Costly ride: Malaysian vehicles, submerged during the massive Hat Yai floods, arriving on flatbed tow trucks at the Malaysia-Thailand border in Bukit Kayu Hitam.
GEORGE TOWN: Malaysians driving into south Thailand have been urged to ensure they have proper cross-border motor insurance, after the severe floods in Hat Yai last month left many motorists stranded.
General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM) chief executive officer Chua Kim Soon said those driving into Thailand can take their comprehensive motor insurance with Endorsement 101, which provides cover for travel in Thailand from one to 30 days.
“This extension continues with Own Damage protection up to the vehicle’s sum insured and includes Third-Party Property Damage coverage of up to RM100,000,” he said.
Chua added that it is better for Malaysian motorists to activate Endorsement 57 as well, which covers special perils such as floods and other disasters.
He said the extension is relatively affordable at around 0.2% of the vehicle’s insured sum and can be arranged through any agent, broker or insurer.
Chua said Malaysians must be aware that the Thai authorities require all foreign vehicles entering the country to purchase their Compulsory Motor Insurance (CMI) before crossing the border from Thai insurance providers.
He said motorists can purchase CMI for the transit or destination country through the Asean regional platform online.
Chua said Malaysian vehicles caught in the recent floods in Thailand could have been better protected if their owners had extended their motor policies to cover travel into Thailand and damage from natural disasters.
“A standard comprehensive motor policy does not automatically cover incidents abroad, nor does it cover flood-related damage unless specific extensions are added. It will be an out-of-pocket expense for them to bring back their stranded vehicles.”
He advised Malaysians whose vehicles were damaged overseas not to start their flood-affected cars or motorcycles, warning that doing so could harm the engine and aggravate mechanical problems.
“Immediately take photos and videos for evidence purposes and then contact the insurer through its hotline or the Digital Roadside Assistance (DRA) app to arrange towing,” he said.
Chua said motorists are required to file a police report in Thailand, unless their insurers waive this obligation during large-scale disasters.
He said documents such as road tax, insurance papers and customs forms must be submitted to the insurers, who will then assist them through the claims process.
Chua added that claims can be tracked through the DRA app, while insurers will assess the claim together with the loss adjuster’s report before issuing a decision.
“Insurers are already working with tow trucks, panel workshops and Thai authorities to assist Malaysians affected by the Hat Yai floods,” he said.
Chua urged all motorists to immediately contact their insurers for motor, home or livelihood-related claims.
The floods in Hat Yai last month were caused by days of intense rainfall across Songkhla province.
Roads, hotels and commercial areas were inundated, and several districts were cut off.
Hundreds of Malaysian vehicles were reported stranded when low-lying areas were flooded without warning. Malaysian tow trucks have since been allowed into the city by Thai authorities to help retrieve vehicles belonging to stranded drivers.
Malaysian Consul General in Songkhla, Ahmad Fahmi Ahmad Sarkawi, was earlier quoted as saying that over 500 Malaysian-owned vehicles were reported stranded in Hat Yai due to the floods.
