Travel insurance for Thailand
You need travel insurance for Thailand. There is no reciprocal health care agreement, and Smartraveller says hospitals need a deposit, confirmation of insurance and a valid visa before admitting you, otherwise you may need to pay cash up front. A comprehensive policy with a high medical limit covers that; the motorcycle option covers riding, but only if you hold a motorcycle licence.
Thailand's specific risks are on the road, in the water and in parts of the country: Smartraveller rates Thailand overall at 'Exercise a high degree of caution', with 'Do not travel' areas along the Cambodian border. Entry rules also changed in September 2026, when the visa-free stay for Australians was cut to 30 days. Our guide to compare travel insurance covers the rest of the policy.
By Better Rate Mate Editorial Team ยท Last reviewed
General advice only. It doesn't consider your circumstances. Read the PDS and TMD before you decide.
Smartraveller's current advice for Thailand
As at 2 October 2026, Smartraveller's advice for Thailand (page updated 29 September 2026) is to exercise a high degree of caution overall because of security and safety risks. It advises against all travel to areas within 10 km of the Thailand-Cambodia land border in Sa Kaeo, Buriram, Si Saket, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, Chanthaburi and mainland Trat provinces, and says to reconsider your need to travel to Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat in the far south.
Travel to a 'Do not travel' area is commonly excluded from travel insurance, and some insurers restrict cover for level 3 areas. The main tourist areas, including Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and the islands, sit under the overall level 2 advice, but check your itinerary against the regional levels if you are travelling overland.
Why Thailand cover costs more
Thailand is cheap to visit and expensive to get sick in. Smartraveller says hospitals need a deposit, confirmation of your insurance and a valid visa before admitting you, that costs can be very high, that outside the main centres you may need to be moved to a place with better facilities, and that medical evacuation can be very expensive. Road injuries, often on scooters, add to the bill.
Insurers' claims show where the money goes. Southern Cross Travel Insurance's most expensive claims from 2024 included $362,034 for an 80-year-old who spent almost two months in a Thai hospital with a collapsed lung and complications before an air ambulance home, and $282,754 for a 78-year-old who slipped getting out of a pool, needed brain surgery and intensive care, and was flown home by air ambulance.
Hospitals, deposits and evacuation
Tourists pay for all medical care in Thailand. Call your insurer's emergency assistance line before admission where you can, so it can confirm cover and arrange payment, and keep itemised bills and medical reports for your claim. Smartraveller also warns that your insurance may be void if your blood alcohol level is over a certain limit.
Medical and cosmetic tourism
Many Australians travel to Thailand for surgery, dentistry or cosmetic procedures, and standard travel insurance is not built for it. Travelling to get treatment is a common exclusion, so complications from a planned procedure, and the evacuation that can follow, may not be covered. Smartraveller's advice is to make sure your travel insurance covers medical tourism, complications and medical evacuation, and it notes some clinics have refused compensation to patients harmed during surgery. Read the PDS, or buy specialist cover, before you book the procedure.
Scooters and motorbikes: licence, helmet, option
Smartraveller says Thailand has one of the highest traffic-related fatality rates in the world, and Australians are regularly injured or killed in motorbike accidents, often with alcohol involved. To ride a scooter, moped or motorbike, you need an International Driving Permit together with your Australian licence for that vehicle type, which means an Australian motorcycle licence. Some rental companies will tell you otherwise; Smartraveller's point is that without the right licence you may not be covered by insurance.
After an accident, police may detain or arrest you until compensation is agreed, which can cost thousands of dollars. Never hand over your passport as a deposit or guarantee. Many travel policies add their own conditions on top of the licence, such as wearing a helmet, an engine-size limit and buying the policy's motorcycle option. The same licence trap applies in Vietnam, and our Bali scooter insurance rules set out how selected policies treat riding.
| Risk | What Smartraveller says | What to check in the PDS |
|---|---|---|
| Scooters and motorbikes | IDP plus Australian licence for the vehicle type; motorcycle licence required | Motorcycle option, helmet rule, engine-size limit, licence condition |
| Alcohol | Policy may be void over a blood alcohol limit; methanol poisoning risk | Alcohol and drug exclusion wording |
| Diving and snorkelling | Decompression chambers in Koh Tao, Koh Samui, Phuket, Pattaya and Bangkok; rules for divers and snorkellers | Dive depth and qualification limits |
| Border regions | 'Do not travel' within 10 km of the Cambodian border in listed provinces | Exclusion for travel against government advice |
| Wet season and floods | May to November in north and central Thailand; November to March on Koh Samui and the south-east of the peninsula | Cancellation, delay and the known-event rule |
| Mosquito-borne illness | Dengue, malaria, Zika, chikungunya and Japanese encephalitis present | Overseas medical cover and evacuation |
Which policies cover motorbike riding: licence, engine size and helmet rules
This is the same policy-by-policy table as on our Bali page, read from 17 PDSs on 10 October 2026. Read the licence column against Thailand's rule, which Smartraveller describes as an IDP together with an Australian licence for the vehicle type: some PDSs accept a car licence for small bikes, but Thai law may not.
| Brand (PDS date) | Riding cover | Licence the PDS asks for | Engine size | Helmet | Pillion passenger | Damage to the hired bike |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Cover (4 March 2026) | Included on all plans | Up to 125cc: an Australian driver's licence. Over 125cc: an Australian motorcycle licence for that class | No cap; dirt bikes excluded | Required, rider and passenger | Covered unless the rider has no valid licence for that vehicle and country | Not covered: rental vehicle excess excludes mopeds, motorcycles and scooters |
| Allianz (19 December 2025) | Only with the Adventure Pack, sold with Comprehensive, Multi-Trip and Domestic plans to people under 75 | The right Australian licence class (not a learner's), or one valid where you ride if your Australian licence isn't recognised there | No cap | Required at all times | Covered with the pack if the rider holds a licence valid for that vehicle and country | Not covered: rental vehicle cover is for cars, SUVs, 4WDs, campervans and minibuses |
| Australia Post (22 October 2025) | Only with the motorcycle/moped riding option | An Australian motorcycle rider's licence or Australian driver's licence | 250cc or less | Required | Covered if the rider holds a valid licence | With the option: rental vehicle excess up to $10,000 (Comprehensive and Domestic); none on Basic |
| Budget Direct (25 March 2026) | Only with the Motorcycle/Moped Riding or Riding + add-on, on all plans | Riding: an Australian motorcycle rider's or driver's licence. Riding +: an Australian motorcycle licence held for 5 years, and you own an Australian motorcycle as large or larger | 250cc or less; no cap on Riding + | Required | Covered if the rider holds a valid licence | With an add-on: rental vehicle excess up to $10,000 (Comprehensive, Domestic) or $4,000 (Essential); none on Basic |
| Bupa (11 March 2026) | Only with the Motorcycle/Moped Riding or Riding+ add-on | As for Budget Direct | 250cc or less; no cap on Riding+ | Required | Covered if the rider holds a valid licence | With an add-on: rental vehicle excess up to $10,000 (International Plus, Domestic); none on International Essentials |
| Cover-More (15 October 2025) | Only with the Motorcycle/Moped Riding or Riding+ add-on | As for Budget Direct; Riding+ also needs the bike to be hired | 250cc or less; no cap on Riding+ | Required | Covered if the rider holds a valid licence | With an add-on, for a bike from a licensed rental company: up to $5,000 (Comprehensive) or $10,000 (Comprehensive+); none on Basic |
| Fast Cover (16 July 2026) | Only with the Motorcycle Pack, not on Domestic Plus, for people 74 or under at purchase | Up to 125cc: an Australian driver's licence plus a licence valid where you ride. Over 125cc: an Australian motorcycle licence for the class plus a local licence | No cap | Required, whatever local law says | Covered with the pack if the rider holds a licence valid for the class and country | Not covered: no rental vehicle excess cover for motorcycles, mopeds or scooters |
| Freely (25 May 2026) | Only with the Motorcycle/Moped Riding Trip Extra, paid by the day | Up to 250cc: an Australian motorcycle rider's or driver's licence. Over 250cc: the bike must be hired, with an Australian motorcycle licence held for 5 years, and you own an Australian motorcycle as large or larger | Rules change above 250cc | Required | Covered if the rider holds a valid licence | With the Trip Extra: rental vehicle excess up to $10,000 (Explorer Pro overseas) or $5,000 (Explorer); none on Essentials |
| InsureandGo (7 October 2026) | Included under 500cc; larger bikes need the Activities Plus upgrade | A licence valid where you are, and an Australian licence for an equivalent motorcycle | Under 500cc without the upgrade | Crash helmet, rider and pillion, whatever local law says | Covered if wearing a helmet | Unclear: the rental car benefit (Silver and Gold) lists motorcycles and mopeds, but an exclusion removes vehicles with fewer than four wheels. Confirm with InsureandGo |
| Medibank (22 April 2026) | Only with the motorcycle/moped riding option | An Australian motorcycle licence or Australian driver licence | 250cc or less | Required | Covered if the rider holds a valid licence | With the option: rental vehicle excess up to $10,000 (Comprehensive, Domestic); none on Medical Only |
| nib (1 September 2026) | Included, within its conditions | A full motorcycle licence valid in the country of travel and in your country of residence | 250cc or less | Required | Covered on the same terms | Not covered: rental vehicle cover is for 4-wheeled vehicles |
| Qantas (1 July 2026) | Included on International Comprehensive, within its conditions | Up to 125cc: a motorcycle licence valid where you ride. 126cc or more: valid in Australia and where you ride | No cap | Helmet and appropriate safety gear | Covered if the rider holds the required licence | Not covered: rental vehicle cover excludes motorcycles |
| Southern Cross Travel Insurance (12 July 2025) | Only with the Moped and motorbike cover add-on | The right licence for the class, as required by the country you're in | 200cc (or 15kW electric) | Required, even where local law doesn't | Only with the add-on, including motorbike taxis and rideshares | With the add-on: up to $10,000 for a hired bike up to 200cc, if you took the rental company's insurance and stayed on formed or paved roads |
| Tick (1 April 2026) | Included on all single-trip plans, with a $250 excess under 125cc and $500 over | A licence valid where you are, and an Australian licence for an equivalent motorcycle | No cap | Crash helmet, rider and pillion, whatever local law says | Covered if wearing a helmet | Unclear: the rental car section lists motorcycles but an exclusion removes them. Confirm with Tick |
| Travel Insurance Saver (31 December 2025) | Included as an automatically covered activity | Motorcycle: an Australian motorcycle licence. Moped or scooter: an Australian motorcycle or driver's licence | Not defined | Not mentioned in the PDS | Covered unless the rider has no licence valid for the country | Not covered: claims from hiring a motorcycle or scooter are excluded from rental vehicle cover |
| World Nomads (30 September 2026) | Included: moped, scooter and on-road motorbiking; off-road needs the Level 3 upgrade | A licence for the same class in Australia and as required where you're travelling | No cap | Required wherever one would be required in Australia | Covered with a licensed rider | Not covered: rental vehicle cover (Explorer only) excludes motorbikes and scooters |
| Zoom (4 March 2026) | Included on all plans | As for 1Cover | No cap; dirt bikes excluded | Required, rider and passenger | As for 1Cover | Not covered: rental vehicle excess excludes mopeds, motorcycles and scooters |
Islands, boats and diving
Many Thai trips centre on the islands, which means boats, diving and snorkelling. Smartraveller notes rules for divers and snorkellers, including no touching marine life and mandatory life vests when snorkelling. Diving cover often depends on your certification and the depth you dive to, and island evacuations add to medical costs. Check the activities section of the PDS before you book a dive trip.
Entry rules for Australians
Thailand's rules changed recently, so check them close to departure.
| Requirement | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Visa exemption | Up to 30 days for tourism, from 15 September 2026, replacing the previous 60-day exemption |
| Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) | Required for all foreign arrivals since 1 May 2025; complete within 3 days before arrival on the official immigration site, free of charge |
| Passport | More than 6 months' validity; be ready to show accommodation, funds and an onward ticket |
| Visa-free entries | Smartraveller says you may only be allowed 2 visa-free entries each calendar year without a justifiable reason |
Methanol, dengue and other health risks
Smartraveller warns about methanol poisoning from contaminated drinks, and lists dengue, malaria, Zika, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, rabies and melioidosis, along with smoke haze in the north from December to April. See a doctor about vaccinations well before you go, and make sure your policy's medical cover includes evacuation if you are travelling to remote areas.
General advice only. This information doesn't take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether the product is right for you and read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) before you decide. We don't compare every product in the market, and we may earn a commission if you take up a product through our links.
What to watch for
- Ride a scooter or motorbike only with an Australian motorcycle licence, an IDP, a helmet and the policy's motorcycle option.
- Claims connected to alcohol are commonly excluded, and Smartraveller warns a policy may be void over a blood alcohol limit.
- Check your route against the 'Do not travel' areas on the Cambodian border.
- Medical tourism complications are often excluded; check before booking a procedure.
- The visa-free stay is now 30 days. Plan longer trips around it.
Common questions
Do I need travel insurance for Thailand?
You should, even though it isn't an entry requirement. There is no reciprocal health care agreement, and hospitals need a deposit and confirmation of insurance before admitting you, or cash up front.
Why is travel insurance for Thailand so expensive?
Because the claims are. Hospitals need a deposit and confirmation of insurance, costs can be very high, serious cases are moved to better facilities or flown home, and road accidents are common. Insurers have paid single Thai claims of more than $280,000.
Is credit card travel insurance enough for Thailand?
Check before you rely on it. Smartraveller warned in October 2026 that several Australian banks are reducing or removing the travel insurance on their credit cards, and that you may have lost cover for medical expenses, cancellations, luggage or rental car excess. Read your card's current PDS for activation rules, trip length and medical limits, and compare it with a comprehensive policy for Thailand.
Am I covered riding a scooter in Thailand?
Only if you hold the right licence and meet the policy's conditions. Smartraveller says you need an IDP plus your Australian licence for that vehicle type, so for a scooter or motorbike you need an Australian motorcycle licence. Most policies also require a helmet and the motorcycle option.
How long can Australians stay in Thailand without a visa?
Up to 30 days for tourism under the visa exemption that took effect on 15 September 2026, replacing the previous 60-day stay. You also need to complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card within 3 days before arrival.
Does travel insurance cover cosmetic surgery in Thailand?
Usually not. Travelling to get treatment is a common exclusion, so complications and the evacuation that can follow may not be covered. Smartraveller advises making sure your insurance covers medical tourism, complications and evacuation before you go.