Transport needs continue while a damaged car is being repaired. Under Turkish law, a loss-of-use claim requires assessment of the actual accident-related loss, reasonable repair time and any replacement vehicle, rather than simply counting days at the workshop.
Every workshop day is not automatically compensable
The damage, necessary work and technically reasonable repair period must be established. Parts supply, workshop workload and delays caused by either party require separate examination. Assuming that the other party must pay for the entire actual waiting period can overstate the claim. Expert reports, work orders and delivery records help distinguish the causes.
Avoid claiming the same loss twice
Check which days a replacement vehicle covered and whether it met the relevant transport needs. Compensation should not duplicate payment for the same period and loss. Conversely, absence of a rental invoice does not necessarily establish that no loss occurred; evidence of lost use depends on the circumstances.
The insurer is not always the correct defendant
The driver at fault, vehicle operator and insurer have different bases and limits of liability. Indirect-loss exclusions in compulsory motor insurance must be distinguished from replacement-car benefits or additional cover in a comprehensive policy. An insurer’s refusal does not automatically defeat a claim against another responsible party.
Prepare a documented claim
Retain the accident record, fault assessment, expert report, workshop entry and release dates, replacement-car handover records and any rental or transport expenses. Explain the vehicle’s usual use and the period of actual need. Assess reasonable time and loss from the evidence instead of relying on promises of a fixed daily payment.
How to organise your application file
Set out events chronologically and match each payment, instruction and reply to its record. Keep original files and capture screenshots with dates and URLs. Retain proof of delivery for written applications. If a statement changes, preserve the earlier version as well. Avoid publishing identity and account information on public channels.
Frequently asked question
Which records help assess loss of vehicle use?
Prepare the accident report, workshop entry and exit dates, repair and parts records, days with a replacement vehicle and any transport expenses. Use a timeline that separates workshop time from the actual loss of use.
DISCUSS YOUR CASE
Assess your loss-of-use claim
We can review the repair period, any replacement vehicle and evidence of the loss of use to assess your options under Turkish law.
A brief summary and important dates are enough for an initial enquiry. Send documents only when requested by our lawyers, through the channel they specify. Do not share passwords, one-time codes or wallet keys.
Sources and legislation
Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098
Insurance Association of Türkiye: Frequently Asked Questions
Related reading
Insurance & Vehicle Diminished Value
Flood damage to an electric-car battery: assessing a comprehensive insurance refusal
Prepared on 30 September 2026. General information under Turkish law. Available remedies and deadlines depend on the particular records. No outcome or recovery is guaranteed. The image is illustrative.