Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası: Turkey's Compulsory Car Insurance Explained
If you're driving to Turkey — whether for a holiday, overlanding trip, or business — you will encounter the term "Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası" at the border. This is Turkey's compulsory motor third-party liability insurance, and without it (or a valid Green Card with TR code), you cannot legally drive in the country.
In short: Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası is Turkey's compulsory MTPL — it covers damage you cause to others, not your own vehicle. Beinsurance issues foreign-plate policies online from €49 in about 15 minutes with an official PDF by email.
What Does "Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası" Mean?
Let's break down the Turkish term:
- •Zorunlu = Compulsory / Mandatory
- •Trafik = Traffic
- •Sigortası = Insurance
Together: "Compulsory Traffic Insurance". It is Turkey's local equivalent of what is known internationally as MTPL (Motor Third-Party Liability), OSAGO (in Russia), or Haftpflichtversicherung (in Germany). Every country has its own version — this is Turkey's.
The law requiring Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası is Turkey's Highway Traffic Act (Karayolları Trafik Kanunu, Law №2918). It applies to every motor vehicle on Turkish roads — domestic and foreign-plated alike.
Who Needs Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası?
Every driver in Turkey — both Turkish residents and foreign visitors:
Turkish residents
Must purchase Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası from a licensed Turkish insurer when registering any vehicle. Renewal is annual.
Foreign visitors
Must carry either a Green Card with valid TR code or purchase Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası before entering Turkey.
If you are a foreign driver and your Green Card does not include Turkey (TR code missing or crossed out), you must buy Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası. You can do this online in 15 minutes or at the border (though the border option is slower and more expensive).
What Does Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası Cover in Turkey?
Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası coverage in Turkey is third-party liability only: injury to other people and damage to their property, within the 2026 statutory limits below. Beinsurance sells this compulsory cover for foreign plates from €49 for 1 month — not optional extras like Kasko.
Covered by Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası:
- ✓Third-party bodily injury — up to 3,600,000 TL per person (2026 limits)
- ✓Third-party property damage — up to 400,000 TL per incident (2026 limits)
- ✓Legal assistance — costs related to legal proceedings after an accident
- ✓Accident paperwork — support with official reports and documentation
What Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası Does NOT Cover
Not covered:
- ✗Damage to your own vehicle — your car, campervan, or motorcycle repairs
- ✗Theft — vehicle theft or theft of belongings from the vehicle
- ✗Fire and natural disasters — flood, earthquake, hail damage
- ✗Personal injury to the driver — your own medical expenses
For own-vehicle coverage, you would need Kasko (comprehensive / casco insurance) — which is a separate, optional policy available from Turkish insurers. For most short-term visitors, Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası alone is sufficient and legally required.
How Much Does Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası Cost for Foreign Vehicles?
Beinsurance publishes live 2026 online rates for foreign vehicles. Border kiosks are usually more expensive and often cash-only with a 3-month minimum — so the cheapest practical option for visitors is usually buying online before arrival:
| Duration | Car | Motorcycle | Truck / Campervan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | €49 | €40 | €110 |
| 3 months | €75 | €0 | €160 |
| 6 months | €150 | €70 | €300 |
| 1 year | €245 | €96 | €520 |
How to Buy Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası Online
Beinsurance issues Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası online before your trip. The process takes about 15 minutes:
- 1Open the Beinsurance Turkey insurance page and select your vehicle type (car, motorcycle, or truck/campervan).
- 2Choose your coverage period — from 1 month to 1 year.
- 3Fill in vehicle and driver details — registration number, passport, and travel dates.
- 4Upload document photos — vehicle registration certificate and passport/ID.
- 5Pay and receive your policy by email — the official PDF is delivered within 15 minutes, registered in Turkey's insurance database.
Why buy online? Compared to buying at the border, online purchase saves you money (up to 50% cheaper), time (no 2–4 hour queues), and gives you a choice of duration (border vendors often sell minimum 3 months only).
New 2026 Coverage Limits
Turkey updates its Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası coverage limits annually. For 2026, the limits have been increased to provide better protection:
Per person — bodily injury. Maximum payout for medical costs, disability, and death benefit per injured person in a single incident.
Per incident — property damage. Maximum payout for damage to third-party vehicles and property per single accident.
These limits represent a significant increase from previous years, reflecting Turkey's inflation adjustments and commitment to adequate insurance coverage. The limits are set by the Turkish government and apply to all Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası policies regardless of the insurer.
Does Driver's Age Affect Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası Price?
No for the foreign-plate visitor tariffs Beinsurance sells — price depends on vehicle type and duration (1–12 months), not on how old the driver is.
Turkish domestic annual policies for residents can use different underwriting factors. Short-term border/online MTPL for foreign plates uses a published duration table (see prices above).
Andrey Trofimov
Founder of Beinsurance · MTPL & OSAGO Expert
In car insurance since 2019. Helped over 10,000 drivers from CIS countries arrange policies for crossing borders — Green Card, Europolis, OSAGO for foreign vehicles, insurance for Turkey, Serbia, Bosnia. I often reply personally in WhatsApp and Telegram chats — especially on complex cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası cover in Turkey?
Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası coverage in Turkey is third-party only: bodily injury (up to 3,600,000 TL per person in 2026) and property damage (up to 400,000 TL per incident). It does not repair your own car. Beinsurance issues official foreign-plate policies online from €49 for 1 month — PDF in about 15 minutes.
Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası coverage Turkey — what is included?
Coverage includes liability for injury and property damage you cause to others on Turkish roads, plus related legal paperwork support under the statutory limits. Own-vehicle damage, theft, and driver injury need separate Kasko or travel insurance.
What does Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası mean in English?
Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası translates to "Compulsory Traffic Insurance". It is Turkey's mandatory motor third-party liability (MTPL), equivalent to OSAGO or Haftpflichtversicherung.
Do foreign cars need Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası?
Yes — without a Green Card that includes code TR, foreign-plated vehicles must buy Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası before driving in Turkey. Beinsurance sells it online from €49/month for cars.
Does Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası cover my own car?
No. It covers only third-party liability. For your own vehicle you need Kasko (comprehensive). Most short-term visitors only need the compulsory MTPL.
How much does Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası cost for foreigners?
On Beinsurance, foreign-plated passenger cars start from €49 for 1 month, motorcycles from €40, trucks/campervans from €110. Border kiosks are usually more expensive and often cash-only.
Cheapest Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası companies Turkey 2026?
For foreign visitors, the cheapest practical option is usually buying online before the border rather than shopping Turkish retail brands at the kiosk. Beinsurance lists live 2026 tariffs from €49 for 1 month Pkw — compare durations on the Turkey insurance page; border desks often force a 3-month minimum at a higher cash price.
Does driver's age affect Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası for foreign vehicles?
For the short-term foreign-plate tariffs Beinsurance sells, price is driven by vehicle type and duration — not by the driver's age. Turkish domestic annual policies for residents can use different rating factors; border/visitor MTPL is a fixed duration table.
Can I buy Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası online?
Yes. Beinsurance issues Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası online in about 15 minutes: choose duration, upload documents, pay, receive the official PDF by email — registered for Turkish border checks.
What are the 2026 coverage limits?
As of 2026, limits are up to 3,600,000 TL per person for bodily injury and up to 400,000 TL for property damage per incident.
Need Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası for your trip?
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→ Buy Turkey Car Insurance Online
Official Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası from €49/month, delivered in 15 minutes