Importing and using cars with foreign license plates in Turkey must be done with awareness. Otherwise, you could get fined. And in Turkey the fines for cars are very high!

This article was written in May 2022 and in some details may become outdated over time, so you should consult with lawyers about possible changes in Turkish law. Also, you can contact your local Facebook group. For example, you can ask your questions in the group Ukrainian in Antalya. However, after reading this article, you will understand the basic issues that you will need to address or have in mind.

So, what do you need to know about!?

Is it possible to enter Turkey by car?

Only a person who has been out of the customs territory of Turkey for at least 185 days during the last year can enter Turkey by car. In this case, you will be given an initial 90-day vehicle permit. Read more.

Is it possible to enter Turkey with someone else’s car?

Yes, as long as you have power of attorney. However, there are important restrictions, because both the car owner and the person bringing the car into Turkey, must not be in Turkey for 185 days in the last year. The initial period of permission to use the car will also be 90 days. Read more.

Additional benefits for citizens of Ukraine

For Ukrainian citizens who do not meet the above criterion of 185 days, the Turkish authorities introduced additional benefits after the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Read more in this article.

Is it possible to bring a company car into Turkey?

In general, a company car can only be imported for 90 days. Even if you received a residence permit, you do not have the right to extend the right to a tax-free stay for a car that is registered to a legal entity.

However, there is one working loophole, about which I wrote a separate article.

I entered Turkey. What now?

Now be sure to check to see if you have any unpaid tolls! Very many of our compatriots, driving hundreds of kilometers through Turkey, do not even know that they were traveling on toll roads. And after 15 days, the amount becomes a multiple penalty! Read more in this article.

How to extend the stay of a car in Turkey

After the initial allowed period of stay of the car in Turkey (90 days), you must extend this period at the customs office. But to do this, you need to get a residence permit.

If it is a private car, after obtaining a residence permit, you can extend the stay of the car in Turkey for the duration of the residence permit, but not more than 730 days.

The vehicle must leave Turkey before the permit expires.

Read more in this article.

Responsible person

A person who has entered Turkey by car as a driver becomes the holder of a permit to stay in Turkey. All fines and taxes, if any, will accrue specifically to the permit holder.

Do I have to get Turkish license plates in Turkey?

No. If you plan to stay in Turkey for up to two years, you do not need to get a Turkish license plate.

For some categories of people there is a procedure of temporary customs clearance on bail. In this case, the car gets license plates with letters beginning with MA to MZ. However, the procedure for such temporary customs clearance is very complicated and requires leaving a large amount of deposit in a deposit account at the customs bank.

The photo shows a classic license plate in Antalya. 07 means the region of Antalya. AGB means that the car does not start with an M, which means it belongs to a Turkish legal entity or individual.

Who else can use my car in Turkey?

Turkish law very strictly limits the range of people who can use cars with foreign license plates. Such persons are only immediate relatives (a brother, mother-in-law, or son-in-law are not such persons). For more information, see the article “Who can drive a foreign car in Turkey”.

Immediate family members can use the car in Turkey without the presence of the permit holder in the car. However, if the permit holder travels abroad, no one can use the vehicle (see point above).

Can I leave Turkey without a car?

Yes, you can travel outside of Turkey without a car. However, in this case you must go to the nearest customs office before departure and write a statement that the car will not be used by anyone during this period ( The trafik stop ).

Can I temporarily leave Turkey by car?

Yes. You can always leave Turkey by car (provided that you have no fines or they are paid). But keep in mind that you may not be allowed to bring the car into Turkey. This can happen if you and/or the owner of the car, at the time of entry, are not in compliance with the 185 day rule.

Who can take my car out of Turkey?

This car can leave Turkey only with the right holder of the permit (the person who brought the car into Turkey).

Can I sell a foreign car in Turkey?

In order to have a car with Ukrainian license plates, for example, it must first be deregistered and then re-registered. Unfortunately, it is only possible to do these actions while in Ukraine.

However, there is a way to sell a car by general power of attorney. In this case, in order to drive such a car and take it out of Turkey, just a general power of attorney will not be enough!

For more information, see the article “Can I sell my car in Turkey”.