What You Need to Know About Compulsory Traffic Insurance

Compulsory traffic insurance in Turkiye is often misunderstood by drivers who arrive with a foreign-plated vehicle. In some countries, people use one broad word such as “car insurance” for several types of cover. In Turkiye, however, compulsory traffic insurance, kasko, optional liability extensions and roadside assistance are treated as separate products or service layers.

This guide explains what compulsory traffic insurance is, who it mainly protects, how it differs from kasko, why foreign-plated vehicles require careful document checks, and how Gurbet Kasko is positioned in the quote and policy process.

What is compulsory traffic insurance?

The formal Turkish product is Karayolları Motorlu Araçlar Zorunlu Mali Sorumluluk Sigortası, commonly called compulsory traffic insurance. Its core purpose is to address the legal liability that may arise when a motor vehicle causes damage to third parties.

In plain language, this means it is mainly about the other party: another vehicle, another person, or third-party property affected by an accident, within the policy limits, general conditions and the insurer’s assessment.

Who does it protect?

Compulsory traffic insurance is not designed as “full protection for your own car.” It is a liability product. Own-damage risks such as collision damage to your vehicle, theft, fire, glass breakage, natural events or similar risks must be assessed separately under kasko and selected additional covers.

This distinction matters in Turkiye because many drivers say “insurance” when they actually mean compulsory traffic insurance. If you expect your own vehicle to be protected as well, you should not rely on the word “insurance” alone; the product type and policy conditions must be checked.

Traffic insurance, kasko, extended liability and roadside assistance

• Compulsory traffic insurance: mainly covers third-party liability within policy limits and legal conditions.
• Kasko: optional own-damage cover for your vehicle, depending on insurer acceptance and policy wording.
• Extended liability: when included in the policy, may be assessed as an additional financial-liability heading for third-party losses that exceed compulsory traffic insurance limits. Limits, scope, exclusions and conditions are determined by the policy.
• Roadside assistance: practical support such as towing, recovery or guidance; its availability and limits depend on the service or policy conditions.

Why is this important for foreign-plated vehicles?

For foreign-plated vehicles, the right solution depends on the registration country, plate, chassis number, current insurance documents, Green Card status, expected length of stay in Turkiye and the insurer’s acceptance criteria. A document that is valid in one country may not automatically be sufficient for every situation in Turkiye.

If you have a Green Card insurance document or a foreign policy, its territorial validity, dates, limits and accepted scope should be reviewed before you travel or before you continue driving in Turkiye.

Why vehicle details matter

Quote and policy processes may require plate, chassis number, make, model, type, model year, usage type, registration country and expected use in Turkiye. Foreign vehicle make/type descriptions do not always match Turkish insurance system catalogues one-to-one.

If the vehicle’s exact make/type is not available in the insurer’s system, the most suitable equivalent vehicle description in that system may be used. The final vehicle description, premium and coverage are determined by the relevant insurance company’s assessment. For this reason, entering the registration document details clearly and accurately helps the process.

Does sending a form start cover?

No. An online form or WhatsApp message is only a quote request. Sending a form does not issue an insurance policy and does not provide cover by itself. Coverage starts only if the relevant insurance company issues the policy and the policy’s effective conditions are fulfilled.

Before a policy is issued, the vehicle description, product type, limits, premium, payment conditions, policy start date and geographic scope should be checked. No policy issuance or collection process is completed without the required confirmation and process steps.

Short checklist before driving in Turkiye

• Check whether your current insurance or Green Card document is valid for Turkiye.
• Read the policy dates, territorial scope and limits.
• Keep your registration document, chassis number, make/model/type and model year ready.
• Remember: traffic insurance is mainly about third-party liability; kasko is about own vehicle damage.
• Consider extended liability and roadside assistance according to your route and length of stay.
• Do not send payment card details by WhatsApp or email; wait for secure payment steps.

How Gurbet Kasko helps

Gurbet Kasko helps foreign-plated vehicle owners classify their need correctly, collect the right information in a structured way and proceed through quote and policy processes via the insurance companies for which Özhedef Sigorta Aracılık Hizmetleri acts as an agency.

Gurbet Kasko and Özhedef Sigorta Aracılık Hizmetleri are not insurers, do not provide cover and cannot guarantee final insurer acceptance. The final premium, vehicle description, coverage, policy start date, payment conditions and validity rules are subject to the policy and special conditions issued by the relevant insurance company.

Frequently asked questions

Does compulsory traffic insurance cover damage to my own vehicle?

Generally, no. Its main logic is third-party liability. Own vehicle damage should be assessed under kasko and selected additional covers.

Does kasko replace compulsory traffic insurance?

No. Kasko and compulsory traffic insurance are separate products. Kasko is optional own-damage cover; compulsory traffic insurance is a liability product.

Is my foreign insurance automatically valid in Turkiye?

Not automatically. Territorial scope, policy dates, Green Card status, limits and acceptance conditions should be checked.

Does extended liability replace traffic insurance?

No. Extended liability does not replace compulsory traffic insurance. When included in the policy, it may be assessed as a complementary liability heading for third-party losses above compulsory traffic insurance limits. Its limits and conditions should be checked in the quote and policy documents.

Does submitting the form mean my insurance has started?

No. The form is only a quote request. A quote request, payment step or information form alone does not mean that a policy has been issued or that cover has started. Cover starts only after the relevant insurer issues the policy and the effective conditions are fulfilled.

Is Gurbet Kasko an insurance company?

No. Gurbet Kasko is a service brand of Özhedef Sigorta Aracılık Hizmetleri Limited Şirketi. Özhedef Sigorta Aracılık Hizmetleri acts as a TOBB-registered insurance agency; Gurbet Kasko and Özhedef Sigorta Aracılık Hizmetleri are not insurance companies and do not provide insurance cover.

Official framework and limit check

Current compulsory traffic insurance limits, general terms, premium practices and consumer application routes should be evaluated together with official authority announcements and policy documents. This article is for general information; official sources should be checked for current limits, tariffs, general terms and agency registry details.

• SEDDK — Compulsory Traffic Insurance Cover Limits
• SEDDK — Insurance and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Agency
• TOBB Insurance Agencies Directorate

Related guides

• What is Kasko and Insurance?
• How is Foreign License Plate Car Insurance Made?
• What is Green Card Insurance?
• What to Consider When Going to Turkiye by Car
• General guide for driving into Türkiye on foreign plates