How to Read Your Turkish Traffic Insurance Policy: The Covers Explained

Most people look only at the premium and the expiry date on their compulsory traffic insurance policy — and for expats, the document is usually in Turkish, which makes it even harder to read. Yet the cover table shows which types of damage you cause to others will be paid, and within which limits. This guide walks through the policy section by section. Because amounts change periodically and differ between policies, we do not give figures; we explain what each item means.

The main sections of the policy

• Policyholder and insured: identity and contact details of the person arranging the policy and the vehicle’s keeper. For foreign residents, this includes the foreign ID number (Yabancı Kimlik No).
• Vehicle details: plate, make, model, model year, chassis and engine numbers.
• Usage type: private, commercial or another usage class.
• Policy period: start and end date and time.
• Step information: your step, based on your claims history.
• Cover table: the types of damage covered and their limits.
• Premium and taxes: the breakdown of what you pay.

An error in any of these can cause problems after an accident. Make sure the chassis number, usage type and plate match your ruhsat (vehicle registration) exactly.

Understanding the cover table

Compulsory traffic insurance is required under Law No. 2918, the Highway Traffic Law, and covers damage you cause to third parties while operating your vehicle. The cover table usually has three main items, each written with two separate limits.

Material damage

Damage to the other party’s vehicle or other property. It is usually shown with a per-vehicle and a per-accident limit. The per-vehicle limit is the maximum for any one damaged vehicle; the per-accident limit is the maximum for all vehicles and property damaged in the same accident.

Disability and death

Compensation if third parties are permanently disabled or lose their lives. Again shown with per-person and per-accident limits.

Medical expenses

Treatment costs for injured third parties, also shown per person and per accident. How these costs are handled in practice, and through which institution, is set by legislation; ask your agent for details.

A scenario: per person versus per accident

Imagine you are at fault at a junction and hit two cars. Each car’s damage is assessed within the per-vehicle limit, but the total for both cannot exceed the per-accident limit. If several people are injured, each claim is capped by the per-person limit and the total by the per-accident limit.

If the limits are exceeded, the at-fault driver and the keeper may have to pay the difference. That is why many drivers add excess liability cover (known in Turkey as İMM) to their kasko (comprehensive motor insurance) to protect against losses above traffic insurance limits.

Minimum limits and updates

The minimum cover limits for traffic insurance are set officially and updated periodically. Your policy is issued with the limits valid on its issue date, so comparing figures on an old policy with today’s values can mislead. At renewal, simply review the new limits with your agent.

Some insurers add extras such as roadside assistance to traffic policies. These are not part of the compulsory cover; they are additional services with varying scope.

Reading the step and premium sections

Your step reflects whether you have had at-fault claims paid to others in earlier periods. Claim-free periods improve it; at-fault claims can lower it. If the step looks wrong, for example a claim-free year has not been reflected, ask your agent to check the records. Also ask how the step transfers when you change cars or insurers. The premium section shows the net premium and taxes or other statutory charges separately, which helps you see where the difference between two quotes comes from.

What the policy does not cover

• Damage to your own car,
• The driver’s own injuries,
• Theft of your car,
• Losses above the policy limits.

Kasko and add-on covers can fill these gaps. For a refresher on the basics, read compulsory traffic insurance explained.

Policy checklist

1. Do the plate, chassis and engine numbers match the ruhsat?
2. Is the usage type correct?
3. Are the start and end dates continuous with your previous policy?
4. Does the step match your claims history?
5. Does the cover table show three main items with two limits each?
6. If there are extra services, is their scope in writing?

Keep a copy of the policy on your phone: the policy number and the insurer’s claims line are the first things you will be asked for after an accident. To go through your policy together or renew your traffic insurance, see our traffic insurance in Maslak page. Ailenizin Sigortacısı has worked in insurance since 1996; call us on +90 530 375 89 61 or send a message on WhatsApp for English support.