Minimum third party liability insurance is required for all vehicles in Turkey and proof of insurance must be carried at all times. This insurance is called Compulsory Traffic Insurance (Zorunlu Trafik Sigortasi) and covers the cost of damage of the other vehicle in the event of a road traffic accident. Vehicles without this insurance may not be driven on the roads. Vehicle insurance covers the owner of the car, any additional drivers must be named on the insurance policy and an additional fee may have to be paid.
Types of car insurance in Turkey
Compulsory Traffic Insurance or Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası:
Immediately after owning a car in Turkey, you must apply for third party insurance or Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası. This insurance pays for damages to the car and other people in traffic accidents.
Limited vehicle insurance or Dar Kasko
Kasko Insurance is one of the most complete types of insurance in Turkey, which also includes third party insurance. This insurance covers items such as injuries to your car occupants, driver and car injuries, other party car injuries, theft, disappearance, fire, etc.
Genişletilmiş Kasko
This insurance is effective when you want to add new clauses to the limited insurance. For example, when leaving the country by private car, you can use this insurance.
Full car insurance or Tam Kasko
In addition to covering all of the above, this insurance covers other coverages such as natural disasters, terrorism and animal harm.
Roadside Assistance Insurance (Trafik Yol YardıM Sigortası)
If your vehicle breaks down, your windshield or windows break (if your primary insurance does not already cover this), and the related legal expenses, this insurance will offer you the cover you need. You will often have to apply for supplementary coverage and pay extra to get this, though it may depend on your provider.
If you are found to be on or using drugs or have engaged in racing on public roads, repeatedly have the same type of accident or breakdown, or get involved in physical fights or altercations with third parties. You will not be able to get road assistance.
Natural disasters, terrorism, civil war, riots, or strikes are also not included.
Additional Driver and Passenger Insurance (Ekstra SürüCü Teminatı)
If you do not have full vehicle insurance, you may want to take out extra insurance to cover loss or damage to the driver and passengers, including possible loss of earnings.
Additional Forms of Car Insurance in Turkey
You can take out contents insurance if you have valuables in your car and won’t keep them safe in a secure location.
There are also two other types of vehicle insurance in Turkey.
Car Insurance Bonuses and Penalties in Turkey
Turkish car insurance operates a system of no-claims bonuses, or bonus-malus system. Within this system annual insurance rates may increase if a claim is made when an accident was the driver’s fault; if the driver has no accidents the rates will decrease. Discount rates vary depending on the insurance companies; but in general, they range from 30 percent to 65 percent. The claim discount applies to the driver not the vehicle, so if the driver changes their vehicle, the discount still applies.
Foreign drivers may be able to transfer their no-claims bonus acquired in another country to a Turkish insurance policy. They will need to obtain a certificate from their insurance company stating the amount of no-claims bonus they have.
In 2022, not being fined for car insurance starts from 196 lira. Vehicle owners will receive a 25% discount if they make an advance payment within 15 days. In case of non-renewal of compulsory traffic insurance and non-renewal of insurance policy for which the insurance period has expired for 1 year, a 5% penalty of late payment will be applied for each month. The cost of delay is limited to 50%.
How To Choose Car Insurance in Turkey
Depending on the scope of your travels and how often you will use your vehicle, most people would recommend you get kasko and possibly add clauses for a trip abroad.
Many insurance providers offer flexible policies. Anadolu Sigorta, Ankara Sigorta, ERGO Sigorta, Eureko Sigorta, GİG Sigorta and Groupama Sigorta are some of the most popular choices for mandatory traffic insurance.
Banks such as Garanti Bank are also good places to compare and can come with perks or bonuses.
Applying for Turkish Car Insurance
When applying for car insurance in Turkey, you will usually be given a standard form to fill out. After sending it off, you should hear back from the company within 15 days. If you do not like their offer, you do not have to accept it and continue looking around.
Their rates and terms are valid for 14 days if you decide to ask for a few days to mull over. Most insurance companies now offer translated versions of their contracts or have websites in English that make this process a lot easier.
The documents you will need to take out car insurance:
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Your vehicle registration document
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Proof of identity (ID card or passport)
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Proof of periodic motor vehicle inspection (in essence, your MOT, called “Vize” in Turkish)
How To Make an Insurance Claim for Your Car
In the event of a road traffic accident drivers must file their claim with their insurance company within five days. The following documents should be sent with the claim:
- Copy of the insurance policy (Poliçe),
- Accident report sheet (Tutanak örneği), or a written statement from the driver
- Result of the breathalyser test (Alkol Raporu) (original or copy)
- Copy of the vehicle registration documents,
- Copy of the driving licence
- Photographs of any damage (if possible)
Canceling a Contract or Changing Your Car Insurance Provider
Most insurance contracts are automatically renewed annually at their expiry date unless you have signed up for 3- or 6-month periods, which are usually more expensive.
Although you cannot cancel your contract without paying the penalty, there are certain cases when cancellation is allowed. If the vehicle has been sold, becomes unusable/unfit for traffic, the insured has died, etc.
You will have to give the provider at least three months’ written notice if you want to cancel your contract after it expires.
If you want to cancel it before, you will often have to pay the premiums for the remaining months.
Making a Complaint About a Car Insurance Company in Turkey
Suppose the insurance company has not compensated you fairly for your losses or is dissatisfied with their communication or services. In that case, you can complain to the Commission of Insurance Arbitration (Sigorta Denetleme Kurulu) and Turkish courts.
