Foreigners who own property or a vehicle in Turkey have specific insurance obligations. Not knowing these obligations creates both legal and financial risk.
73a. Dask – compulsory earthquake insurance
DASK (Doğal Afet Sigortarı Kurumu – Turkish Catastrophe Insurance Pool) is mandatory for every residential property in Turkey, including those owned by foreigners. Without a valid DASK policy, you cannot connect electricity or water, and you cannot complete the sale of a property.
Regardless of which insurance company issues your DASK policy – Allianz, Mapfre, Anadolu Sigorta, or any other – The coverage terms and premium rates are set centrally by DASK, not by the individual insurer. The insurer is simply the distribution channel.
What DASK covers: Structural damage caused by earthquakes and associated events (landslides, tsunamis, fires triggered by seismic activity).
What DASK does NOT cover: Contents, furniture, electronics, interior fittings, theft, non-earthquake fire, or flood.
2025 premium ranges: properties under 100 m² – 150-300 TL; 100-200 m² – 300-500 TL; above 200 m² – 500 TL and above. The policy is valid for 12 months and must be renewed annually. Documents required: title deed (tapu), tax number (vergi numarası), property address and construction details.
73b. Supplementary home insurance – fills the gaps dask leaves
Optional home insurance covers fire, flood, theft, vandalism, and liability – everything DASK does not. For a standard apartment, this costs approximately 1,000-3,500 TL per year. It is especially important for furnished properties and anything being let to tenants. A combined DASK plus home insurance package costs approximately USD 120-550 per year and provides comprehensive protection.
73c. Compulsory traffic insurance (trafik sigortası)
Compulsory traffic insurance is a legal requirement for all vehicles driven in Turkey. It covers third-party bodily injury and property damage caused by the insured driver. In 2025, premiums range from approximately 3,000-10,000 TL (roughly 60-200) depending on driver history, vehicle type, and region.
An important detail: many expats buy the mandatory state insurance and assume they are fully covered. This is worth checkingconception. Compulsory traffic insurance only covers damage you cause to others – your own vehicle receives nothing. For your own vehicle to be covered, you need Kasko.
73d. Kasko – comprehensive vehicle insurance
Kasko (comprehensive insurance) covers your own vehicle against accident, theft, fire, and natural disasters. In 2025, it costs approximately 6,000-20,000 TL (roughly 120-400) per year. For any expat who owns a vehicle in Turkey, Kasko is effectively essential rather than optional.
73e. Foreign-plated vehicles – green card may not be enough
If entering Turkey in a foreign-plated vehicle, check whether TR is listed on your Green Card. Most standard European Green Card policies do not include Turkey – adding TR coverage typically costs an extra 150-300. If TR is not listed, you must purchase Turkish MTPL (Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası) separately before or at the border. This can be done online in minutes and starts from approximately 50.
| Insurance | Mandatory? | 2025 Cost | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| DASK | Yes | 150-500 TL/yr | Earthquake – structural only |
| Home insurance | No | 1,000-3,500 TL/yr | Fire, theft, flood |
| Traffic insurance | Yes | 3,000-10,000 TL/yr | 3rd party only |
| Kasko | No | 6,000-20,000 TL/yr | Own vehicle + 3rd party |
| Foreign plate MTPL | Yes (at border) | From ~50 | 3rd party within Turkey |
Sources: DASK (Doğal Afet Sigortarı Kurumu) – https://www.dask.gov.tr | T.C. Hazine ve Maliye Bakanlığı – https://www.hmb.gov.tr
EXPERT ADVICE: DASK is every property owners most basic legal obligation in Turkey – without it you cannot connect utilities or sell the property. But DASK alone is not enough: add home insurance for contents, fire, and theft. For your vehicle, compulsory traffic insurance covers only others – Kasko is needed to protect your own car. Check your Green Card for TR before driving into Turkey.
P.S. For property, DASK is the only legally mandatory insurance. Everything else is optional. That said, DASK alone covers very little beyond the basic building structure. If you want broader protection contents, extended building cover, liability private insurance is available and worth considering. Just make sure you know exactly what your policy covers before you need it.
