What Is DASK (Compulsory Earthquake Insurance) and What Does It Cover?
DASK, or compulsory earthquake insurance, covers damage to your home from an earthquake and the fire, explosion, tsunami and landslide it causes. It is run by the Natural Catastrophe Insurance Institution (DASK), set up after the 1999 Marmara earthquake, and is now based on Disaster Insurance Law No. 6305.
It is compulsory for homes registered with a title deed (tapu), including homes owned by foreigners. The price is set by a state tariff and is the same whichever insurer you use. This guide explains what DASK covers, who must have it, how the cover and price are calculated and what to do after an earthquake.
- DASK is compulsory for homes with a title deed; a valid policy is required for a sale at the land registry and for home insurance.
- It protects only the building against earthquakes; your belongings need home insurance.
- Cover is calculated as floor area × unit value; for January 2026 the upper limit is 2,095,462 TL.
- For every claim, 2% of the sum insured stays with you as the excess.
Contents
1. What Is DASK and What Does It Cover?
DASK is an insurance system that pools earthquake risk with a state guarantee. The policy covers damage to your home as a building; the belongings inside are not covered.
Which risks does DASK cover?
- Earthquake
- Fire caused by an earthquake
- Explosion caused by an earthquake
- Tsunami caused by an earthquake
- Landslide caused by an earthquake
Material damage these events cause directly to your building is covered up to the sum insured in the policy.
Which parts of the building does DASK cover?
DASK covers the structure itself, from the load-bearing system to the common areas:
- Foundations, main walls and the shared walls separating units
- Ceilings, floors, stairs, landings and corridors
- Roof, chimneys and lifts
- Garden and retaining walls
- Similar integral parts of the building
What does DASK not cover?
- Belongings in the home (furniture, appliances, electronics, etc.)
- Debris removal costs
- Loss of rent, temporary accommodation and moving costs
- Business interruption and loss of profit
- Loss of life and injuries, non-material damage
- Liability towards others
- Damage unrelated to an earthquake, caused over time or by poor maintenance
Is DASK enough on its own?
Usually not. DASK protects the building only against earthquakes and only up to the maximum cover. To protect your belongings, the building value above the maximum cover, and other risks such as fire, flooding and theft, you need home insurance.
| DASK | Home insurance | |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory? | Yes | No, optional |
| What does it protect? | Only the building | The building and contents |
| Which risks? | Earthquake and the fire, explosion, tsunami and landslide it causes | Fire, water, theft, storm, earthquake and more |
| Upper limit | Up to the maximum cover | Up to the sum you choose |
2. Who Must Have DASK?
Under Disaster Insurance Law No. 6305, DASK is compulsory for buildings registered with a title deed and used as homes. The obligation applies to each independent unit, i.e. to every flat separately.
Which buildings must have DASK?
- Buildings registered with a title deed and used as residences, and the units in these buildings
- Commercial units such as shops and offices inside residential buildings
- Buildings with condominium ownership (kat mülkiyeti) or construction servitude (kat irtifakı)
Which buildings cannot get DASK?
- Buildings belonging to public institutions
- Buildings in village settlement areas
- Buildings used entirely for commercial or industrial purposes (office blocks, business centres, etc.)
- Buildings whose construction is not finished
- Buildings on land not registered with a title deed, such as treasury land
- Buildings so neglected, ruined or abandoned that they cannot be lived in
What happens if you do not get DASK?
- A valid DASK policy in the buyer’s name is required for sales and transfers at the land registry; the transaction cannot go ahead without it.
- A DASK policy is required for water, electricity and natural gas connections.
- Home (fire) insurance cannot be issued for a home without a DASK policy.
- Most importantly, you have no protection for damage to your building in an earthquake.
In whose name is DASK issued? Can a tenant get it?
The policy is always issued in the name of the owner on the title deed. Tenants cannot get DASK in their own name, but they can take out the policy for the owner as the “policyholder” and pay for it. For shared title deeds, a single policy is issued with the details of one of the co-owners; any compensation is paid to the co-owners in proportion to their shares.
3. DASK Cover and Price
With DASK, both the cover and the price are calculated from the state tariff; there is no difference between insurers. The unit values that determine the cover, and the maximum cover, are updated every month in line with the Producer Price Index (PPI).
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Maximum cover (upper limit per home) | 2,095,462 TL |
| Value per m², reinforced concrete buildings | 9,884 TL / m² |
| Value per m², other construction types | 6,590 TL / m² |
| Excess | 2% of the sum insured |
How is the DASK sum insured calculated?
The sum insured is the home’s gross floor area multiplied by the value per m² for its type of construction. If the result exceeds the maximum cover, the sum insured is set at the maximum cover. For building value above the maximum cover, extra protection can be added with home insurance.
| Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sum insured (120 m² × 9,884 TL) | 1,186,080 TL |
| Above the maximum cover? | No, below 2,095,462 TL |
| Excess (2%) | 23,722 TL |
| DASK payment for a 300,000 TL loss | 276,278 TL |
What is the DASK excess?
For every claim, 2% of the sum insured stays with the insured as the excess; DASK pays the part of the loss above this amount. In the example above, the sum insured is 1,186,080 TL, so the excess is 23,722 TL; for a 300,000 TL loss, DASK pays 276,278 TL.
What determines the DASK price?
- The earthquake risk of the province and district where the home is
- Type of construction (reinforced concrete or other)
- Gross floor area
- Number of floors and year of construction of the building
- Whether the building has been damaged before
The DASK price is very low compared with the value of the home and depends only on these factors; your choice of insurer does not change it.
4. DASK Policy Procedures
A DASK policy can be issued in a few minutes. All that is needed is the home’s address code and building details.
What information is needed to get DASK?
- The owner’s Turkish ID number (for foreign owners, the foreigner ID number or tax number; for companies, the tax number) and phone number
- The home’s UAVT address code (a 10-digit number unique to each home; you can find it with the address enquiry service on e-Devlet, or ask us)
- Title deed details (block, sheet and parcel numbers)
- Gross floor area, type of construction, year of construction and total number of floors
- How the home is used and any existing damage
How long is DASK valid and how is it renewed?
A DASK policy is valid for 1 year and should be renewed before it expires. Your current policy number is enough to renew. You can find the end date with the DASK policy enquiry service on e-Devlet or by asking us.
What happens to DASK when the home is sold?
When the home is sold, the previous owner’s policy ends on the date of registration at the land registry; it is not transferred to the new owner. The buyer must get a new DASK policy in their own name before the title deed transaction. The previous owner can apply with the title deed to get back the premium for the unused days.
Can DASK be cancelled?
As a compulsory insurance, as a rule it cannot be cancelled. Cancellation is possible only when the risk no longer exists, for example if two policies were issued for the same home, or the home was sold or demolished.
5. The DASK Claims Process
The steps after an earthquake are simple; what matters is reporting the damage without delay.
How do you report a DASK claim?
- By calling the Alo DASK 125 line
- Through the online claims section on DASK’s website
- Through the insurer that issued the policy, or through us
When reporting, you will be asked for your ID and policy numbers, title deed details, the full address of the damaged home and your contact details. The legal deadline for reporting is 2 years from the earthquake, but reporting without delay is important for quick payment.
How is the damage assessed?
A loss adjuster (eksper) appointed by DASK inspects your home on site and records the extent and amount of the damage in a report. Compensation is set according to this report, the sum insured and the excess.
How and when is DASK compensation paid?
Once the amount is finalised, it is usually paid within one month into a bank in your area in the name of the beneficiary. You will need your ID and policy details to collect it. For shared title deeds, payment is made to the co-owners in proportion to their shares.
6. Frequently Asked Questions About DASK
Is DASK compulsory?
Yes. Under Disaster Insurance Law No. 6305, it is compulsory for buildings registered with a title deed and used as homes. A valid policy is required for land registry transactions and utility connections.
Do foreigners who own property in Turkey need DASK?
Yes. The obligation applies to every home with a Turkish title deed, whatever the owner’s nationality. We can issue the policy with your foreigner ID number or tax number.
Does the DASK price differ between insurers?
No. The DASK price is set by the state tariff and is the same at every insurer.
Does DASK cover belongings?
No. DASK protects only the building. To protect your belongings against earthquakes and other risks, you need home insurance.
What is the most DASK will pay?
Payment is made up to the sum insured calculated from the home’s floor area and type of construction; the upper limit for January 2026 is 2,095,462 TL. For every claim, 2% of the sum insured is deducted as the excess.
Can a tenant get DASK?
A tenant cannot get DASK in their own name, but can take out and pay for the policy as the policyholder on behalf of the owner.
I bought a home. Is the previous owner’s DASK valid?
No. The previous owner’s policy ends on the date of registration at the land registry. You must get a new DASK policy in your own name before the title deed transaction.
What is the DASK address code (UAVT) and where can I find it?
It is a 10-digit address number unique to each home. You can find it with the address enquiry service on e-Devlet, or ask us.
Where do I report damage after an earthquake?
To the Alo DASK 125 line, DASK’s online claims page, the insurer that issued your policy, or us.
The maximum cover and per-m² values are updated every month; the amounts on this page are January 2026 values. Contact us for the current amount for your home.
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The DASK price follows the state tariff; it is the same at every insurer.