What Is the Insurance Arbitration Commission and How Do You Apply? 

The Insurance Arbitration Commission (IAC) offers a faster, expert and cost-efficient pathway for policyholder–insurer disputes.

1) Legal Basis & Operation

• Disputes arising from insurance contracts may be decided by IAC upon written application.
• Independent arbitrators review the file; awards under a statutory threshold are final and enforceable as court judgments.

2) Eligible Disputes

• Motor TPL (diminished value, damage, loss of income)
• Casco/comprehensive (repair/total loss, accessories)
• Health (treatment costs, limits)
• Property/commercial/cargo/liability, life/personal accident claims.

3) 2025 Key Requirements

• Pre-request to insurer and 15-day wait (rejection/short-pay/no-reply).
• Finality threshold: awards up to TRY 300,000 are final; above this, Objection Board review may be sought.
• Time limit: 2 years from awareness of loss or policy expiry.
• Fee example: around TRY 650 in 2025 (case-dependent costs may apply).

4) Step-by-Step

1. Written claim to insurer → await response for 15 days.
2. IAC form + attachments (policy, expert report, invoices, photos, correspondence, IBAN).
3. Pay fee and lodge the file.
4. Arbitrator appointment (~7 days).
5. Merit review (generally 4 months, extendable +2 months).
6. Decision → 15-day objection window (if above threshold).
7. Enforcement → final awards are directly enforceable.

5) Build a Persuasive File

• Itemize loss heads (parts, labor, rental car, diminished value).
• Support with expert opinions and numbers.
• Address policy limits/deductibles/exclusions explicitly.
• State interest (from default date) and costs/fees.
• Keep a clean trail of invoices, photos, emails/KEP.

6) Common Pitfalls

• Filing before 15-day waiting period lapses.
• Unquantified claims without expert backing.
• Ignoring deductibles/limits and exclusions.
• Over-reliance on equity without figures.

7) Skeleton of an IAC Petition (Concise)

• Parties & policy
• Facts & chronology
• Claims table (amounts, interest, costs)
• Legal grounds (contract terms, general principles)
• Evidence list
• Prayer for relief

8) After the Award

• Non-payment → judicial enforcement.
• Partial success/above threshold → consider objection.
• Review tax/accounting impacts and potential recourse.

Quick FAQs

Do I need a lawyer?
Not mandatory but highly recommended for completeness and speed.
Is mediation required?
No mandatory mediation in the IAC track.
Does a criminal probe suspend the case?
Civil claim typically proceeds independently, subject to technical overlaps.

Disclaimer: For information only, not legal advice. Türeli & Ceylan provides end-to-end assistance—from filing to enforcement.