activities page says you’re covered if you have a full motorcycle license, or a CBT completed in the past two years. If you don’t meet the condition, they say cover isn’t available for that activity. A rental shop handing you the keys without asking doesn’t change that.

In short, you can only legally ride a moped in Thailand if you can do so in the UK (or other country of residence)

What about Thai law?

This is separate from your insurance, but the two connect. The Royal Thai Embassy in London says that anyone driving a car or motorcycle while visiting Thailand is required by law to hold an international driving license, which they should be able to show with their passport and national license. Many rental shops don’t ask, but that doesn’t change what the law says.

It matters for insurance too. Failing to comply with the laws of the country you’re travelling in will mean your travel insurance is invalid. I can’t tell you how True Traveller would treat any particular claim, but it’s one more reason not to assume you’re covered just because a shop hired you a bike. For the latest rules, check the UK government’s guidance on driving in Thailand before you go.

For context, the Australian government’s Smartraveller advice describes Thailand as having one of the highest traffic-related fatality rates in the world. I’ve also seen the amount of people with moped related injuries in Thailand with my own eyes.

What isn’t covered, even with the right license

1. Personal liability. The wording says that if you’re using a motorised vehicle, you need to make sure you’re adequately insured for third party liability, because this policy doesn’t cover it. So if you damage someone’s property or injure another person, that isn’t something True Traveller pays for.
2. Accidental Disability cover. The lump sum benefit under this section doesn’t apply while you’re motorcycling. Your medical cover is the main thing you’d be relying on.
3. Riding as your main way of getting around. If the bike is how you’re getting about day to day, that can fall under the touring exclusion. I can’t tell you how it’s applied in practice, so ask True Traveller if that’s your plan.
4. Riding after drinking. The general exclusions cover claims arising from alcohol that impairs your judgement. That’s relevant on Thai islands, where it’s very easy to hop on a bike after a few drinks.
5. Ignoring local safety advice. Medical claims where you haven’t followed local safety advice and recommendations are excluded.

Why this matters in places like Pai and Koh Tao

In Pai, mopeds are the default. A friend we made while travelling had a lesson included with his moped rental and off he went. That’s exactly the situation where a lot of travellers will end up on a bike without the license their insurance asks for.

On Koh Tao, I’ll be honest, a moped would have been useful because the island is hilly and some of the best spots are a trek without one. But I don’t ride, and I’d seen backpackers learn the hard way what happens when you rent one without knowing how.

What I did instead

In Pai I used the red truck taxis, which are shared pick-up style taxis that take you out to places like Pai Canyon and Two Huts Café and come back for you. When I wrote my guide, trips out of town were around 200 to 400 THB return, compared to 150 to 200 THB a day plus petrol for a moped. It was more expensive and less flexible, but I never felt like I missed out. My full breakdown is in my guide to getting around Pai without renting a moped.

On Koh Tao, I got around with taxis and songthaews, and still saw everything I wanted to.

A checklist before you hire a moped in Thailand

1. Check you hold the correct motorcycle license at home, and that your policy accepts it.
2. Check whether you meet Thai law on international driving licences.
3. Check the bike’s engine size against your policy’s limit.
4. Check whether motorcycling is covered by your pack, or whether you need to add one.
5. Remember that personal liability doesn’t apply, and you’ll be on your own for any damage to someone else or their property.
6. Wear a helmet every time, and don’t ride after drinking.
7. Keep a copy of your policy and the emergency assistance number saved offline.
8. If you’re unsure about anything, ask True Traveller before you ride, not after.

If you’d rather not ride at all, that’s a completely valid choice. Nobody gets extra points for risking it.

Where True Traveller fits

I used True Traveller for my backpacking trip, and you can get a quote through my link. If you’re comparing options, I’ve broken down what travel insurance is best for backpacking.

If you’re also planning the Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam, the rules are different. I contacted True Traveller directly and they told me riding the loop on a motorbike or scooter isn’t covered, and I explain what we did about it in my guide to travel insurance for the Ha Giang Loop.

True Traveller publishes every version of its policy wording on its policy download page, organised by the date you bought. Find the one matching your purchase date and read the sports and activities section before you go.

If you’re still planning your route, my north to south Thailand itinerary covers where mopeds are most common and how else to get around.

Frequently asked questions

Does travel insurance cover mopeds in Thailand?
Some policies do, with conditions. True Traveller’s wording, on-road moped riding is covered under the standard Traveller Pack, but only if you hold the correct license in your country of residence and wear a helmet.

Do I need a motorcycle license for my insurance to cover me?
With True Traveller, yes. Cover isn’t available unless you hold the correct license. For UK residents, their current activities page says that means a full motorcycle license, or a CBT completed in the past two years.

Is it legal to ride a moped in Thailand as a tourist?
The Royal Thai Embassy in London says you’re required by law to hold an international driving license when driving a vehicle or motorcycle in Thailand. Check the latest guidance before you go, as rules can change.

Does True Traveller cover mopeds over 125cc?
Not as standard. On-road riding over 125cc needs the Adventure Pack.

Does travel insurance cover damage I cause to another person or their property?
Not with True Traveller. Their wording says you aren’t covered for third party liability when using a motorised vehicle, so you need to be adequately insured for that separately.

Is a helmet compulsory for moped cover?
Yes. True Traveller’s wording says a helmet must be worn when motorcycling.

Can I use a moped as my main way of getting around?
True Traveller’s wording excludes touring, or where a motorbike is your main mode of transport. Ask them before relying on a bike for day-to-day travel.

Is it worth skipping the moped altogether?
That’s your call, but I didn’t ride one in Thailand and still had an amazing time in Pai and on Koh Tao and actually everywhere in Thailand.

If you’ve hired a moped in Thailand and have a story about insurance, good or bad, tell me in the comments, because it really helps other travellers.

Enjoy your Travels!

Em x

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