Motorbike Insurance for Tourists in Vietnam: What Actually Covers You (2026)

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute insurance or legal advice. Insurance policies and regulations change, and coverage always depends on your specific policy wording. Verify your coverage directly with your insurer before you travel.

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The Short Answer

• CTPL (required by law on every bike) covers the person you hit — not you.
• Your travel insurance covers your own hospital bills — but most policies only pay if you hold a valid motorcycle license and IDP.
• No license? At the time of writing, Genki is one of the few widely-known travel insurers that covers riders without one (up to 125cc). Or rent a 50cc bike, which needs no Vietnamese license.

Don't assume you're covered. Read your policy wording before you ride.

Layer 1: CTPL — Covers the Person You Hit, Not You

Every motorbike in Vietnam must carry Compulsory Third-Party Liability insurance. If you rent from a legitimate shop, it's already on the bike.

Under Decree 67/2023/NĐ-CP (in force as of August 2026), CTPL pays:

• Up to 150 million VND (~$6,000) per person for third-party injury or death
• Up to 50 million VND (~$2,000) per accident for third-party property damage

It does not cover: your own injuries, damage to the rental bike, theft, or your belongings. Regulations change over time — confirm the current limits with your insurer or rental shop.

Layer 2: Your Travel Insurance — The Layer That Matters

This is what pays your hospital bills, surgery, and medical evacuation. The catch: most travel insurance policies only cover motorbike riding if you hold a valid motorcycle license in your home country plus a valid IDP for Vietnam.

If you ride without both, an accident claim may be denied — insurers investigate each case individually, and license exclusions are the most common reason for refusal.

Layer 3: What "Insurance Included" Means at a Rental Shop

It almost always means CTPL only. Damage to the bike, theft, and your own medical bills are not covered — if you crash into a wall, the repairs are on you. Some shops sell optional damage coverage; ask exactly what it covers, up to what amount, and what's excluded.

Which Travel Insurers Cover Motorbike Riding?

*Based on publicly available policy wording as of August 2026. Policies change — always verify with the insurer before you travel.*

No License? Two Options

Genki — at the time of writing, one of the few widely-known travel insurers that publicly states it covers scooter and motorbike accidents without a license, for bikes up to 125cc. That covers Vietnam's most common rentals (110–125cc scooters), but not 150cc+ bikes. Note that Genki does not cover material damage, and coverage is void if you drink and ride.

Rent a 50cc bike — under Vietnam's traffic law (Law 36/2024/QH15), bikes under 50cc need no Vietnamese license. Many insurers apply license-related exclusions, so riding a bike that doesn't require a local license removes one common reason for claim denial — but coverage always depends on your policy wording. Some insurers exclude motorized two-wheelers entirely, so check yours.

AKi rents the SYM Shark 50cc FI (2026) — fine for Da Nang city, the beaches, and Hoi An.

Before You Ride — 5-Minute Checklist

1. Read the actual policy wording — not the marketing page. Search for "motorcycle," "motorbike," "motorized vehicle."

2. No license + no IDP? Assume you're not covered unless the policy explicitly says otherwise.

3. Check the cc cap — e.g., Genki covers up to 125cc. Don't rent a 150cc bike on a 125cc policy.

4. Save emergency numbers — insurer hotline, policy number, 115 (ambulance), and your rental shop.

5. In a crash, get a police report (CSGT) — insurers generally require it for claims. Call your insurer before paying any bills.

If You Crash Without Coverage

It gets expensive fast: a broken leg with surgery at an international hospital roughly $5,000–15,000; medical evacuation to Bangkok or Singapore $15,000–50,000. Bike damage or theft is settled directly with the rental shop. Ten minutes of checking your policy now beats discovering you're uncovered after a crash.

The full license and IDP picture is in our motorbike license guide for tourists.