FAQ
Insurance — frequently asked questions
The 9 questions we are asked most about Insurance, with answers. If you cannot find yours, write to us directly and we will answer.
Insurance
9 questionsThe insurance company has refused to pay. What can I do?+
First, a written application should be made to the company; if no reply is received within 15 working days or the claim is rejected, an application may be made to the Insurance Arbitration Commission. The arbitration route is generally faster than the courts. Alternatively, proceedings may be brought in the commercial court of first instance. Keep your policy, your claim file number and the rejection letter.
How much is the Insurance Arbitration Commission application fee in 2026?+
The fee is determined by the amount claimed. Since 16 July 2026, the fee is 600 TL for claims up to 8,500 TL, 1,200 TL for claims between 8,501 and 17,000 TL, and 1,750 TL for claims between 17,001 and 85,000 TL. For claims of 85,001 TL and above, the fee is 1.8% of the amount claimed and cannot be less than 1,750 TL. A fee under the same tariff is also paid when objecting to an arbitral decision.
Can I object to an insurance arbitration decision?+
It depends on the amount in dispute. In 2026, the arbitral decision is final in disputes below 35,000 TL. In disputes of 35,000 TL and above, a one-time objection may be lodged with the Commission within 10 days of notification of the decision, and the objection panel decides within two months. If the amount exceeds 383,000 TL, an appeal on points of law may be made against the decision given on objection. The thresholds are determined by the date of application.
Within what time must the insurance company pay for the loss?+
In traffic insurance, the company pays the amount within cover within 8 working days after receiving the necessary documents. In motor own-damage and other property insurance, the indemnity falls due once the company’s investigation is complete and in any event 45 days after notification of the loss; in life and personal accident insurance, this period is 15 days. If the investigation is not completed within 3 months, the company must pay at least half of the assessed loss as an advance.
My motor own-damage insurer refused to pay on grounds of alcohol. What can I do?+
First, the policy condition relied on in the rejection letter and the alcohol test document should be examined. In practice, what is examined is not merely the presence of alcohol but its effect on how the accident occurred; if there are other causes such as the road, the weather or the fault of the other vehicle, the ground for rejection may be weakened. After a written objection to the company, an application may be made to the Insurance Arbitration Commission, the consumer arbitration committee or the consumer court. The limitation period is two years from the date the claim falls due.
The life insurer refuses to pay, saying an illness was not disclosed. Is it right?+
Not always. The insured is only obliged to disclose important matters that they knew or ought to have known when the policy was taken out. If the breach of disclosure resulted from negligence, the sum insured cannot be refused entirely; it is reduced according to the seriousness of the fault. Refusing the sum entirely requires intent and a link between the undisclosed illness and the death. The date and content of the medical record relied on by the company must always be examined.
Can I object to the loss adjuster’s report?+
Yes. Under the Regulation on the Appointment of Insurance Loss Adjusters, which entered into force in 2026, the insured, the policyholder or the person benefiting from the insurance may object within 3 working days of notification that the loss adjuster’s report has been entered into the system. Upon objection, a new loss adjuster is appointed; if one of the parties requests it within 3 working days of that report too, an arbitrating loss adjuster is appointed. Even if this period is missed, the right to arbitration and litigation continues.
Which is more suitable: the Insurance Arbitration Commission or the consumer arbitration committee?+
A consumer who took out the policy for personal purposes may apply free of charge to the consumer arbitration committee in disputes below 186,000 TL in 2026; its decision may be challenged before the consumer court within two weeks. The Insurance Arbitration Commission charges a fee, but it works with arbitrators specialised in insurance and a four-month decision period. Once one route has been chosen, switching to the other is limited; the choice should be made according to the amount and the technical issues in dispute.
Is a lawyer required to apply to insurance arbitration?+
No, a person may apply to the Insurance Arbitration Commission themselves. However, because arbitrators decide solely on the documents in the file, it is important that the heads of claim, the amounts and the evidence are submitted in full in the initial application. An attorney fee of one fifth of the minimum attorney fee may be awarded against a party whose claim is rejected. When applying through a lawyer, care should be taken that the power of attorney includes authority for arbitration.
Let us look at your situation together
In the first meeting we discuss the legal position of your case, the routes open to you and roughly how long they take. The meeting can be at our office or by video.