Every foreign-plated vehicle entering Turkey must carry valid Turkish Compulsory Traffic Insurance — called Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası or MTPL. You can buy it online before you travel and receive the policy PDF on WhatsApp in as little as 15 minutes. Here is exactly how to do it.

The short answer: Contact a licensed Turkish broker on WhatsApp, share your passport number, vehicle plate, and start date, pay by card or bank transfer, and receive your PDF policy — usually within 30 minutes.

Why every foreign vehicle needs Turkish insurance

Turkish law requires every vehicle operating on Turkish roads to hold a valid Turkish MTPL policy, regardless of what insurance the driver holds in their home country. Foreign insurance — whether a European Green Card, UK comprehensive policy, Georgian KASKO, or Russian OSAGO — is not accepted by Turkish traffic police or at Turkish border crossings.

Your home-country policy may provide third-party liability cover in some countries, but Turkey is a sovereign territory with its own mandatory insurance regime governed by SEDDK (the Turkish insurance regulator). A Turkish MTPL policy is the only document accepted as proof of insurance in Turkey.

If you are stopped without a valid Turkish policy, you will receive an on-the-spot fine and may not be permitted to continue driving until you purchase cover. At the border, customs officers will check for valid insurance and may refuse entry to uninsured vehicles.

Buying online versus buying at the border kiosk

Most major Turkish land border crossings — including Kapıkule, Pazarkule, and Sarpi — have insurance kiosks where you can purchase Turkish MTPL. However, there are significant disadvantages to using them:

  • Queue times: In summer months, border kiosks can have queues of 30–90 minutes, on top of the standard customs queue.
  • Language barriers: Kiosk staff may not speak your language, making it harder to choose the right policy duration.
  • Limited choice: Border kiosks typically only offer policies from one or two insurers, and prices can be higher than broker rates.
  • Stress: Buying insurance while a queue forms behind you is not ideal.

Buying online through a licensed broker before you travel means you arrive at the border with your policy already on your phone — ready to show customs in seconds. It is also typically faster and cheaper.

What you need to apply

To purchase Turkish MTPL insurance for a foreign-plated vehicle, you need the following information:

  • Your full name — as it appears on your passport
  • Your passport number
  • Your vehicle registration plate
  • Vehicle type — car, motorcycle, campervan, pickup, minibus, or bus
  • Policy start date — the date you plan to enter Turkey
  • Desired duration — 1, 3, 6, or 12 months
  • A WhatsApp number or email for policy delivery

You do not need to send physical documents or a photo of your vehicle. The policy is issued based on the information you provide. Providing accurate information is essential — incorrect details can invalidate the policy.

Step-by-step: how to buy Turkish car insurance online

  1. Check our prices. Visit the pricing page and select your vehicle type and duration to see the current rate.
  2. Contact us on WhatsApp. Send a message with your name, passport number, vehicle plate, start date, and duration. We will confirm the price and provide payment details immediately.
  3. Make payment. Pay by Visa or Mastercard, bank transfer, or cryptocurrency (USDC). Payment links are sent via WhatsApp.
  4. Receive your policy. Once payment is confirmed, we issue the policy with our underwriting partner. The PDF is sent to your WhatsApp (and email if provided) within 2 hours — average delivery is 15–30 minutes during business hours.
  5. Save your policy. Download the PDF and save it offline on your phone. You can show it on screen at the border — you do not need to print it, though printing is recommended as a backup.

How long does it take?

From sending your details to receiving your policy PDF, the typical process takes 15 to 30 minutes during Turkish business hours (Monday–Friday 09:00–18:00, Saturday 10:00–16:00, Turkey Time / UTC+3).

Our guaranteed maximum during business hours is 2 hours. If we fail to issue your policy within that window for reasons attributable to us, you receive a full refund.

If you order outside business hours, your policy will be issued first thing when we open. For early morning border crossings, we recommend ordering the evening before.

What to do at the border

When you reach Turkish customs, the officer will ask for your insurance document. Open your WhatsApp and show them the policy PDF. They need to see:

  • Your name and passport number
  • Your vehicle registration plate
  • The policy validity period (start and end date)
  • The name of the Turkish insurance company

Turkish MTPL policies are digital-first — showing the PDF on your phone is standard practice. Customs officers at all major crossing points accept digital documents.

Keep your policy accessible throughout your stay in Turkey. If you are stopped by Turkish traffic police, they will use the TRAMER system to verify your insurance electronically using your plate number, but having the PDF ready speeds up the check.