Journals / Türk-Alman Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 8 Sayı: 1

Harmonization of Motor Vehicle Liability and Insurance in the European Union

Avrupa Birliği’nde Motorlu Araç İşletenin Sorumluluğu ve Sigortasının Uyumlaştırılması

Pages
511–545
Publication Date
2026-06-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

This is because the conditions of liability and the scope of compensation, including from the insurer’s perspective, fall within the scope of the national law applicable to liability.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:The legal regime applicable to liability arising from damages caused by motor vehicles, as well as the regulations on compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance, differ among the member states of the European Union (EU).
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Key Findings & Data:Directive 2009/103/EC regulates the obligation to obtain insurance, minimum insurance coverage, and the injured party’s right to bring a direct claim against the insurer.
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Conclusion & Impact:This is because the conditions of liability and the scope of compensation, including from the insurer’s perspective, fall within the scope of the national law applicable to liability.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:2009 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Kfz-Haftpflicht · EU-Recht · Pflichtversicherung

Abstract

The legal regime applicable to liability arising from damages caused by motor vehicles, as well as the regulations on compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance, differ among the member states of the European Union (EU). This divergence is particularly evident in the distinction between fault-based liability and strict liability based on the particular risk. Such diversity in liability regimes also leads to differences in areas such as the scope of compensable damages, methods of calculating compensation, and limitation periods. At the EU level, no harmonization has been achieved with respect to the substantive law of liability. However, a limited degree of harmonization exists concerning compulsory liability insurance. Directive 2009/103/EC regulates the obligation to obtain insurance, minimum insurance coverage, and the injured party’s right to bring a direct claim against the insurer. Nevertheless, this directive does not prevent member states from adopting rules that provide a higher level of protection. Therefore, differences among member states persist — for example, with respect to coverage limits. Furthermore, the limited harmonization achieved in the field of insurance does not amount to a harmonization of liability law. This is because the conditions of liability and the scope of compensation, including from the insurer’s perspective, fall within the scope of the national law applicable to liability.

Özet

Motorlu araçların sebep olduğu zararlarda uygulanacak sorumluluk rejimi ile zorunlu mali sorumluluk sigortasına ilişkin düzenlemeler, Avrupa Birliği (AB) üyesi ülkelerde farklılık göstermektedir. Bu farklılık özellikle, kusur esasına dayanan sorumluluk ile tehlike esasına dayanan objektif sorumluluk arasında ortaya çıkmaktadır. Sorumluluk rejimindeki bu çeşitlilik, zarar türlerinin kapsamı, tazminatın hesaplanma yöntemleri ve zamanaşımı süreleri gibi alanlarda da farklılıklara yol açmaktadır. AB düzeyinde, sorumluluğun maddi hukuk boyutunda bir yeknesaklık sağlanamamış olmakla birlikte, zorunlu mali sorumluluk sigortası bakımından sınırlı bir yeknesaklık mevcuttur. 2009/103/EC sayılı Direktif ile sigorta yaptırma yükümlülüğü, asgarî teminat kapsamı ve zarar görenin doğrudan sigortacıya başvurma hakkı gibi konular düzenlenmiştir. Ancak Direktif, üye devletlerin daha yüksek koruma sağlayan düzenlemeler yapmalarına engel teşkil etmemektedir. Bu nedenle, üye ülkeler arasında örneğin teminat limitleri farklılıkları devam etmektedir. Ayrıca, zorunlu mali sorumluluk sigortası alanında sağlanan sınırlı yeknesaklaştırma, sorumluluk hukukunun da yeknesaklaştırılması anlamına gelmemektedir. Zira sorumluluğun şartları ve tazminatın kapsamı meseleleri sigortacı bakımından da sorumluluğa uygulanacak ulusal hukukun uygulama alanına girmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Çataklı, A. O. (2026). Harmonization of Motor Vehicle Liability and Insurance in the European Union. Türk-Alman Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 1, 511–545. https://doi.org/10.59933/tauhfd.1982594

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