Driving in Turkey

Driving in Turkey is a great way to experience this rich diversity, but it’s very different from driving in the UK. If you’re planning a trip, it’s essential you know about these differences ahead of time.

To make your visit as safe and effortless as possible, we’ve put together a guide to everything you need to know before you go, from required documents to rules of the road.

Driving a rented vehicle? Jump to the advice for driving a hire car in Turkey section.

In Turkey, RAC European Breakdown Cover (Basic, Comprehensive or Single Trip) provides a wide range of benefits should you break down in continental European Turkey and Uskudar to ensure you stay safe. 

To supplement this, RAC also offers travel insurance. Cover will include medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings, among many other benefits.

In an emergency

112 - Here's a really important bit of knowledge; you can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you're visiting. 

Operators can answer your call in their native language, English or French. 

Visitors must be aged 18 or over and hold a full, valid driving licence to legally drive in Turkey. Riders of mopeds must be at least 17, while motorcyclists must be aged 18 or over. 

Driving licences issued in EU and EEA countries are accepted. International driving permits are recognised but not required unless you’re staying for more than three months. 

In order to stay on the right side of the law, the following documents should always be carried:

• Full, valid UK driving licence
• Proof of ID (passport)
• Motor insurance certificate
• V5 registration document

Yes, you will need a UK sticker on your car to drive in Turkey, even if your vehicle is equipped with EU plates (number-plates that show a circle of 12 stars on a blue background) as Turkey is located outside the EU. 

In addition to essential documents, motorists are also required to carry the following items:

• Two warning triangles inside the car in case you break down
• Headlamp converters (stickers you put on your headlights when you're driving on the right, so your lights don't dazzle motorists coming the other way)
• First-aid kit
• Fire extinguisher
• An 'A' category standard motorbike licence to hire motorcycles over 50cc - if you have an 'A1' category light motorcycle licence you can only hire bikes below 50cc. You must also wear a crash helmet when riding
• Green Card valid for both European and Asian parts of Turkey (this serves as a back-up to your insurance documents and shows you've got the minimum legal level of cover. To find out more, contact your insurance company)

When driving through Europe, be prepared with all the essentials with a European driving kit available to order at RAC Shop. 

Overtaking and passing

In Turkey, motorists drive on the right and overtake on the left. 

According to the Turkish Highway Code, overtaking is forbidden:

• Whenever there is a road sign prohibiting it
• When the vehicle to be overtaken is already overtaking another vehicle
• At intersections, level crossings, bends, on bridges and in tunnels

Care must be taken when overtaking and the horn can be used outside built-up areas if necessary.

Who has priority?

Except where otherwise indicated, priority at intersections must be given to:

• Vehicles coming from the right (but drivers of non-motorised vehicles or vehicles drawn by animals must yield right of way to motor vehicles)
• Vehicles travelling on a main road
• Vehicles already on a roundabout

Warning of approach

You shouldn't use your horn unless it’s absolutely necessary. In certain towns, road signs indicate that the use of the horn is prohibited from 22:00 to sunrise.

Towing in Turkey

If you’re towing a caravan or trailer, you can’t drink any alcohol before getting behind the wheel as the legal limit is 0%.

Seat belt law in Turkey

If seat belts are fitted to your car, they must be worn by the driver and passengers in both the front and rear seats.

The fine for failing to wear a seat belt is set at 108 TL (£10*), reduced to 81 TL (£7.32*) if you pay within 15 days. 

Traffic lights

The international three-colour traffic light system is used in Turkey.

In large towns, there are traffic lights at important intersections.

Turkey uses the metric system for all road signs, meaning speed limits and other road signs including distance are indicated using kilometres and metres. 

Special speed restrictions apply to certain classes of vehicle, including coaches and vehicles with trailers, so check before travel. 

Speeding fines in Turkey depend on how much you’re caught exceeding the speed limit by. 

The penalty is 235 TL (£21*) for exceeding the limit by up to 30%, or 488 TL (£44*) if you’re found to be more than 30% over the limit.

Speed camera detectors

If you have a GPS navigation system that shows you where any fixed speed cameras are, you must deactivate this function. It's illegal to carry or use any radar detection equipment when driving through Turkey.

The driver of the vehicle is responsible for ensuring that all children are wearing a seat belt or appropriate restraint.

Car seats

Children under the age of three may not travel in a vehicle that is not equipped with a child restraint. If they are travelling on the front seat of a vehicle in a rear-facing seat, the airbag must be deactivated.

Children up to 150cm in height and 36kg in weight must be placed in the rear of the vehicle in a child restraint system. 

Children over 150cm can use a seat belt in the rear seat but may not travel in the front seat.

Bike helmet law

Cyclists are recommended to wear a cycle helmet, but it is not compulsory.

Camper vans and cars with caravans are not allowed to exceed 18.75 metres in length, 4 metres in height and 2.55 metres in width.

Loads mustn’t exceed 11.5 tonnes at the driving axle and 10 tonnes at a single axle.

Please note: The Department for Transport advises that A-frames are not legal for use by UK campers and caravanners abroad. In practice, this could mean towing your car while it’s fixed to a trailer.*

On-the-spot fines

Turkish police are able to hand out on-the-spot fines to motorists who violate traffic regulations. The amount of the fine is reduced if it’s paid within 15 days.

Minimum and maximum fines

Fines depend on the severity of the offence committed, ranging from 108 TL (£10*) for a parking violation to 2,869 (£259*) for refusing to take a breath test. 

Regulations

As well as following any restrictions signposted locally, drivers in Turkey should also note that parking is prohibited:

• On pedestrian crossings
• In front of public or private entrances, garages and service stations
• On the left-hand side of the road
• Where it would obstruct vehicles travelling in the opposite direction
• On and near intersections and bends
• In places where visibility is limited
• On bridges and in underpasses and tunnels
• Within 25 metres of danger signs

Parking at night

A vehicle parked at the side of the road after dark must have its sidelights illuminated, whether or not it is occupied. However, this does not apply in built-up areas if the vehicle is visible from a distance of 150 metres.

Enforcement of parking regulations

If a vehicle is parked illegally, a parking fine of 66 TL (£9.50*) could be imposed and the vehicle may be towed away if it’s causing an obstruction. The fine for illegally parking in a parking space reserved for disabled motorists is 132 TL (£19*).

Disabled parking access

There are parking spaces reserved for disabled motorists. These are indicated by the symbol of the wheelchair and can be used by holders of the disabled badge.

Legal limit

The maximum legal limit of alcohol in the blood is 0.05% for drivers of private cars without caravans or trailers. For drivers of all other vehicles, it’s 0%.

Drink-driving test

Drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol may be required to submit to a breathalyser test.

Some motorways in Turkey have tolls imposed. They can no longer be paid for with cash.  

A new electronic payment system called HGS has been introduced in Turkey to replace the old KGS. This system is available in two different options – a windscreen sticker (vignette) or a pre-payment card.

The vignette option allows drivers to pay the toll without stopping at the booth.

Foreign drivers can buy their HGS vignettes or cards at any Turkish post office. They can also get them from service stations or rest areas on the motorway. 

Turkish service areas

There are motorway service areas located across Turkey. 

Availability of fuel

There are plenty of filling stations located across the country that sell petrol, diesel and LPG, even on the most deserted roads.

Not all of the information in the guide above will be relevant to those looking to rent a hire car in Turkey. Though it might be a good idea to read through everything anyway, here are the most important things to know for drivers of rental vehicles:

Rental information

• The minimum age to hire a car is 21
• You need a full, valid UK driving licence and usually a second proof of ID (passport)
• Car rental companies ask that you have held your licence for a minimum term of 1 to 2 years
• A credit card may be required by some companies, it is best to check beforehand
• You may not be able to drive outside of Turkey unless planned in advance - check with your hire company first
• Make sure you get car hire excess insurance before your trip to protect yourself from unexpected costs. It's almost always cheaper to do this with a separate insurer and in advance

Hire car driving tips

• The national speed limit on motorways in Turkey is 120km/h (74 mph). On a main road outside a built-up area it's 90km/h. For built-up areas it’s 50km/h.
• Dial 112 in an emergency
• If seat belts are fitted to your car, they must be worn by both drivers and passengers.
• The blood alcohol content limit for drivers of private vehicles is 0.05%. That's lower than the 0.08% in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, but the same as Scotland

UK Government travel advice

See up-to-date travel advice