What Does Compulsory Traffic Insurance Cover in Turkey?
Compulsory traffic insurance (trafik sigortası), officially the Compulsory Motor Vehicle Third-Party Liability Insurance, is required by Highway Traffic Law No. 2918 for every motor vehicle on Turkish roads. If you are involved in an accident, it pays for the material damage and bodily injury you cause to the other party, up to the limits set by law.
This guide explains what traffic insurance covers, what the limits mean, which extras can be added to the policy and how the no-claims discount works. The rules are the same for Turkish citizens and foreign residents driving a Turkish-registered car.
- Traffic insurance is compulsory; a vehicle without a policy can be taken off the road and an administrative fine applies.
- It pays only the other party’s damage; for damage to your own car you need kasko.
- The limits are set by law and are the same at every insurer; insurers differ in price and optional extras.
- What affects the price most is your step: every claim-free year increases your discount.
Contents
1. Main Cover of Traffic Insurance
Every traffic insurance policy has the same three main covers: property damage, medical expenses, and disability and death. Each cover has an upper limit per person or per vehicle and one per accident. The per-person limit is the most that can be paid to one person; the per-accident limit is the total that can be paid to everyone harmed in the same accident.
| Cover | Per person / vehicle | Per accident |
|---|---|---|
| Property damage | 400,000 TL per vehicle | 800,000 TL |
| Medical expenses | 3,600,000 TL per person | 18,000,000 TL |
| Disability and death | 3,600,000 TL per person | 18,000,000 TL |
What is the property damage limit per vehicle?
It is the most that can be paid for the damage you cause to one vehicle of the other party. For cars this limit is 400,000 TL. Repair costs, spare parts and the vehicle’s loss of value due to the accident are paid from this cover.
If the other vehicle’s damage exceeds the limit, the at-fault vehicle owner pays the difference out of pocket. With expensive cars on the road this risk is real, which is why we recommend the optional Voluntary Liability (İMM) cover.
What is the property damage limit per accident?
If you damage more than one vehicle or item of property (a building, wall, pole, barrier, etc.) in the same accident, this is the total upper limit that can be paid to all of them together. For cars this limit is 800,000 TL. Each vehicle’s share still cannot exceed the per-vehicle limit.
What does the medical expenses cover pay?
It pays the treatment costs of third parties injured in the accident. The per-person limit is 3,600,000 TL. Treatment costs are paid directly by SGK (Turkish social security); insurers then pay their share of these costs to SGK. This way the injured person does not have to pay at the hospital.
What does the disability and death cover pay?
If the accident causes permanent disability, disability compensation is paid; in case of death, loss of support compensation is paid to the relatives who depended on the deceased, and funeral costs are also covered. The per-person limit is 3,600,000 TL.
The per-accident limit depends on the vehicle type and the number of people it carries:
| Vehicle type | Limit per accident |
|---|---|
| Car and taxi | 18,000,000 TL |
| Van, truck, tractor unit and construction machinery | 36,000,000 TL |
| Agricultural and special-purpose vehicles | 18,000,000 TL |
| Motorcycle and cargo motorcycle | 10,800,000 TL |
| Minibus (10–17 seats incl. driver) | 8,080,000 TL |
| Bus (18–30 seats incl. driver) | 21,008,000 TL |
| Bus (31 or more seats incl. driver) | 42,015,000 TL |
What does traffic insurance not cover?
- Damage to your own car and your own loss caused by your fault. For this you need kasko.
- Damage to the property of your spouse, children and siblings living with you.
- Damage to the load and belongings carried in your car, or to a trailer it tows.
- Damage caused by natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and storms.
- Compensation for non-material (moral) damage.
- Any amount above the limits. The at-fault vehicle owner pays the excess.
In cases such as driving without a licence or under the influence of alcohol, the insurer still pays the other party’s damage, but may later claim the amount back from the vehicle owner. This is called recourse (rücu).
2. Optional Extras for Traffic Insurance
Extras are not a legal requirement; insurers add them to the policy for free or for a fee. Because the extras and their limits differ from insurer to insurer, two policies at the same price can have different cover. When we compare quotes, we put the extras side by side too.
What is Voluntary Liability (İMM) cover?
An extra that steps in when the traffic insurance limits are not enough. It pays the part of the property damage and bodily injury you cause to others that exceeds the traffic insurance limit, up to the İMM limit you choose. It protects you from large claims in serious accidents or when you hit an expensive car.
What is personal accident cover?
Traffic insurance does not cover the people in your own car. Personal accident cover pays fixed amounts for death, permanent disability and treatment costs of the driver and passengers in your car after an accident.
What is roadside assistance?
During the policy term it gives you towing, recovery and roadside help after an accident or breakdown. Many insurers add this service for free; limits on the number of uses and distance vary by insurer.
What is mini repair cover?
It lets small damage on your car such as scratches, dents and cracks be repaired at no extra cost, within certain limits. Which damage and how many parts are covered differs by insurer.
What is legal protection cover?
In disputes arising from an accident, it pays legal costs such as lawyer’s fees, court and enforcement costs, up to a set limit.
3. Types of Traffic Insurance
Traffic insurance can be divided in two ways: by the scope of the policy and by the type of vehicle insured.
What is standard traffic insurance?
A policy made up only of the covers required by law. Since the limits are the same at every insurer, standard policies differ only in price.
What is extended traffic insurance?
A policy that adds extras such as roadside assistance, İMM, personal accident and mini repair to the compulsory covers. It may cost a little more, but it protects both you and your car more widely in an accident.
Traffic insurance by vehicle type
The premium and the per-accident limits depend on the vehicle type and how it is used:
- Private car: cars and off-road vehicles for personal use
- Commercial vehicles: taxis, shared taxis (dolmuş), minibuses and buses
- Goods vehicles: vans, trucks and tractor units
- Motorcycle: motorcycles and cargo motorcycles
- Other: tractors, construction machinery and special-purpose vehicles
What are Green Card and border traffic insurance?
Turkish traffic insurance is valid only in Turkey. If you are driving abroad, you need Green Card insurance that is valid in the countries you visit. Foreign-registered vehicles entering Turkey without a valid Green Card must buy border traffic insurance at the border crossing.
4. No-Claims Discount and Surcharges
What affects the price of traffic insurance most is your claims history. It is measured in 9 steps, from 0 to 8. At higher steps you get a discount; at lower steps a surcharge is added to your premium.
What is the no-claims discount in traffic insurance?
Every policy year without a claim paid for an accident in which you were at fault moves you up one step and lowers your premium. The discount starts at 5% at step 5 and reaches 50% at step 8, the top step. The rates are set by law and are the same at every insurer.
How do the steps change?
- A vehicle insured for the first time starts at step 4.
- For every claim-free year you move one step up at renewal (up to 8).
- If a claim is paid for an accident in which you were at fault, you move one step down (down to 0).
What is a surcharge in traffic insurance?
An increase added to the premium at the lower steps. It is 10% at step 4 and goes up to 200% at step 0. The 10% surcharge at step 4 does not apply to a vehicle insured for the first time.
How is the price of traffic insurance set?
- The vehicle type and how it is used (car, taxi, truck, bus…)
- The province where the vehicle is registered
- Your step, i.e. your claims history
- The maximum price published every month: insurers cannot charge more, but may offer lower prices.
How can you keep your no-claims discount?
- Renew your policy before it expires; renewing late can lead to a surcharge.
- For small damage, ask us whether paying it yourself rather than claiming would be better for keeping your step.
- When you change your car, let us check together whether your discount can be transferred to the new one.
5. Frequently Asked Questions About Traffic Insurance
Is traffic insurance compulsory in Turkey?
Yes. Under Highway Traffic Law No. 2918, every motor vehicle on the road must have traffic insurance. Driving without it leads to an administrative fine, and the vehicle can be taken off the road.
How long is traffic insurance valid?
The policy is valid for 1 year and must be renewed every year. You can find the end date on your policy, through the traffic policy enquiry on e-Devlet, or by asking us.
What should I do after an accident?
If there is only material damage and both sides agree, fill in the accident report form (kaza tespit tutanağı) together; if anyone is injured, call 112 and the police. You must report the accident to the insurer within 5 days. Contact us with your ID, vehicle registration, driving licence and the report; we will follow the claim with you.
Does traffic insurance pay for the other car’s loss of value?
Yes. The at-fault party’s traffic insurance pays the repair costs of the other vehicle and its loss of value due to the accident, within the per-vehicle property damage limit.
What happens to traffic insurance if I sell my car?
When the car is sold, the policy is cancelled and the premium for the unused days is refunded. The new owner must insure the car in their own name.
When do I buy traffic insurance for a new car?
For a new car, traffic insurance is bought before registration. When buying a used car, a new policy is issued in the new owner’s name with the transfer.
Does traffic insurance pay for natural disaster damage?
No. Damage to your car from natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and storms is not covered by traffic insurance; for that you need kasko.
What is the difference between kasko and traffic insurance?
Traffic insurance is compulsory and pays the damage you cause to others. Kasko is optional and covers damage to your own car, theft and natural disaster damage. One does not replace the other.
The limits and rates on this page are based on the regulations in force and are updated every year. Contact us for up-to-date information about your vehicle.
The right traffic insurance for your car
We compare quotes from seven insurers and choose the best one for you together.
Limits and rates are updated by law every year; contact us for current figures.