Personal Accident Cover for Drivers and Passengers: Why It Matters in Kasko

When we think of car insurance, we usually think of the car: dents, scratches, theft, broken glass. Yet in a road accident the people inside matter far more than the vehicle. Knowing which policy does what if the driver or passengers are injured, permanently disabled or, in the worst case, killed is an important but often overlooked part of choosing insurance. This guide covers driver and passenger personal accident cover, which can be added to kasko (comprehensive motor insurance) in Türkiye.

Which policy protects whom?

• Compulsory traffic insurance: required under Law No. 2918 (Highway Traffic Law) and aimed at damage your vehicle causes to third parties. In general, the bodily injuries of the person driving your car are not what this policy is for.
• Kasko: covers damage to the car itself under the policy conditions. The core kasko cover is not aimed at bodily injury to people in the car.
• Personal accident cover: aimed at death, permanent disability and, where included, treatment costs for the driver and passengers following an accident.

So, especially in an accident that is your fault or where the other party cannot be identified, personal accident cover is often the most direct protection for the people in the car. For the basics of traffic insurance, see our traffic insurance page.

How it works as a kasko add-on

Many kasko policies may include personal accident as an additional cover. In some it comes automatically at a set amount; in others it is optional or can be increased. It is usually seat-based: a sum insured is set for the driver and each passenger according to the seating capacity on the ruhsat (vehicle registration).

1. Death: payment to the beneficiaries if an accident causes death.
2. Permanent disability: payment depending on the degree of disability, under the policy conditions.
3. Treatment costs: some policies also include accident-related medical costs.

Which of these your policy includes, and the amounts, vary. Look for a personal accident or seat accident heading in your policy summary.

Why it is often overlooked

When comparing kasko quotes, people focus on premium, deductible, garage options and replacement car. Personal accident appears as a small line near the end and is often skipped. Yet this line can make a very different outcome for a family after an accident. Two quotes with a small premium difference may have very different personal accident amounts, so compare this line side by side too. Pay closer attention if:

• You regularly drive with your family and children
• You often drive long distances
• You share the car with colleagues for work
• You have no separate life or personal accident insurance

How it differs from individual personal accident insurance

The kasko cover is tied to the vehicle: it protects people in that car in accidents involving it. Individual personal accident insurance is tied to the person and, depending on the policy, may cover accidents in daily life too. They meet different needs rather than replacing each other. See our sister site’s guide to personal accident insurance.

A scenario

A driver heading to the Black Sea coast with family loses control on a slippery road and hits the barrier. No other vehicle is involved, so there is no other party’s traffic insurance to claim from. The damage to the car is assessed under kasko. A passenger’s injury and treatment are handled according to whether personal accident cover exists and what it includes. If it is low or missing, the family may be unprotected here.

Documents after an accident

Claims usually need an accident report or official record, hospital records, doctors’ reports and treatment invoices; for permanent disability, a medical report showing the degree of disability is central. The exact list depends on the insurer. Inform your agency soon after the accident and keep a copy of every medical document as you receive it.

Checklist when renewing kasko

• Does the policy include personal accident cover, and what does it include?
• Are the amounts right for your family?
• Are treatment costs inside this cover or arranged separately?
• Does the seat count match the ruhsat?
• Are beneficiary details up to date?

To review your kasko for personal accident cover, visit our comprehensive car insurance page. At our office in the Maslak Atatürk Oto Sanayi Sitesi we can read your policy with you and compare several insurers. Call +90 530 375 89 61 or message us on WhatsApp for English-speaking support.