So you got a job in Thailand and are driving to work. That's great! But did you know that if you're involved in an accident, your car insurance will pay for the damage? Car insurance is a great idea no matter where you live, but it's especially important when driving to work. Aside from protecting yourself financially, having car insurance in Thailand can also save you time and money if something happens on the road. Since accidents happen more often than we'd like (or admit), here are five reasons why you should get car insurance when working in Thailand:
Some companies provide car insurance for ex-pats in Thailand. The Bureau of Consular Affairs warns U.S. citizens to buy vehicle insurance before arriving as it can be very expensive in Thailand. Even if you have a valid driver’s license back home, you will still need an international driving permit to use Thai roads and highways.
The UK government also recommends drivers purchase a policy before leaving their home country as it will be very difficult to find affordable cover once they arrive in Thailand
Thailand has a variety of insurance options, so it’s important to pick one that suits your needs. You can choose the type of policy that best fits your driving history and record in Thailand. If you have a clean driving record, then you might want to get yourself an inexpensive basic liability policy. It’s also wise to purchase additional items such as fire and theft coverage for your car if you own one.
As you know, Thailand is a country that has many different tax brackets. The higher your income, the higher your taxes are likely to be. One way to save money on taxes is by deducting business expenses. To qualify for these deductions, though, you need to have a valid reason for claiming them—and it all comes down to what type of business you do in Thailand.
If you own an apartment in Bangkok but work only outside of the city during most of your stay, then renting out your apartment would not qualify as a valid deduction because it’s not related directly back to your actual job duties (this is known as an indirect expense). However, if instead, you rent out space inside this same apartment building where someone else lives and pays rent every month through Airbnb/Homeaway rather than finding roommates directly within their own homes (such as via Craigslist), then this could qualify as an indirect expense because both parties benefit from each other: one gets free living arrangements while another pays rent every month so that she can afford living there herself!
If you're involved in an accident, the person who caused it will be liable for any damages. But if you don't have insurance, then that responsibility falls on your shoulders instead. This can be a lot harder to deal with than most people think. The good news is that having car insurance means that if there's an accident, your vehicle will be repaired or totaled out. Plus, any injuries (or medical bills) sustained by yourself and/or others involved will be compensated for by the insurer.
As long as all drivers are insured with the same company, there shouldn't be any issue with filing claims or fighting lawsuits either way. This is because it's all handled internally between each driver's insurer and his policy. Thus, there aren't any legal actions taken against him directly (like when someone steals something).
If you drive for work, then you should have car insurance.
The good news is that it is possible to save money on your tax deduction in Thailand if you have car insurance.
This means that having car insurance can help pay for itself.
When it comes down to it, having a car accident is no laughing matter. But if one were to happen while driving professionally, then this would be much more serious. Especially compare to it happening on the way home from work or during a weekend day off. Remember, the time limit on filing a claim with your insurer is much shorter here than back home.