July Hike for Traffic Insurance: Premiums and Risk Steps Redetermined

Based on data from Sigorta Bilgi ve Gözetim Merkezi and SEDDK, a new regulation has been implemented, and as of July, updates have been made to compulsory traffic insurance premium tariffs. Within the scope of the update, a 4% increase has been applied to general premium ceilings, recorded as a development directly affecting vehicle owners' costs. The risk step system, where drivers are evaluated based on their past kaza记录larına, formed the basis of the new prices and shaped the differences in policy costs.

The primary purpose of compulsory traffic insurance is to secure the material and physical damages drivers may cause to third parties in traffic accidents, and the new tariff updated premiums while preserving this process. Claims-free history, which plays a critical role in premium calculations, stands out as the most important factor determining the amounts drivers will pay. According to this, drivers with no accident history and considered risk-free can get insurance at much lower figures, while the premium amounts required for risky groups frequently involved in accidents increase significantly. The premium difference between the riskiest and the least risky driver groups reaching 500% clearly reveals the risk management strategies of insurance companies.

In line with the new tariff, the premium ceiling amounts for automobiles in metropolitan cities like Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir have become clear. In particular, the minimum premium amount for a standard automobile in Istanbul's 4th risk step was raised to 18 thousand 789 TL, setting the general cost trajectory within the city. Pricing was done adhering to the system's structure where step 0 represents the highest risk group and step 8 represents the lowest risk and claim-free drivers. In this context, the traffic insurance premium for an Istanbul driver in step 0 rose up to 56 thousand 367 TL, while the amount required to be paid by a reliable driver in step 8 remained at the level of 9 thousand 395 TL.

A similar update process has been experienced in insurance premiums valid for commercial taxis, and new prices have entered into force. Premium amounts determined for commercial taxis, which have longer durations in traffic and higher accident risks, circulate at much higher levels compared to passenger cars. The premium ceiling determined for a commercial taxi in Istanbul's 0th risk step reached 160 thousand 593 TL, hitting a record level, while a taxi owner rising to step 8 by meeting claim-free conditions will pay 26 thousand 766 TL. Commercial taxi insurance premiums in Ankara and Izmir provinces were similarly determined as high amounts, reflecting the cost structure in the sector.

With the regulations entering into force, the legal risks created by not having traffic insurance or driving without insurance are also emphasized. It is stated that legal regulations regarding the impoundment of uninsured vehicles will be applied meticulously, and it is of great importance that vehicle owners fulfill their legal obligations. For drivers not to lose their claims-free discount rights, renewing their policies on time is of critical importance to avoid possible penal sanctions.