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Published on July 16, 2007

If you want to save money, a third-class policy is one choice. It covers only losses to property and life and the medical costs of second and third parties.

Fortunately, several insurers now offer special third-class policies that fill the gap between first- and third-class insurance.

These pay for damage to your car resulting from an accident and that to other vehicles involved. It covers bail bonds, liability and medical coverage if you are at fault. However, it does not cover liability incurred from collisions with stationary objects or if your car is stolen and then involved in an accident.

Almost all insurers offering these polices place no age restriction on vehicles covered.

It is cheaper than a first-class policy but more expensive than third class.

Liberty Insurance offers the lowest premiums at Bt6,777. It provides maximum collision coverage for insured vehicles at Bt100,000 an accident.

If you want to up that coverage to, say, Bt150,000 or Bt200,000, then premiums increase to Bt7,444 and Bt7,776, respectively. Personal injury is covered to the tune of Bt200,000. Household fire coverage is also included.

At-fault drivers are required to pay a Bt2,000 excess in the event of a claim.

The products offer the same Bt1-million coverage for damage to others' property and vehicles and medical expenses. Passengers are covered up to Bt100,000.

At-fault drivers get a Bt200,000 bail bond.

Asia Plus Insurance was the first company to offer the special third-class insurance. Its single-rate premium is Bt6,800.

Collision coverage is up to Bt100,000 per accident with an at-fault deductible of Bt2,000. Other vehicles involved are covered up to Bt100,000 and

damage or personal injury is taken care of up to a maximum of Bt1 million.

Drivers and three passengers are insured to a maximum of Bt100,000 and other individuals to a maximum of Bt500,000. Total claims cannot exceed Bt10 million.

Allianz CP Insurance and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance are selling special third-class policies for Bt6,800.

Thaivivat Insurance requires no excess payment for at-fault claims, but the premium is Bt7,500.

It offers Bt100,000 per accident and Bt1 million for property. Up to Bt50,000 per-person medical expenses are covered for passengers in insured vehicles and Bt500,000 for individuals not in the insured vehicle.

As well as insurance packages, one needs to consider insurance brokers. Take www.silkspan.com, for example. The online broker allows customers buying an Asia 3+ policy to pay by six interest-free monthly instalments of Bt1,134. It offers free 24-hour roadside assistance from Car World Club.

Policyholders get the once-a-year-only use of a vehicle if theirs is damaged and needs repairs, or Bt1,500 in travel expenses.

Oranan Paweewun

The Nation