Introduction

A traffic accident in a foreign country can rapidly become a complicated legal and financial problem.

A foreign tourist driving a rental car in Antalya may be struck by another vehicle.

A British citizen living in Istanbul may suffer permanent injuries after being hit while crossing the road.

A German family travelling through Turkey may be involved in a collision with a Turkish vehicle.

A Turkish driver may be hit by a Bulgarian, German, French or other foreign-plated vehicle operating under the Green Card insurance system.

A foreign executive injured in a traffic accident may be unable to work for several months and lose substantial income earned outside Turkey.

In a fatal accident, the deceased’s spouse, children or parents may live entirely outside Turkey but nevertheless have compensation claims arising under Turkish law.

All of these situations can involve several different legal relationships at the same time.

The victim may potentially have claims against:

• the driver;
• the registered owner or legal operator of the vehicle;
• the compulsory traffic insurer;
• a comprehensive motor insurer;
• the Turkish Motor Insurers’ Bureau;
• the Assurance Account;
• an employer or commercial operator; or
• another legally responsible person.

The principal Turkish legislation governing civil liability after road traffic accidents includes:

• Highway Traffic Law No. 2918 — Karayolları Trafik Kanunu (KTK);
• Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098 — Türk Borçlar Kanunu (TBK);
• Insurance Law No. 5684;
• Private International Law and International Civil Procedure Law No. 5718 — MÖHUK;
• the Compulsory Motor Third Party Liability Insurance General Conditions; and
• relevant insurance, civil procedure and arbitration legislation.

The fact that the injured person is foreign does not remove the right to compensation.

Where a road accident occurs in Turkey, Turkish law will ordinarily have a central role. MÖHUK Article 34 provides as a general rule that non-contractual obligations are governed by the law of the country where the tort occurred; where the place of conduct and place where damage occurred differ, the law of the country where the damage occurred may apply.

For most road accidents physically occurring in Turkey, therefore, the practical starting point is Turkish traffic and compensation law.

This article explains what foreign nationals should do following a traffic accident in Turkey, who may be liable, which damages can be claimed, how compulsory traffic insurance operates, the special position of foreign-plated vehicles and how insurance arbitration or court proceedings may be used where the insurer refuses or underpays a legitimate claim.

Can a Foreigner Claim Compensation After a Traffic Accident in Turkey?

Yes.

Turkish compensation law does not generally distinguish between a Turkish victim and a foreign victim merely on the basis of nationality.

A foreign national can potentially seek compensation for:

• vehicle repair expenses;
• property damage;
• vehicle depreciation;
• bodily injury;
• temporary loss of earnings;
• permanent disability;
• loss of earning capacity;
• damage to economic future;
• support-deprivation damages following death;
• funeral-related losses;
• certain care expenses; and
• moral damages.

The precise claim depends upon:

• fault;
• type of loss;
• identity of the legally responsible persons;
• insurance coverage;
• policy limits;
• age and occupation of the victim;
• medical evidence;
• income;
• duration of disability;
• family relationships; and
• evidence proving the actual financial loss.

The foreign victim should therefore avoid accepting a quick settlement merely because the accident occurred abroad.

Who Is Legally Responsible for a Traffic Accident in Turkey?

One of the most important rules appears in Article 85 of the Highway Traffic Law.

Where operation of a motor vehicle causes:

• death;
• personal injury; or
• damage to property,

the vehicle operator can be legally responsible for the resulting loss. The legislation also creates responsibility for commercial enterprises in qualifying circumstances and makes the operator responsible for the fault of the driver and persons assisting in the operation of the vehicle.

This means the victim should not automatically focus only on the person physically sitting behind the steering wheel.

Depending upon the case, responsible parties may include:

The driver
because of the driver’s negligent or unlawful conduct.

The vehicle operator — işleten
often the registered owner, although the legal concept of operator requires separate analysis in certain leasing, rental or long-term possession structures.

A commercial undertaking
where the vehicle is operated under a business name or within a qualifying commercial transportation structure.

The compulsory traffic insurer
within the applicable insurance coverage and policy limits.

Several defendants may therefore potentially be responsible for the same accident.

Compulsory Traffic Insurance in Turkey

Motor vehicle operators in Turkey are generally required to maintain Compulsory Motor Third Party Liability Insurance — Zorunlu Mali Sorumluluk Sigortası, commonly called traffic insurance — trafik sigortası.

Article 91 of the Highway Traffic Law requires operators to obtain insurance covering the statutory liability arising under Article 85.

This insurance is primarily designed to protect third parties who suffer damage because of operation of the insured vehicle.

It should not be confused with comprehensive motor insurance.

Compulsory Traffic Insurance vs Comprehensive Insurance

Foreigners often confuse these two types of coverage.

Compulsory traffic insurance — trafik sigortası primarily covers the insured vehicle operator’s legal liability toward third parties.

For example:

Driver A causes a collision and damages Driver B’s vehicle.

Driver A’s compulsory traffic insurer may be responsible for Driver B’s qualifying damage within the applicable coverage.

Comprehensive motor insurance — kasko primarily protects the insured person’s own vehicle according to the terms and limits of that particular policy.

A vehicle owner may therefore have both:

• compulsory traffic insurance; and
• comprehensive motor insurance.

The two policies perform different legal functions.

2026 Compulsory Traffic Insurance Limits

Insurance coverage is not unlimited.

SEDDK publishes the applicable compulsory insurance limits, and the limit relevant to a claim is generally the limit in force on the date of the accident.

For the period 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026, the official limits for ordinary motor vehicles used for passenger transportation include:

• Property damage: TRY 400,000 per vehicle;
• Property damage: TRY 800,000 per accident;
• Health expenses: TRY 3,600,000 per person;
• Health expenses: TRY 18,000,000 per accident;
• Disability and death: TRY 3,600,000 per person; and
• Disability and death: TRY 18,000,000 per accident.

Different total accident limits apply to certain vehicle groups, including goods-transport vehicles and motorcycles.

This distinction becomes crucial in serious accidents.

For example, if the victim’s legally recoverable loss exceeds the compulsory insurer’s policy limit, the remaining amount may potentially need to be pursued against the driver, operator or another liable party.

Insurance limit is not necessarily the same thing as total legal damage.

Fault Is Central to the Compensation Calculation

Compensation generally depends heavily upon the parties’ respective fault.

A victim who is completely free from fault may potentially seek full compensation for legally recoverable losses from the responsible parties, subject to insurance limits.

If the victim is partly responsible for the accident, compensation may be reduced according to the applicable fault ratio.

The current compulsory insurance General Conditions expressly exclude the portion of a claim corresponding to the claimant’s own fault.

For example:

A court determines that:

• Driver A is 80% at fault; and
• Driver B is 20% at fault.

Driver B’s recoverable loss against Driver A’s side may generally be reduced to reflect Driver B’s 20% contribution.

The same principle can materially affect:

• repair damages;
• vehicle depreciation;
• bodily injury compensation; and
• other damages.

Is the Police Accident Report Final on Fault?

A traffic accident report is extremely important evidence, but fault can still become a contested legal issue.

Depending upon the case, evidence may include:

• accident report;
• police or gendarmerie documents;
• photographs;
• CCTV;
• road measurements;
• traffic-light information;
• skid marks;
• vehicle damage patterns;
• witness statements;
• expert reports; and
• criminal investigation evidence.

In disputed compensation proceedings, technical experts may be required to assess the circumstances of the accident.

Foreign victims should therefore preserve independent evidence rather than relying exclusively upon a document prepared at the scene.

What Should a Foreigner Do Immediately After a Traffic Accident?

The first minutes and hours can significantly affect a later compensation claim.

Where possible, the victim should preserve:

• photographs of vehicle positions;
• vehicle registration plates;
• photographs of damage;
• road conditions;
• traffic signs;
• traffic lights;
• braking marks;
• weather conditions;
• insurance details;
• driver’s identity;
• witness details; and
• police or accident documentation.

Where there is injury, emergency medical assistance should be obtained.

The victim should also retain:

• hospital records;
• medical reports;
• prescriptions;
• invoices;
• sick-leave documents;
• rehabilitation records;
• disability documentation; and
• evidence of income loss.

Foreign tourists should not return to their home country assuming that Turkish medical records will be easy to obtain later.

Property Damage Claims

Where a vehicle is damaged, recoverable property losses can potentially include the reasonable cost of restoring the vehicle to its pre-accident condition.

Depending upon the facts, this may include:

• parts;
• labour;
• painting;
• mechanical repairs;
• towing;
• certain recovery expenses; and
• other directly accident-related property loss.

The current General Conditions define material damage coverage to include direct reduction in property belonging to the entitled person, including vehicle depreciation.

The victim should keep:

• repair invoices;
• expert reports;
• workshop records;
• photographs;
• replacement-part documents; and
• payment receipts.

Original Parts and the 2026 Traffic Insurance Reform

Turkey introduced important changes to compulsory traffic insurance practice in June 2026.

SEDDK announced on 12 June 2026 that the General Conditions had been amended, including new rules concerning parts used in vehicle repairs.

Under the revised framework, repair using original parts is the general principle. Subject to specified exceptions, equivalent or reusable parts may be used where the entitled person gives written consent and the applicable standards are satisfied.

This can be especially important for foreigners who own:

• premium vehicles;
• recently purchased cars;
• leased vehicles; or
• cars under manufacturer warranty.

The type of replacement part can affect both repair quality and future resale value.

Vehicle Depreciation — Araç Değer Kaybı

A vehicle can be fully repaired and still be worth less on the second-hand market because it now has an accident and repair history.

This economic difference is generally described as vehicle depreciation — araç değer kaybı.

It is separate from the repair cost.

Example:

A foreign resident owns a vehicle worth TRY 2,000,000 immediately before an accident.

After professional repairs, the vehicle is physically usable again.

However, because major body parts were repaired or replaced and the accident now appears in the vehicle history, the market is willing to pay only TRY 1,850,000.

The potential TRY 150,000 difference illustrates the economic concept behind a depreciation claim, although the legally recoverable amount must be determined under the applicable rules and evidence.

Major 2026 Change: No Separate Value-Loss Application in the Ordinary Property Claim Process

A particularly important reform took effect in 2026.

SEDDK announced that under the revised Traffic Insurance General Conditions, vehicle depreciation is to be calculated and paid together with the material vehicle damage without requiring a separate additional depreciation application from the rights holder.

The expert-report system was also standardized.

SEDDK’s Circular No. 2026/11 requires traffic insurance experts dealing with vehicle damage to include the depreciation calculation in the standardized liability insurance expert report where applicable. The circular entered into force on 1 July 2026.

This is highly relevant to accidents occurring under the new 2026 framework.

Foreign vehicle owners should nevertheless carefully review whether the amount actually calculated reflects the real loss.

An insurer making a depreciation calculation does not mean every dispute concerning the amount disappears.

Vehicle Loss of Use — İkame Araç / Araç Mahrumiyet Zararı

Another common loss arises because the damaged vehicle cannot be used while it is being repaired.

For example, a car may remain in a repair shop for 35 days.

The owner may need:

• a rental vehicle;
• taxis;
• private transportation;
• or another substitute vehicle.

This is often described in Turkish practice as vehicle deprivation or loss-of-use damage — araç mahrumiyet zararı.

This claim must be distinguished from vehicle depreciation.

The current compulsory traffic insurance General Conditions exclude indirect or consequential losses including loss of income, loss of profit, business interruption and rental deprivation from ordinary compulsory policy coverage.

Therefore, vehicle deprivation cannot simply be treated as another standard ZMSS property-damage item payable by the compulsory insurer.

Depending upon the circumstances, it may instead be claimed against:

• the negligent driver;
• the vehicle operator; or
• another legally responsible person

under general liability principles.

Evidence concerning a reasonable repair period is particularly important.

A claimant cannot necessarily impose an unlimited period of non-use on the responsible party merely because a repair shop took an excessive amount of time.

Traffic Accidents Causing Personal Injury

Where a foreign national suffers bodily injury, the claim can be significantly more valuable and legally complex than an ordinary vehicle-damage file.

Article 54 of the Turkish Code of Obligations identifies bodily losses including:

• medical expenses;
• loss of earnings;
• losses arising from reduction or loss of working capacity; and
• losses arising from impairment of the victim’s economic future.

A bodily injury case should therefore not be reduced to:

“The hospital bill was paid, so there is no further compensation.”

The most significant loss may arise from the long-term economic effect of the injury.

Medical Expenses After a Traffic Accident

Turkey contains a special statutory mechanism concerning treatment costs.

Article 98 of the Highway Traffic Law provides that healthcare costs arising from traffic accidents for services provided by public and private healthcare institutions are covered by the Social Security Institution — SGK, irrespective of whether the accident victim personally has social security coverage, within the statutory healthcare reimbursement framework.

This rule can therefore also be relevant to foreign accident victims.

However, not every consequential medical or personal expense should automatically be assumed to fall within the ordinary institutional healthcare payment system.

A serious injury may also generate disputes concerning:

• rehabilitation;
• future treatment;
• medical devices;
• carers;
• additional assistance; and
• expenses extending beyond ordinary hospital treatment.

The 2026 General Conditions now expressly provide that temporary and permanent care-related expenses are dealt with under the treatment-expense coverage structure, while temporary and permanent incapacity compensation is addressed under disability coverage.

Temporary Loss of Earnings

A foreign national injured in Turkey may be unable to work for weeks or months.

For example, an injured international consultant earns EUR 8,000 per month and is unable to work for three months.

The financial loss may be substantial even though the accident occurred in Turkey and the income was earned abroad.

Article 54 expressly recognizes loss of earnings as a category of bodily damage.

The practical issue becomes proof.

A foreign claimant may need documents such as:

• foreign employment contract;
• payslips;
• tax declarations;
• company records;
• bank statements;
• employer confirmation;
• invoices for self-employed work; and
• medical evidence showing the period during which the victim could not work.

Foreign documents may require Turkish translation in litigation or arbitration.

The claimant should therefore preserve the financial evidence immediately.

Permanent Disability Compensation

A serious traffic accident may leave the victim with permanent physical impairment.

This can generate compensation for reduction or loss of working capacity.

The amount can depend upon factors including:

• victim’s age;
• income;
• medical disability;
• fault;
• expected working life;
• economic circumstances;
• duration of temporary incapacity; and
• actuarial calculations.

The current Traffic Insurance General Conditions classify continuous disability compensation as part of compulsory insurance coverage, subject to the applicable policy limits.

For 2026, the applicable per-person disability/death limit for ordinary passenger motor vehicles is TRY 3.6 million.

A seriously injured foreign professional may suffer an actual loss exceeding that limit.

Where the total recoverable loss is above compulsory insurance coverage, additional recovery may need to be pursued from other liable persons or policies.

Damage to Economic Future

Physical injury does not always cause immediate unemployment.

A person may return to work but still suffer a long-term economic disadvantage.

For example:

A 25-year-old professional model suffers permanent facial scarring.

A surgeon suffers reduced hand mobility.

A professional athlete suffers a knee injury.

A pilot develops permanent medical limitations.

Article 54 separately recognizes loss arising from impairment of economic future.

This category can become especially important where the foreign victim’s profession depends heavily upon physical ability, appearance, mobility or specialized skills.

Fatal Traffic Accidents and Support-Deprivation Compensation

Where a person dies in a Turkish traffic accident, claims may arise for persons who were financially supported by the deceased.

This is commonly known as:

support-deprivation compensation — destekten yoksun kalma tazminatı.

The current compulsory traffic insurance General Conditions define death/support coverage by reference to compensation determined under the tort provisions of the Turkish Code of Obligations.

Potential claimants may include, depending upon actual support relationships and the applicable legal assessment:

• spouse;
• children;
• parents; and
• in appropriate cases, another person who can prove an established support relationship.

Nationality and residence abroad do not automatically eliminate the claim.

Example: Foreign Tourist Dies in Turkey

Assume a 42-year-old German citizen dies in a road accident in Antalya caused by a Turkish driver.

The deceased leaves:

• a spouse in Germany;
• two minor children;
• substantial employment income in Germany.

The family should not assume that compensation will be calculated as though the deceased earned only a Turkish minimum wage.

The deceased’s actual earning circumstances may become extremely important.

Evidence could include:

• German employment agreement;
• payrolls;
• tax records;
• professional qualifications;
• career history;
• age;
• family structure; and
• evidence of financial support.

The claim may need actuarial assessment under Turkish compensation law using properly proven foreign income evidence.

Moral Damages — Manevi Tazminat

Personal injury and death can also justify moral damages.

Article 56 of the Turkish Code of Obligations permits the court to award an appropriate amount of moral compensation where a person’s bodily integrity has been harmed.

In cases of serious bodily injury or death, close relatives may also potentially receive moral compensation.

However, this claim should be distinguished from compulsory traffic insurance coverage.

The current compulsory traffic insurance General Conditions expressly exclude moral compensation claims from standard coverage.

Therefore, moral damages are generally pursued against persons such as:

• the negligent driver;
• the vehicle operator; or
• another legally liable party.

A separate voluntary liability policy may potentially provide additional cover depending upon its wording.

Is There a Direct Right to Claim Against the Insurance Company?

Yes.

Turkish traffic law gives the injured person an important direct claim mechanism.

Article 97 of the Highway Traffic Law provides that before bringing a lawsuit within compulsory traffic insurance coverage, the injured person must first make a written application to the relevant insurance company.

If the insurer:

• does not respond in writing within 15 days; or
• responds but does not satisfy the claim,

the injured person may bring a lawsuit or apply to insurance arbitration.

Foreign claimants should therefore avoid filing a premature court action against the insurer without checking whether the statutory pre-application requirement has been satisfied.

What Documents Should Be Submitted to the Insurance Company?

The documents depend upon the type of loss.

A property-damage claim may include:

• accident report;
• vehicle registration;
• photographs;
• repair documentation;
• expert report;
• bank details; and
• claimant information.

A bodily injury claim may additionally require:

• medical reports;
• disability documents;
• treatment records;
• income documentation;
• identity records; and
• supporting actuarial evidence.

A fatal accident claim can require:

• death certificate;
• population/civil-status documentation;
• evidence of relationship;
• income documents;
• inheritance or family records where relevant; and
• documents establishing financial support.

Foreign documents should be prepared carefully because names and family relationships must be clear.

Insurance Arbitration Commission

Turkey provides an alternative dispute-resolution mechanism through the Insurance Arbitration Commission — Sigorta Tahkim Komisyonu.

The Commission handles qualifying disputes between insured or entitled persons and insurers through independent insurance arbitrators.

For compulsory insurance disputes, arbitration can be available even where the relevant insurer is not otherwise a voluntary member of the arbitration system, subject to the statutory rules.

The first requirement remains application to the insurer.

For traffic insurance, the Commission confirms that where:

• the insurer’s final answer is unsatisfactory; or
• no written response has been received within 15 days,

the claimant may proceed to the Commission with evidence proving the prior insurance application.

How Long Does Insurance Arbitration Take?

The Commission states that applications first undergo a preliminary review by rapporteurs.

Where the case proceeds to arbitration, the independent arbitrator or arbitral panel must generally conclude the matter within four months, unless the period is extended with the parties’ express written consent.

This can make insurance arbitration attractive in traffic cases, particularly where the principal dispute concerns:

• vehicle damage;
• depreciation;
• permanent disability;
• support-deprivation compensation; or
• another insured loss.

The appropriate forum should nevertheless be selected according to the defendants and claims involved.

Insurance arbitration is not a substitute for every claim against a driver or vehicle operator.

Court Proceedings After a Traffic Accident

Where settlement or insurance procedures do not resolve the dispute, litigation may be necessary.

Article 110 of the Highway Traffic Law expressly provides that civil liability cases arising under the legislation are heard within the judicial court system, including claims arising from accidents caused by vehicles owned or operated by public bodies.

The competent court depends upon:

• defendants;
• nature of the insurance relationship;
• status of the parties;
• amount and type of claim; and
• applicable procedural legislation.

Traffic compensation litigation can therefore arise before different civil or commercial courts depending upon the structure of the dispute.

Where Can a Traffic Accident Compensation Case Be Filed?

Article 110 also creates special territorial jurisdiction rules.

A civil liability action arising from a motor vehicle accident may be brought in specified courts connected with the insurer, insurance agency or the place where the accident occurred.

General Civil Procedure rules may also provide additional jurisdictional possibilities depending upon the parties and tort.

A foreign claimant should therefore obtain advice before filing simply in the city where their lawyer happens to be located.

Incorrect venue can cause significant procedural delay.

Limitation Periods for Traffic Accident Compensation

Article 109 of the Highway Traffic Law contains the core limitation rule.

Claims for material compensation arising from motor vehicle accidents generally become time-barred:

• two years from the date when the injured person learns of both the damage and the person responsible; and
• in any event, ten years from the date of the accident.

However, where the accident also constitutes a criminal offence and criminal law provides a longer limitation period, that longer period may also apply to the material compensation claim.

Foreign victims should not interpret the existence of a possible longer criminal limitation period as a reason to delay.

Evidence becomes harder to collect with time.

Foreign-Plated Vehicles and the Green Card System

International road accidents require special attention where the responsible vehicle has a foreign registration plate.

A foreign-plated vehicle entering Turkey must have valid liability coverage for Turkey, which may be provided through the internationally recognized Green Card system or another legally valid compulsory liability arrangement.

The Turkish Motor Insurers’ Bureau — Türkiye Motorlu Taşıt Bürosu (TMTB) administers the Green Card system in Turkey.

TMTB states that foreign-plated vehicles with Green Card coverage cause approximately 2,500 accidents in Turkey annually.

This is therefore not a rare theoretical problem.

What Happens If a German-Plated Vehicle Causes an Accident in Turkey?

Assume a German-plated vehicle with valid Green Card insurance causes an accident in Istanbul.

The victim should collect:

• foreign registration plate;
• Green Card information;
• foreign insurer details;
• policy or Green Card number;
• start and expiry dates;
• accident report;
• vehicle photographs; and
• driver information.

TMTB states that where a foreign-plated vehicle with a valid Green Card causes damage in Turkey, the Bureau can intervene on behalf of the foreign Green Card insurer in relation to third-party claims.

The victim can therefore pursue the Turkish Green Card claim mechanism rather than trying to personally litigate with an unfamiliar foreign insurer from the beginning.

Documents for a TMTB Property-Damage Application

TMTB’s current guidance identifies documents including:

• completed application form;
• agreed accident report or police/gendarmerie report;
• damaged vehicle registration;
• Green Card details of the responsible foreign vehicle;
• Green Card copy where available;
• identification information; and
• claimant bank-account details.

Obtaining a photograph of the foreign vehicle’s Green Card at the scene can therefore substantially simplify the claim.

What If the Responsible Vehicle Is Uninsured?

Turkey also operates the Assurance Account — Güvence Hesabı.

The Assurance Account can provide compensation in specified situations where ordinary compulsory insurance protection is unavailable.

Its current official guidance states that claims may arise where, among other circumstances:

• the liable insured vehicle cannot be identified;
• a vehicle that should have compulsory insurance had no valid policy;
• the insurer becomes unable to pay because of licence cancellation or insolvency;
• a stolen vehicle causes qualifying bodily loss in circumstances where the operator is not responsible; or
• qualifying Green Card system payments arise.

However, the scope is important.

Does the Assurance Account Pay for Damage to My Car?

Generally, not merely because the responsible vehicle was uninsured or unidentified.

The Assurance Account specifically states that in ordinary unidentified or uninsured vehicle situations, its protection concerns bodily injury, including disability and death-related claims.

It does not generally compensate ordinary damage to the victim’s vehicle in those circumstances.

For example:

An unidentified car hits a parked foreigner’s vehicle and leaves the scene.

The Assurance Account does not ordinarily function as a substitute comprehensive insurer for the vehicle’s property damage.

The victim may need:

• their own comprehensive policy; or
• identification of the responsible driver/operator

to recover the property loss.

This is an important distinction.

Hit-and-Run Accidents Causing Personal Injury

The position is different where the unknown vehicle causes bodily injury.

The Assurance Account’s official guidance confirms that bodily losses caused by an unidentified liable vehicle can fall within its statutory protection.

Therefore, a pedestrian or cyclist seriously injured by a hit-and-run vehicle should not assume that compensation is impossible merely because the registration plate was not obtained.

Immediate police reporting and medical documentation are particularly important in such cases.

What If the Driver Was Drunk?

Driving under the influence can create:

• administrative consequences;
• criminal consequences;
• fault consequences; and
• insurance recourse issues.

However, a foreign victim should not automatically assume that the responsible driver’s insurer can refuse every third-party claim simply because the insured driver was intoxicated.

The relationship between the innocent third party and compulsory insurer must be distinguished from the insurer’s possible rights of recourse against its own insured.

The specific facts, causation and policy/legal provisions must be examined.

What If the Victim Was Not Wearing a Seat Belt?

Failure to wear a seat belt does not necessarily eliminate every compensation right.

However, if the defendant proves that the victim’s conduct contributed to the extent of the injury, contributory fault principles may affect compensation.

The same broader principle can arise where a motorcycle rider failed to use legally required protective equipment.

The key question is not simply whether a rule was violated, but whether that conduct had a legally relevant connection with the damage claimed.

Foreign Passengers Can Also Have Claims

A passenger injured in a vehicle does not lose compensation rights simply because they were travelling inside the vehicle driven by the person who caused the accident.

Depending upon the circumstances, an injured passenger may be a third-party victim for insurance purposes.

This can become important in:

• taxis;
• private cars;
• rental vehicles;
• employee transportation;
• buses; and
• commercial passenger vehicles.

Passenger claims should be investigated separately from the driver’s own losses.

Rental Car Accidents in Turkey

A foreign tourist driving a rental vehicle may face several different legal relationships after an accident.

These can include:

• liability to the other vehicle;
• compulsory traffic insurance;
• rental company’s comprehensive insurance;
• collision damage waiver terms;
• credit-card insurance;
• contractual excess/deductible;
• driver authorization provisions; and
• police reporting requirements.

A rental company stating:

“You signed the contract, so you must pay the entire car.”

does not necessarily determine final legal liability.

The rental contract, insurance policy, fault and mandatory Turkish traffic rules should be examined together.

Foreign drivers should immediately notify both:

• the competent authorities where required; and
• the rental company.

Can a Foreign Victim Claim Compensation for Income Earned Abroad?

Potentially, yes.

Turkish bodily injury law recognizes actual loss of earnings and loss of earning capacity.

Therefore, a foreign victim should document real economic circumstances.

A claimant earning USD, EUR, GBP or another currency should preserve reliable evidence of income.

This may include:

• employment agreements;
• tax filings;
• annual income statements;
• bank records;
• company accounts;
• dividend records where relevant;
• professional invoices; and
• employer letters.

The court or arbitrator will ultimately determine the legally proven economic loss.

A foreign claimant should not accept a calculation based on an unrealistically low assumed income merely because obtaining foreign documents requires additional effort.

Can Compensation Be Claimed If the Foreign Victim Has Already Returned Home?

Yes.

Returning to the home country does not automatically terminate Turkish compensation rights.

Many procedural steps can be completed through a Turkish lawyer acting under an appropriate power of attorney.

Depending upon the case, foreign documents and the power of attorney may require:

• notarization;
• apostille;
• consular legalization;
• sworn translation; and
• other Turkish formalities.

However, serious bodily injury claims may still require medical evaluation, expert examination or additional evidence that should be planned carefully.

A claimant should therefore consult counsel before leaving Turkey where possible.

Settlement Offers From Insurance Companies

An insurer may offer payment soon after a claim.

Receiving an offer is not necessarily negative.

The important question is whether it represents reasonable compensation.

Before accepting a final release, the claimant should determine:

• whether all repair costs are included;
• whether depreciation was calculated;
• whether permanent disability has stabilized;
• whether future loss exists;
• whether temporary incapacity was included;
• whether foreign income was properly considered;
• whether policy limits were reached; and
• what rights are being waived.

This is especially important in bodily injury cases because the full permanent effect of an injury may not be known immediately after the accident.

Do Not Confuse a Payment With Full Settlement

Foreign victims should carefully read any document containing terms such as:

• release;
• discharge;
• full settlement;
• ibra;
• sulh;
• final payment; or
• waiver.

A payment of TRY 100,000 does not necessarily mean that the victim intended to waive a separate claim worth several million lira.

But signing an improperly understood settlement can create a major legal dispute.

Do not sign a Turkish settlement document without understanding its legal effect.

Criminal Proceedings and Compensation Are Separate

A serious traffic accident may also result in a criminal investigation for offences such as negligent injury or negligent killing.

The criminal and civil processes are related but distinct.

The prosecutor may investigate whether the driver committed a criminal offence.

Separately, the victim may seek financial compensation.

A compensation claim does not necessarily need to wait until every stage of the criminal case has ended.

However, evidence from the criminal file can be very valuable, including:

• expert fault reports;
• witness statements;
• CCTV;
• forensic reports;
• alcohol tests; and
• accident-scene evidence.

A coordinated strategy can therefore be beneficial.

Practical Step-by-Step Compensation Strategy

A foreign victim can generally approach the case through the following structure.

Step 1 — Secure the Accident Evidence

Collect photographs, reports, vehicle information and witness details.

Step 2 — Obtain Medical Documentation

Do not leave Turkey without copies of significant medical records where serious injury exists.

Step 3 — Identify Every Responsible Party

Determine:

• driver;
• operator;
• registered owner;
• compulsory insurer;
• commercial business;
• Green Card insurer/TMTB; and
• any other responsible party.

Step 4 — Determine Fault

Review the accident report and supporting technical evidence.

Step 5 — Calculate Every Head of Damage

Separate:

• repair damage;
• depreciation;
• vehicle deprivation;
• bodily damage;
• temporary income loss;
• permanent disability;
• care expenses;
• death/support claims; and
• moral damages.

Step 6 — Identify Insurance Coverage

Confirm policy limits applicable on the accident date.

For 2026 accidents involving ordinary passenger vehicles, property damage is subject to the TRY 400,000 per-vehicle compulsory limit while health and disability/death coverage is TRY 3.6 million per person.

Step 7 — Apply to the Insurer

Article 97 requires written pre-application before litigation against the compulsory insurer.

Step 8 — Review the Insurer’s Payment

Do not assume the insurer’s calculation is necessarily the maximum legally recoverable amount.

Step 9 — Consider Insurance Arbitration

If the insurer rejects, underpays or fails to respond within the statutory period, Sigorta Tahkim may provide an efficient route.

Step 10 — Consider Litigation Against Other Responsible Parties

Claims outside compulsory insurance coverage, including certain indirect losses and moral compensation, may require proceedings against the driver or operator.

Step 11 — Monitor Limitation Periods

The basic KTK Article 109 structure is two years from knowledge and ten years from the accident, subject to longer criminal limitation periods where applicable.

Frequently Asked Questions About Traffic Accidents in Turkey Involving Foreigners

Can a foreign tourist receive compensation after a car accident in Turkey?

Yes. Foreign nationality does not prevent a person from claiming compensation for losses caused by a traffic accident in Turkey.

Which law normally applies to an accident in Turkey?

Turkish law will ordinarily be central where the tort and damage occur in Turkey. MÖHUK Article 34 generally applies the law of the country where the tort occurred.

Who can I sue?

Depending upon the case:

• driver;
• vehicle operator;
• insurer;
• business operating the vehicle;
• TMTB;
• Assurance Account; or
• another responsible person.

Does compulsory insurance cover damage to my vehicle?

Qualifying direct property damage caused to third parties is within compulsory insurance, subject to fault, coverage rules and policy limits.

What is the 2026 property damage limit?

For ordinary passenger motor vehicles, the compulsory limit is currently TRY 400,000 per damaged vehicle and TRY 800,000 per accident.

Can I claim vehicle depreciation?

Yes, where the accident creates legally recoverable depreciation.

Do I need to file a separate value-loss application in 2026?

Under SEDDK’s June 2026 reform, qualifying depreciation is now intended to be calculated together with material vehicle damage without requiring a separate additional depreciation application.

Can I claim a rental car while my vehicle is repaired?

Loss-of-use or rental deprivation can potentially constitute a loss, but the standard compulsory traffic policy excludes certain indirect/consequential damages such as rental deprivation. Such claims may instead need to be pursued against the driver/operator under general liability rules.

Can I claim lost salary after being injured?

Potentially. TBK Article 54 recognizes loss of earnings as bodily damage.

Can I claim permanent disability compensation?

Yes, subject to medical evidence, fault and calculation of the economic loss.

Can foreigners use income earned abroad in the compensation calculation?

Potentially yes, where the income and resulting loss are properly proven.

Who pays hospital costs after a traffic accident?

KTK Article 98 places traffic-accident healthcare services within the SGK payment system irrespective of whether the accident victim personally has social security coverage, subject to the statutory framework.

Can family members claim if a foreigner dies?

Potentially. Persons deprived of the deceased’s support may have claims for support-deprivation compensation.

Is moral compensation covered by compulsory traffic insurance?

Standard compulsory traffic insurance excludes moral-damage claims.

Can moral damages still be claimed?

Yes, potentially against the responsible driver/operator under TBK Article 56.

Must I apply to the insurance company before suing?

For compulsory traffic insurance claims, Article 97 requires written application to the insurer before court proceedings.

How long does the insurer have to respond?

The statutory traffic insurance framework provides a 15-day period for the pre-litigation response.

Can I apply to insurance arbitration?

Yes. Where the insurer does not provide a satisfactory response or does not answer a traffic-insurance application within 15 days, a qualifying application may be made to the Insurance Arbitration Commission.

What if the responsible car has a foreign licence plate?

Where the foreign-plated vehicle has valid Green Card insurance, the Turkish Motor Insurers’ Bureau may handle qualifying third-party claims in Turkey.

What if the foreign vehicle is German, Bulgarian or French?

The nationality does not itself defeat the claim. The key issue is the vehicle’s valid insurance structure for Turkey, including Green Card coverage where applicable.

What if the responsible vehicle is uninsured?

The Assurance Account may cover qualifying bodily injury and death-related losses under its statutory conditions.

Will the Assurance Account pay for damage to my car?

Generally not in ordinary unidentified/uninsured vehicle cases. The Account’s official guidance states that ordinary motor vehicle property damage is outside its protection in these situations.

What if the vehicle that hit me disappeared?

If the vehicle cannot be identified, bodily injury may potentially fall within the Assurance Account mechanism. Property damage is treated differently.

How long do I have to claim?

The basic KTK limitation rule is two years from learning of the damage and liable person and, in any event, ten years from the accident. A longer criminal limitation period can apply where the accident constitutes an offence subject to a longer period.

Can I return to my home country and still pursue the claim?

Yes. Returning abroad does not automatically eliminate the claim. Many procedures may be handled through a Turkish lawyer with an appropriately prepared power of attorney.

Conclusion

Foreign nationals injured or financially harmed in traffic accidents in Turkey have substantial compensation rights under Turkish law.

The victim’s passport does not determine whether compensation is available.

The central questions are instead:

• where the accident happened;
• who caused it;
• what damage occurred;
• which person legally operated the vehicle;
• which insurance covered the vehicle;
• what the policy limits were on the accident date; and
• whether the losses can be proven.

Under Article 85 of the Highway Traffic Law, operation of a motor vehicle can create legal responsibility for death, bodily injury and property damage. The legal operator can be responsible not only for personal conduct but also for the conduct of the driver and persons involved in operation of the vehicle.

Compulsory traffic insurance provides the principal financial protection for innocent third parties.

For 2026 accidents involving ordinary passenger motor vehicles, the current compulsory coverage includes:

• TRY 400,000 property damage per vehicle;
• TRY 800,000 property damage per accident;
• TRY 3.6 million health coverage per person;
• TRY 3.6 million disability/death coverage per person; and
• TRY 18 million aggregate health and disability/death limits for qualifying passenger vehicle accidents.

But these insurance limits should never be confused with the total amount of the victim’s legally recoverable damage.

A seriously injured young professional may suffer losses far above the policy ceiling.

In that situation, the claim should not automatically end when the compulsory insurer pays its maximum limit.

The remaining legal responsibility of the driver, operator or other liable persons must also be examined.

For vehicle damage, victims should distinguish three particularly important concepts:

repair damage,
vehicle depreciation, and
loss of vehicle use.

They are legally different.

A significant 2026 reform has changed how depreciation claims are handled.

SEDDK amended the compulsory traffic insurance General Conditions on 12 June 2026 so that qualifying vehicle depreciation is calculated together with material vehicle damage without a separate additional application by the rights holder. The related standardized expert-report framework entered into force on 1 July 2026.

Vehicle deprivation is different.

The compulsory traffic insurance General Conditions exclude categories of consequential loss including rental deprivation, business interruption and loss of profit.

Where a vehicle cannot reasonably be used during repair, a loss-of-use claim may therefore need to be directed separately against the driver or operator under general liability rules.

For injured persons, Article 54 of the Turkish Code of Obligations is central.

Compensable bodily loss can include:

• treatment expenses;
• loss of earnings;
• reduction or loss of earning capacity; and
• impairment of economic future.

These categories are particularly important for foreign claimants.

A foreigner’s income earned in London, Berlin, Dubai or New York should not automatically be ignored merely because the accident occurred in Turkey.

Reliable evidence of that foreign income should be preserved and properly presented.

Fatal accidents can also produce substantial international claims.

Where a foreign national dies in Turkey, surviving family members abroad may potentially claim support-deprivation compensation if the requirements are satisfied.

The family’s location outside Turkey does not itself eliminate those rights.

Moral damages must be analyzed separately.

Article 56 allows appropriate moral compensation for bodily injury and, in serious injury or death cases, potentially for qualifying close relatives.

However, standard compulsory traffic insurance excludes moral-damage claims.

The claimant must therefore identify the correct defendant and insurance structure for every type of loss.

International accidents involving foreign-plated vehicles introduce another layer.

Where a foreign vehicle operating in Turkey has valid Green Card coverage, the Turkish Motor Insurers’ Bureau can become the central institution handling third-party compensation in Turkey.

Foreign and Turkish drivers involved in such accidents should therefore photograph the Green Card and record the foreign insurer’s details at the scene.

Where no valid compulsory insurer exists or the responsible vehicle cannot be identified, the Assurance Account may provide protection for specified bodily losses.

But it is not a universal substitute insurer.

Its official guidance makes clear that ordinary property damage to vehicles is generally not covered simply because the responsible car was uninsured or unidentified.

Finally, foreign victims should pay close attention to procedure.

Article 97 requires prior written application to the compulsory insurer before litigation. If no satisfactory response is received within 15 days, the claimant may proceed to litigation or insurance arbitration.

Insurance arbitration can provide an efficient remedy, with the Commission stating that arbitrators generally have four months to conclude a qualifying file after referral.

The safest approach following a serious traffic accident in Turkey is therefore to treat the case as a complete compensation file, not merely an insurance repair claim.

The victim should identify:

fault → defendants → insurers → policy limits → every category of loss → medical and financial evidence → procedural route → limitation periods.

A vehicle-damage claim may include much more than the workshop invoice.

A personal injury claim may include much more than hospital treatment.

And a fatal traffic accident may create substantial rights for family members living thousands of kilometres outside Turkey.

For foreign nationals involved in a Turkish traffic accident, early preservation of evidence and correct identification of every possible compensation route can make the difference between receiving only a small insurance payment and recovering the full amount legally available under Turkish law.

Legal Disclaimer

This article provides general legal information concerning traffic accidents in Turkey involving foreign nationals, compensation claims and insurance procedures as of August 2026.

It does not constitute legal, insurance or tax advice concerning any particular accident or claimant.

The legal position can vary depending upon:

• date of the accident;
• fault percentages;
• vehicle type;
• insurance policy;
• policy limits;
• nationality;
• foreign vehicle registration;
• Green Card status;
• injury severity;
• medical disability;
• income;
• age;
• relationship with a deceased victim;
• settlement documents;
• criminal proceedings;
• previous insurance payments; and
• procedural deadlines.

Foreign nationals involved in serious road traffic accidents in Turkey should obtain case-specific legal advice before accepting a final insurance settlement, signing a release or allowing evidence concerning injuries, income or vehicle damage to become unavailable.