Traffic Accident in Turkey as a Foreign Tourist: Police Report, Insurance Claim, ALO193 and Compensation

1. Call emergency services when anyone is injured

For bodily injury, death, disputed circumstances, suspected alcohol/drug use or other situations requiring official intervention, contact emergency/police/gendarmerie rather than treating the event as a simple property-only accident.

Medical care takes priority over photographs or insurance discussion.

Hospital records also establish injury timing and mechanism.

2. Property-only accidents can sometimes use the mutual accident report

SBM explains that where at least two vehicles are involved and only material damage occurred, parties can in qualifying circumstances complete the material-damage accident report without waiting for police.

This procedure is not appropriate for every accident.

If facts are disputed or statutory exceptions apply, official police/gendarmerie recording is safer.

3. Do not sign a Turkish document you cannot understand

Foreign tourists can feel pressure to sign a fault statement. Request interpretation or an English explanation.

Record your own account and photograph the completed form.

A signature can become important evidence in the insurance fault assessment.

4. Photograph the scene before vehicles move where safe

Capture road layout, lane markings, traffic lights/signs, skid/debris, vehicle positions, damage and surrounding cameras.

Use wide and close images.

Safety and traffic flow remain important; do not remain in a dangerous lane solely for evidence.

5. Collect all driver and vehicle information

Record plate, driver identity, licence, registration, insurer/policy information and contact details.

For rental cars, notify the rental company under the contract.

Foreign-plated vehicles can involve Green Card/international insurer representation.

6. Compulsory traffic insurance covers third-party liability within its legal scope

Turkish compulsory motor liability insurance responds to legally covered damage caused by the insured vehicle up to applicable limits.

The insurer does not simply pay every amount demanded.

Fault, causation, damage type, policy period and statutory exclusions are examined.

7. ALO193 is a new unified claims-notification channel from September 2026

SBM states that ALO193/OHİM began operating on 1 September 2026 for traffic and comprehensive motor claims, with telephone, portal and mobile channels.

Foreign applicants can use passport or temporary Turkish identity information where applicable.

The service assists claim notification/tracking; it does not decide judicial fault or compensation finally.

8. Fault assessment is evidence-based

For material-damage reports, insurers transmit data to SBM and assess fault percentages within the electronic system.

A fault allocation can be challenged through the relevant insurance/committee process where incorrect.

Police conclusions also do not always bind a civil court absolutely on every negligence issue.

9. Vehicle repair damage should be documented before repair

Insurer inspection, expert report, photographs and repair estimate should be obtained.

Emergency safety repairs can be necessary, but preserve removed parts/invoices where possible.

A foreign tourist driving a rental vehicle should distinguish the vehicle owner’s property claim from the renter’s contractual excess/deposit issue.

10. Vehicle value loss is a separate claim category

A repaired vehicle can be worth less on the market because of accident history. Turkish compulsory insurance rules can allow qualifying value-loss claims subject to statutory conditions and exclusions.

SBM has a specific expert appointment system for value-loss claims.

The owner should not merge repair invoice and value loss into one unexplained figure.

11. Bodily injury claims require medical and economic evidence

Temporary inability to work, permanent disability, treatment expenses and care needs can create separate damages.

Medical causation and disability assessment are central.

Foreign income should be supported with reliable payroll/tax/employer records.

12. Death can create funeral and loss-of-support claims

Close dependants can have claims for economic support lost due to death, and Turkish law can permit non-material damages in qualifying cases.

The existence and amount of support are fact-specific.

Family/civil-status documents issued abroad can need authentication and translation.

13. The driver, vehicle operator and insurer can have different legal roles

Liability is not always limited to the person physically driving. Turkish road traffic law contains concepts concerning vehicle operator responsibility.

Employer/company ownership can add vicarious responsibility.

Identify every legally relevant defendant before filing.

14. Rental-car insurance needs contract review

CDW, super-CDW, tyre/glass cover, excess, exclusions and unauthorised-driver clauses affect the rental relationship.

The other vehicle’s compulsory insurer is a different source of compensation.

Do not let the rental company treat a contractual deposit dispute as if it resolved the third-party liability claim.

15. Travel health insurance and motor liability can overlap

A travel insurer can pay emergency medical costs while motor liability remains under investigation.

Subrogation can arise.

Provide consistent accident information to all insurers.

16. Foreign-plated vehicles require international insurance analysis

Green Card coverage or local frontier insurance can determine the responsible insurer/representative.

Obtain the policy document and plate country.

International insurer bureaux can be involved.

17. Insurance application usually precedes some litigation routes

Turkish insurance/traffic legislation can require a prior application to the insurer before arbitration or court proceedings in relevant claims.

Submit a complete documented claim and preserve delivery.

Do not assume a telephone call alone satisfies every formal application requirement.

18. Insurance arbitration can be an alternative to court

Where statutory conditions are met and the insurer/system is within the Insurance Arbitration Commission framework, arbitration can provide a specialist route.

Amount thresholds and appeal structure can change; use current rules at filing.

Litigation strategy should compare arbitration and court based on claim type.

19. A foreign tourist can pursue the file after leaving Türkiye

Turkish counsel can handle insurer correspondence, evidence, arbitration and court steps under a proper power of attorney.

Medical examination may require planning.

Foreign bank details and identity documentation should be provided securely.

20. Do not settle all injury claims before prognosis is known

A quick payment for vehicle damage can be useful, but a broad settlement release can affect later bodily-injury claims.

Read any discharge/settlement document carefully.

Permanent injury should be medically evaluated before full release.

Conclusion

A foreign tourist’s Turkish road-accident claim should be separated into fault, property damage, value loss, bodily injury, insurance and rental-contract layers. Accurate scene evidence, early insurer notification and a legally complete damages file are more important than arguing fault at the roadside.