Vehicle Value Loss After a Traffic Accident in Turkey: Değer Kaybı Claim, Expert Appointment and Foreign Owners

1. Repair cost and value loss are different

Repair restores damaged parts. Market value can still fall because buyers discount a vehicle with accident/repair history.

A claimant should calculate each head separately.

Payment of repair invoice does not automatically settle value loss unless a valid release covers it.

2. Fault share affects entitlement

The claimant generally seeks the portion corresponding to the other side’s legal responsibility.

If the vehicle owner/driver is fully at fault, there is ordinarily no third-party compulsory insurer from whom to recover the owner’s own value loss.

Disputed fault should be challenged promptly.

3. The responsible compulsory insurer is a primary claim target

The insurer responds within compulsory motor insurance law and policy limits.

The vehicle operator/driver can remain legally relevant for uninsured or excess amounts depending on the case.

Identify the policy valid on the accident date.

4. SBM provides a value-loss expert appointment system

SBM’s current online guide allows rights holders to appoint an expert for traffic value-loss claims through the specified digital process.

The expert evaluates vehicle data, repair history and market factors.

The expert report is evidence; parties can still dispute methodology where legally justified.

5. Total-loss/scrap vehicles are excluded from compulsory value-loss cover

SBM notes the Road Traffic Law exclusion for vehicles withdrawn from traffic or scrapped because of the damage.

A total-loss claim is economically different because the vehicle is not repaired and returned to the market in the same way.

Do not claim both inconsistent total-loss and repair-based value loss.

6. Prior accidents matter

A vehicle with earlier damage to the same area can have less new value loss from the later accident.

Tramer/SBM history and repair invoices should be reviewed.

Hiding prior damage can undermine the claim.

7. Mileage and age affect market impact

Newer, lower-mileage vehicles often experience greater market discount after a serious repair, but there is no universal percentage.

The expert should use current market evidence.

Luxury/imported models can require specialist valuation.

8. Structural repairs are especially significant

Chassis, pillars, airbag systems and major panels can affect buyer perception more than minor cosmetic repair.

Repair photographs and parts list matter.

Paint-only damage should not be valued as structural loss.

9. A foreign-registered vehicle can require special market evidence

If the damaged car is registered and normally sold abroad, the relevant market-value loss can require evidence from that home market and international insurance analysis.

Green Card/frontier insurance can affect the responding insurer.

Foreign valuation documents should be translated where used in Turkish proceedings.

10. Rental vehicles involve owner and renter separately

The rental company normally owns the vehicle and therefore holds the property/value-loss right.

A renter charged a “value loss” amount by the rental company should demand proof of the actual legal/economic loss and contract basis.

The renter should not pay a fictional value-loss charge merely because the deposit is available.

11. The insurer claim should include all core documents

Accident report, fault, registration, policy, repair/parts records, photographs, expert/valuation material and bank information should be supplied.

A complete file reduces repeated deficiency requests.

Preserve proof of submission.

12. ALO193 can support unified claims notification

From 1 September 2026, SBM’s ALO193/OHİM provides a common traffic/kasko claim notification and tracking channel.

This is operationally useful but does not replace legal proof of value loss.

Keep the claim reference.

13. Insurer rejection should identify the reason

Possible reasons include fault, exclusion, prior damage, total-loss status, lack of covered loss or documentation.

Obtain the written calculation/rejection.

Challenge the actual reason rather than submitting the same documents repeatedly.

14. Insurance arbitration can be available

Where statutory conditions exist, the Insurance Arbitration Commission provides a specialist dispute route.

Current monetary thresholds and appeal mechanisms should be checked at filing.

Expert evidence remains important.

15. Court proceedings remain possible where appropriate

The appropriate court/claim depends on parties and insurance relationship.

Prior insurer application requirements should be complied with.

Litigation cost should be compared with the amount realistically in dispute.

16. Interest start can depend on demand and defendant

Do not use one universal interest date for insurer, operator and driver without legal analysis.

Written insurer application and default records are important.

Claim currency also matters for foreign owners.

17. Value loss should be claimed before evidence becomes stale

Later sale, additional accidents and new repairs can make valuation more difficult.

Obtain repair and market evidence soon after completion.

Limitation periods should be analysed promptly.

18. Settlement should identify whether value loss is included

A payment labelled “all material damages” can create later disputes about scope.

Read releases carefully.

Separate repair, replacement car/loss of use and value loss where possible.

Conclusion

Turkish vehicle value-loss claims are valuation and insurance cases. Fault, prior accident history, repair severity and current market evidence should be documented separately from the physical repair claim.