Destinations / Turkey
Driving in Turkey as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. An IDP is recommended and often requested to rent a car in Türkiye.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Turkey expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 112 |
| Top speed limit | 140 km/h otoyol motorways |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Check the desk policy for your issuing country and licence script. A translation accompanies the licence and never replaces an official permit. |
| Booklet format they know | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in TRY. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Tolls | HGS/OGS electronic tolls on motorways and bridges. |
|---|---|
| Seatbelts | Headlights and seatbelts mandatory. |
| Alcohol | 0.05% alcohol limit; zero if towing. |
| Documents | Carry passport, licence and IDP. |
On the road in Turkey
At the pump
Stations are attendant-served; petrol is 'benzin' (95 octane Kursunsuz) and diesel is 'motorin', both among Europe's pricier fuels at roughly 45-50 TL per litre. Cards are accepted everywhere.
After a crash
Call 112 (single emergency number) and, on any injury or disagreement, the traffic police (155). Do not move the vehicles until police arrive unless they block traffic dangerously; a police report ('kaza tutanagi') is needed for insurance.
Sources: turing.tr · tollguru.com · turkiyetoday.com · avis.co.uk
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Turkey?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. An IDP is recommended and often requested to rent a car in Türkiye.
Which translation format is used for Turkey?
Turkey uses the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in Turkey ask for a translation?
Requested for non-Latin-script and non-EU licences.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Turkey?
The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay, 30 minutes as standard and 5 with Express.
Also in Middle East
Driving on to another country on the same trip? Each page states what that destination expects.