Turkey (TR)
Turkey is a transcontinental nation straddling Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait, uniting 85 million people under a rich civilisational heritage stretching from the ancient Hittites and Romans to the Byzantine Empire and Ottoman Empire.
Insurance Guide
Which insurances you actually need in Turkey, prioritised.
Turkey has a mandatory insurance system for certain products (earthquake, traffic) and a relatively mature private insurance market. The insurance regulator is SEDDK (Sigortacılık ve Özel Emeklilik Düzenleme ve Denetleme Kurumu). Key point for expats: DASK earthquake insurance is mandatory and universally required. Private health insurance is critical for expats without SGK coverage. Turkish lira inflation makes TRY-denominated insurance policies lose real value — check policies index to inflation or are denominated in USD/EUR where possible.
Legally Mandatory
- - DASK Zorunlu Deprem Sigortası (mandatory earthquake insurance) — required for all registered residential properties
- - Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası (mandatory third-party liability motor insurance) — required for all vehicles to drive legally
DASK Earthquake Insurance
Mandatory government-backed earthquake insurance covering structural damage to registered residential buildings from earthquakes and related hazards (landslide, tsunami, fire following earthquake).
Who needs it: All owners or tenants of registered residential properties in Turkey. Required to obtain electricity and gas connections. Required for property purchase and mortgage financing.
Annual cost: TRY 1,500–5,000/year for a typical apartment (based on location, construction type, and building area). Istanbul (high seismic zone): TRY 2,000–5,000. Inland lower-risk areas: TRY 1,000–2,500.
DASK covers structural damage only — up to the official DASK maximum (TRY equivalent of approximately EUR 200,000–300,000 per unit, adjusted periodically). Contents, personal liability, and costs above the DASK maximum are NOT covered — supplement with home contents insurance. Given that the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake killed 50,000+ people and that Istanbul is considered overdue for a major earthquake, this insurance is not a bureaucratic formality but a genuine necessity.
Health Insurance
Private health insurance covering hospital treatment, specialist visits, diagnostics, and emergency care at private hospitals. Supplements or replaces the public SGK/GSS system.
Who needs it: All expats without SGK coverage (i.e., those not formally employed in Turkey). Required for short-term residence permit applications. Strongly recommended even for those with SGK to access Istanbul's world-class private hospitals.
Annual cost: Local Turkish health insurance: TRY 36,000–240,000/year (TRY 3,000–20,000/month). International health insurance (USD-denominated): USD 1,200–5,000/year depending on age and coverage scope.
For expats living in Turkey long-term: local Turkish insurance is cheaper but denominated in TRY (losing real value with inflation). International insurance (USD/EUR) is more expensive but portable, globally valid, and maintains real value. Many expats choose international insurance from global providers for the flexibility it provides.
Third-Party Motor Insurance
Mandatory third-party liability insurance for all motor vehicles — covers damage and injury caused to third parties. Required for legal road use.
Who needs it: All vehicle owners/drivers in Turkey.
Annual cost: TRY 5,000–15,000+/year depending on vehicle type and age
Zorunlu trafik sigortası is mandatory — driving without it is illegal and results in heavy fines. Complements the voluntary comprehensive insurance (kasko).
Home Contents Insurance
Covers personal belongings, furniture, and electronics against theft, fire, water damage, and other perils. Supplements DASK (which covers structural damage only).
Who needs it: All renters and property owners. Essential to protect belongings not covered by DASK.
Annual cost: TRY 2,000–8,000/year depending on contents value and coverage scope
Bundle with DASK purchase for potential discount. Check if policy covers earthquake aftershock damage beyond DASK's structural limit, and flood/storm damage (some coastal areas have flood risk).
Comprehensive Motor Insurance
Voluntary comprehensive motor insurance covering damage to your own vehicle (theft, accident, fire, natural disaster) in addition to third-party liability.
Who needs it: Vehicle owners wanting to protect their own vehicle's value. Strongly recommended for newer vehicles and those in high-theft areas (Istanbul).
Annual cost: TRY 15,000–50,000+/year depending on vehicle value, age, and driver history
With Istanbul's chaotic traffic and accident frequency, kasko is strongly recommended for newer cars. Consider whether to include hırsızlık (theft), cam (glass), and doğal afet (natural disaster) extensions.
Travel Insurance
Covers emergency medical treatment, trip cancellation, and baggage loss when travelling outside Turkey. Essential for travel to Schengen Area (required for Schengen visa).
Who needs it: Anyone travelling internationally from Turkey. Required for Schengen visa applications (EU travel). Turkey is NOT in Schengen — Turkish residents need travel insurance for EU travel.
Annual cost: Single trip: TRY 500–2,000. Annual multi-trip: TRY 3,000–8,000
Your Turkish private health insurance may have an international extension — check if it covers medical emergencies abroad before buying separate travel insurance. Note: EHIC is NOT applicable to Turkey-based residents travelling to EU — you are not an EU country resident for EHIC purposes.
Life Insurance
Provides a lump-sum payment to beneficiaries upon death or total disability. Can include savings/investment component (bireysel emeklilik — BES).
Who needs it: Expats with dependents, mortgage holders, and those building long-term financial security in Turkey.
Annual cost: TRY 5,000–30,000+/year depending on coverage amount, age, and health status
BES (Bireysel Emeklilik Sistemi — Private Pension System) is Turkey's voluntary pension savings system that includes life insurance components and government matching contribution of 30% up to certain limits. Attractive for long-term Turkey residents.
Comparison sites
Always purchase DASK from a licensed insurer — it is a legal requirement and covers a genuine earthquake risk.
With TRY inflation, review insurance coverage amounts annually — the real value of TRY-denominated cover erodes. Consider USD/EUR-indexed policies where available.
Bundle DASK with home contents insurance for potential discount.
For health insurance: compare both Turkish local policies and international policies — local is cheaper but loses value with TRY depreciation; international is portable globally.
Vehicle insurance: compare using sigortam.net — prices vary significantly between insurers for the same vehicle.
Keep all insurance policy documents in digital format (scan and save to cloud) — Turkish insurers may not have English customer service; having policy numbers and contact information accessible is crucial.
At claim time: document everything with photos before and after any incident. Turkish insurance claims process can be slow — persistence and documentation are essential.
Insurance
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