Driving in Turkey

Driving License

You can drive in Turkey if you hold an EU, US or International Driving License. Keep your passport, driving license and insurance documents of the vehicle with you in the car at all times. You will need them if you are involved in an accident.   

Basics

Turkey boasts of a good network of roads, most of which, particularly in urban areas, are well maintained. Road signs within the country conform to the International Protocol on Road Signs and yellow signs indicate historic and archaeological sites.

According to Turkish Law, driving is on the right, as in continental Europe. 

Speed limits to be adhered to are:

     - 50 km per hour: within urban centers

     - 90 km per hour: outside urban centers

     - 120 km: on Motorways 

It is fairly easy to locate petrol stations. Most petrol stations on main highways are open 24 hours. They are quite modern and you will find that there are restaurants and other facilities attached. Unleaded (kurşunsuz) petrol is also easily available. If you are looking for a place to service your vehicle, you will find that garages for repairs are concentrated on certain streets within most towns. Many others can be found on highways.

Warnings

As a visitor or new entrant in the country, something that could prove to be unnerving is that some highways in Turkey only have two lanes. Some other highways like the one connecting Ankara to Istanbul are broader. They also offer better road conditions but tend to be crowded with trucks and heavy vehicles. You will have to slow down to drive safely.  

If you are in Istanbul, even crossing the street is pretty dangerous. Traffic conditions are bad and you will be surprised to note that there is scant regard for traffic regulations. If you think things by night will be different, that too would be a big mistake. Be alert and don't think it's safe to cross just because the light says so.

In Case Of An Accident 

No matter how trivial an accident you may be involved in, always wait until the police have arrived. All accidents must be reported to the police or gendarme and the report certified by the nearest local authority. To call the traffic police: Trafik Polisi (Traffic Police), Tel 154; Jandarma (Gendarme), Tel 156.

Take the vehicle to a garage for repair only after you have informed the customs authority. You will have to attach a copy of the certified report to your application. If your vehicle is beyond repair and you wish to leave it behind in the country, deliver it to the nearest customs office. Only then will the registration of your vehicle on your passport be cancelled.