A new era in traffic insurance

Traffic insurance premiums are determined by the vehicle owner's (insurers refer to them as the vehicle operator) damage history. While there's a tiered (category) system based on damage history, those purchasing traffic insurance for the first time will enter traffic insurance at tier 4.

Each claim-free year increases one level, with those who are accident-free reaching level 8, and the insurance premiums correspondingly decreasing. For each year of damage, the level decreases, reaching level 0, and the price increases. Level 8 includes drivers with no claims, while level 0 includes drivers with high claims. Those who purchase traffic insurance are assigned to one of these levels based on their damage history, and traffic premiums are determined and shaped accordingly.

4th STEP IN THE NEW VEHICLE

According to Noyan Doğan's article in Hürriyet, "Under current regulations, if you own a vehicle and are a damage-free driver, you're in tier 8. If you buy a new one without selling it, the system considers you to be driving for the first time, forcing you to purchase traffic insurance for the new vehicle under tier 4. Consequently, you pay higher traffic insurance premiums. This doesn't change even if you sell your old car a few months later, because the new one is now insured. In other words, under current regulations, the no-claims discount you've earned over the years is ignored. However, if you sell your existing car and buy a new one, you're insured under the same tier as your new vehicle's damage insurance level when you purchase it."

GOOD NEWS FOR THE UNDAMAGED DRIVER, BAD NEWS FOR THE DAMAGED DRIVER

This was unfair to drivers who weren't injured. Then there are drivers who were damaged. For example, you might be a driver who has frequent accidents and therefore falls into tier 1. In today's system, if you buy a new car before selling your existing one, the system considers you a first-time driver, thus requiring you to purchase the new car's traffic insurance at tier 4. Consequently, you pay lower premiums for traffic insurance. Even if you sell your old car, you'll still be in tier 4. To put it more clearly, the current system penalizes drivers who are not injured and rewards drivers who are damaged.

With the new regulation, this misguided practice is now over. So, what happens? When you sell your old car, the traffic policy for your old car will be void. When your new car, which you've already purchased with a Tier 4 policy, comes up for renewal in a year, you'll maintain your previous Tier 4 damage rating. Let me give you an example. Let's say your old car's traffic policy is Tier 7, and your new car's policy started at Tier 4. When the new car's insurance renewal comes up in a year, you'll renew it at Tier 7, and you'll pay a lower premium.

Let me give you another example. If your old car was damaged by a 1-level claim, meaning you were a damaged driver, you bought a new car and entered the system at level 4. A year later, when your insurance renewal comes up, your policy will be renewed at level 1, meaning you'll be at level 1, and you'll pay higher premiums. Let me emphasize: you absolutely must sell your old car within this year. The new regulation will go into effect on January 1, 2026.

15-DAY PERIOD

The new regulation has made another change to traffic insurance. For example, under current practice, your traffic insurance renewal is due on September 8, 2025. You've already renewed your policy and paid the premium, but there are still 15 days left until your new policy kicks in. For example, if you're in damage level 6, meaning you're a low-damage driver, and an accident occurs within the 15-day period before the new policy kicks in, the accident won't affect your damage level; you can continue your insurance at level 6.

ATTENTION TO THOSE WHO WILL RENEW THE POLICY

Some fleet companies use this practice as a source of abuse. This is changing with the new regulation. Starting in 2026, if your policy is renewed early and you have an accident within 15 days, the insurance company will affect your damage tier system when the policy renews a year later, and you will drop to tier 5. This will also result in higher premiums.

Odatv.com