Car Insurance in Alanya: Traffic Insurance, Kasko and What Foreigners Need to Know

1. Which Insurance Do You Need?

The insurance you need depends on the car’s plate and your status in Turkey. The table below summarises the situations we see most often.

Why does traffic insurance matter in Alanya?

Traffic insurance pays for the damage to vehicles and property and the bodily injury you cause to others in an accident, up to the legal limits. A vehicle without a policy can be taken off the road and its owner fined. The limits are the same at every company; the difference is in price and additional covers.

In summer, traffic in Alanya gets heavier and there are more expensive cars on the road. If the other car’s damage exceeds the traffic insurance limit, you pay the difference. That is why we recommend adding extended liability (İMM) to your policy.

Which kasko covers should you look for in Alanya?

• Flood, water damage and hail: cars can be damaged in heavy winter rain; narrow kasko policies may not include these covers.
• Parking damage and malicious damage: scratches and dents are common in busy streets and residential complex car parks.
• Mini repair, glass and headlights: lets you fix small damage without losing your no-claims discount.
• Replacement car: you get a car for as long as yours is in the workshop.

We check together, at the quotation stage, which covers are written in your policy.

Do motorcycles and scooters need insurance?

Yes. Motorcycles and scooters are motor vehicles too and cannot be ridden without traffic insurance. Motorcycle kasko can be taken out for their own damage and theft. Personal accident insurance for the rider is also worth considering, because traffic insurance does not cover the at-fault rider’s own injuries.

2. Buying a Car as a Foreigner and Insurance

Many foreigners living in Alanya buy a car here. The notary and the registration office guide you through the sale and registration; here we summarise the insurance side and the general framework.

Can foreigners buy a car in Turkey?

Yes. Sources state that a foreigner needs a valid residence permit to buy and register a car in their own name in Turkey. Second-hand car sales take place at a notary, and a sworn interpreter is required for buyers who do not speak Turkish. Before buying, we recommend checking the car’s damage and inspection history.

Do you need insurance before registering a car?

Yes. The car must have valid traffic insurance to be registered. With a second-hand car, the previous owner’s policy ends with the sale; you take out a policy in your own name as the new owner, using your foreigner ID number. If you tell us the sale date in advance, we prepare the policy in time for the notary appointment.

How long can you drive in Alanya with a foreign licence?

Under the Highway Traffic Regulation, a driving licence issued abroad can be used in Turkey for six months; foreigners who will stay longer or live in Turkey must convert it to a Turkish driving licence. Confirm with the civil registry office how the period is counted in your case.

This rule directly affects your insurance: in an accident with a driver who has no valid licence, traffic insurance pays the other party, but it can later reclaim the amount from the owner and the driver (recourse). Kasko may not pay for the damage at all in that case.

3. Foreign-Plated Cars and the Green Card

Different insurance rules apply if you arrive with your own car from abroad or plan to drive your car abroad.

Which insurance do you need to enter Turkey with a foreign-plated car?

When the car crosses the border, it must have traffic insurance valid in Turkey. This can be a green card that covers Turkey; otherwise Turkish traffic insurance is bought at the border crossing. A car without insurance is not allowed in. For damage caused in Turkey by foreign-plated vehicles, the Motor Vehicle Bureau of Turkey (TMTB) acts on behalf of the foreign insurer.

How long can a foreign-plated car stay in Turkey?

According to sources, foreigners without a residence permit can keep the car in Turkey for a total of 90 days within 180 days. Foreigners who live in Turkey cannot bring a car in this tourist way; there is a separate permit process, with an application, for residence permit holders who work, study or are retired. Overstaying is fined, and a foreign-plated car cannot be sold in Turkey. Check current periods with the customs authority or the Ministry of Trade’s query system.

Can a foreign-plated car get kasko?

Kasko is not required at the border; only traffic insurance is compulsory. Before you travel, ask your insurer whether your home-country comprehensive cover is valid in Turkey. Some companies in Turkey can also insure foreign-plated cars with kasko; send us your car’s details and we will look into the options.

What do you need to drive a Turkish-plated car abroad?

Turkish traffic insurance is valid only in Turkey. If you drive your car abroad, you need a green card, which is valid in about 45 countries including Turkey. Some countries require you to show it at the border, and the original policy must be kept in the car. Green cards are issued for periods from 15 days to one year; we check together whether your destination is on the list.

4. How Do You Proceed With Us?

You do not need to visit the office for car insurance; sending the details on WhatsApp is enough.

What information is needed for a quote?

• A photo of the vehicle registration (ruhsat), or the plate and registration serial number
• The owner’s Turkish ID number or foreigner ID number
• For kasko: how the car is used, any extra equipment and the covers you want
• If you are buying the car: the date of the notary appointment

How do the quote and the policy work?

• You send your details on WhatsApp in English, Russian or Turkish.
• We get traffic insurance and kasko quotes from the companies we work with and compare their prices and covers.
• We issue your policy with the quote you choose and send it to you on WhatsApp or by email.
• If there is a claim, we help you with the accident report and the application steps.

5. Frequently Asked Questions About Car Insurance in Alanya