Car Insurance in Turkey

Car insurance in Turkey is divided into two types: one is mandatory, meaning that any vehicle owner in Turkey is required by law to have it, while the other is optional, under which the vehicle owner contracts with an insurance company to cover damage to their car in the event it is damaged. In this article, we will explain in detail everything related to car insurance in Turkey — known as "Sigorta" or "Trafik Sigortası" (traffic insurance) — as well as comprehensive coverage, known as "Kasko." We will cover all types of insurance and their features, following this table of contents:

• Mandatory insurance

• Comprehensive insurance, known as Kasko

1. Mandatory Insurance

This has several names in common usage: Sigorta, Trafik Sigortası, third-party insurance, or mandatory insurance — in Turkish, "Trafik sigortası." It becomes mandatory the moment you purchase a car or any vehicle that travels on the roads; it must be purchased or activated immediately.

What documents are required to obtain car (traffic) insurance in Turkey?

To obtain mandatory car insurance in Turkey, you need the vehicle's registration/license along with the owner's national ID if they are a Turkish citizen, or their residence permit card if they are a foreign resident, or their Kimlik (refugee ID) if they reside under refugee status.

What documents are needed to obtain traffic insurance for a foreign-owned car in Turkey?

• The car's registration/license

• The car's license plate number

• The type of car for which traffic insurance is being arranged

• The manufacturing year of the car to be insured

• The chassis number of the car to be insured

• The engine number of the vehicle to be insured

• The owner's passport, translated and certified by the notary

Note: if the car was purchased using a passport and a tax number, the owner's passport and tax number will be requested when obtaining the insurance.

Important note: if the car was purchased using the foreigner's passport and tax number, the car's registration details will need to be updated once the owner obtains residence in Turkey, regardless of the type of residence permit.

Important note: if the car's owner is a foreigner who has since obtained Turkish citizenship, they will need to update the car's registration information and insurance information. They will be asked for a copy of their residence permit or refugee Kimlik, a copy of their Turkish national ID card, and a copy of the naturalization decision.

What does mandatory car insurance (Trafik Sigortası) cover?

Why is it mandatory? To prevent disputes between the two parties in the event of a traffic accident. Mandatory insurance therefore exists as an arbiter and referee, so that the dispute and settlement pass between the two insurance companies.

In the event of a traffic accident, what should I do for insurance purposes?

You should keep an accident report form and a pen to fill it out in your car — it is very simple and requires only a little Turkish. If the dispute over how to write the report becomes heated, with one party trying to minimize their own liability, the traffic police should be called; they will issue an accident report, copy the registration documents of the vehicles involved, and copy the drivers' licenses of the drivers. Each vehicle owner keeps a copy of the aforementioned documents. You can then begin the repair process at centers accredited by the insurance companies.

What is the price of Trafik Sigortası, or mandatory car insurance, in Turkey?

There is no fixed price; it varies according to a number of criteria, which we list below:

• The city in which the mandatory insurance/traffic insurance is issued — meaning that more congested cities have higher insurance prices than less congested ones, due to the higher likelihood of accidents.

• The type of car

• The age of the car

• The distance the car has traveled

• The model

• The car's accident history

• The claims record

• The owner's accident history

• The age of the car's owner

2. Comprehensive Insurance, Known as Kasko

This is optional insurance that can be arranged independently to provide comprehensive coverage for cars and vehicles in Turkey. Coverage can reach up to 100%, and it is priced higher than mandatory insurance.

Does Kasko (comprehensive insurance) replace mandatory traffic insurance (Sigorta)?

No, it does not replace it. Mandatory insurance must be obtained regardless of whether Kasko/comprehensive insurance is purchased or not — in other words, Trafik Sigortası remains mandatory whether or not you also get Kasko.

If I forget to renew my vehicle's Trafik Sigortası and the police stop me, what happens?

The car will be impounded immediately, along with a financial fine, and releasing it from impoundment requires purchasing the mandatory vehicle insurance. Don't forget to pay the fine resulting from the impoundment as well, so as not to incur late-payment penalties.

At Hallak Turkey Services Company, we provide mandatory traffic insurance (Trafik Sigortası) for all vehicles, as well as comprehensive (Kasko) insurance. All you need to do is contact us for a free consultation and a price quote.