How Can You Ship a Car to Turkey?

You have two options to ship your vehicle to Turkey. The first one is you can come in your car. The other one is someone can transfer it for you or a proxy of you can bring it to Turkey on your behalf.

In 2021, more than 30 million foreigners visited Turkey. This number was two times higher than the previous year. Many of them used public transport and other transportation facilities such as buses, high-speed trains, or planes.

However, traveling with a personal vehicle is more comfortable and enjoyable. If you want to travel to Turkey in your car, we have prepared a guidebook to inform you about how can you bring your car to Turkey.

Shipping a Car to Turkey

Foreigners can drive to Turkey from their countries or they can ship their cars to Turkey. To bring or ship your car to Turkey, the vehicle must be registered to your name in your home country where you live.

People of the European Union and European Free Trade Association countries can bring their vehicles. However, the vehicle must be registered in one of the European Union and European Free Trade Association countries.

If you want to bring your car from your country, there are some conditions you need to fulfill. These are;

• You must have a minimum of 185 days of stay in your country within the past year,
• You should have a driving license and the residency card of your country,
• You should have an insurance policy that is valid in Turkey.

Cars with foreign number plates can be used for a maximum of 24 months in Turkey. The vehicle must be taken back out of Turkey at the end of this period. Another important note is, that only the owner of the car can drive it or he/she must be present in the car if someone else is driving. Otherwise, legal action is applied.

Foreign driving licenses are valid for six months in Turkey. If you want to stay for more than six months, you have to get a driving license in Turkey.

It is good to know the following information if you are planning to bring your car from your country to Turkey.

• The requirement of staying abroad for 185 days at each entrance is checked by the customs administration. You can check turkiye.gov.tr to get the information on entry & exit. The requirement of staying abroad for 185 days must be met at every entry.
• Turkish citizens who return to Turkey forever cannot bring their vehicles temporarily. Since their residency is conveyed to Turkey.
• Turkish citizens living abroad and foreigners with a residence permit in Turkey can use foreign-plated vehicles at no charge for up to 2 years (730 days).
• Foreigners may keep their cars in Turkey till the end of their residency provided that it does not exceed 730 days.
• Foreigners without a residence permit are given a total of 90 days in 180 days.
• Vehicles of legal persons have up to 30 days if they are brought to Turkey with power of attorney.
• Rented cars are allowed as long as a rental agreement or residence permit. It cannot exceed 730 days.
• Vehicles brought abroad can be used by the permit holder. They have to register in the vehicle program. (spouse, parent, or child must have a certificate of identity register copy, passport, etc., and documents proving their residence abroad.)
• Persons other than the permit holder cannot use the vehicle, even if they have power of attorney. Power of attorney taken from Turkey or abroad for permission to use a vehicle other than the right owner is invalid.
• It is compulsory to apply to the nearest customs office to go abroad if you are leaving the vehicle in Turkey.
• Foreign-plated vehicles in Turkey can not be sold to another person.

Note: The time given to the vehicle can be used at once or in parts.

• There are penal sanctions in cases such as changing parts of the vehicle without permission. Repair needed vehicle can be repaired in a place deemed appropriate. The repair progression must be under the supervision of customs.
• People of the European Union and European Free Trade Association countries have one month, once within 365 days.
• The people who have the vehicles already in Turkey can not benefit from this given time. The people who benefit from this one-month time have to certify residence in European Union and European Free Trade Union countries.
• For retired people, there is no 185 days requirement for vehicles brought to Turkey first time.
• When retired people, who did not use 730 days in Turkey, want to enter Turkey, they can benefit from the remaining time. 185 days living in abroad condition is not required.
• People who left Turkey and came back within 185 days, can benefit from the remaining time.
• People, who came to Turkey with their vehicles, want to re-enter Turkey, the spent time is deducted from 90 days, and the rest of the time is allowed.

Required documents to bring a vehicle to Turkey from abroad are as follows;

• Certificate of ownership (license) showing that the vehicle is registered in the country of residence,
• The driver's license of the person bringing the vehicle,
• Depending on the situation, a document showing foreign residence (passport, identity card, residence permit),
• Valid traffic insurance policy in Turkey,
• Passport of the person or identity document substituting a passport,
• For retirees from abroad, a retirement document, attested by the consulate or embassy is translated to Turkish.
• Depending on the situation, valid power of attorney, or rental agreement,
• A document with a Turkish translation certified by a notary or consulate is needed. The person, who brought the legal entity’s car, must be a partner or employee of the company.

Note: Customs registration of vehicles is not subject to any fees.

Note: 15 days before departure time the owner can complete the “Vehicle Pre-Declaration Application” through the “E-Transaction” menu on “E-Devlet”. Therefore, the process at customs gates won’t take a long time.

Bringing Another Person’s Vehicle

The owner or the proxy must be living abroad. They have to submit their addresses. Or, the vehicle can be rented. In either condition, the vehicle can be brought to Turkey if;

• There is a power of attorney accepted by the embassy, consulate, notary, or customs. Otherwise, the owner of the vehicle is present at the entrance customs administration.
• There is a document issued by real persons and attested by official authorities such as a custom, municipality, security directorate or court,
• A rental agreement is submitted for vehicles brought by renting a car.

For vehicles belonging to legal entities; a power of attorney containing the signature and approval of the owner or Board of Directors is required. On the other hand, the person, who brought the vehicle has to prove that he/she is a partner or employee of the company.

Notary or consulate certified translations of the mentioned documents should also be submitted to the customs.

FAQ

Q: Do I need an IDP to drive in Turkey?
A: No, you don’t need it. You can drive with your country's driving license for six months. If you stay longer, you should apply for a Turkish driving license.

Q: What is the cheapest way to ship a car?
A: It depends on your country and how to bring your vehicle. However, there is no cost for Custom registration.

Q: What is the best way to ship a car?
A: It depends on your country's location. If you will bring your vehicle from an overseas country, sea transportation may be the best option. On the other hand, you can bring your vehicle driving.

Q: Is it safe to drive in Turkey?
A: Yes, it is. There are traffic signs and cameras on many roads to keep order in traffic.

Q: Is it easy to drive in Turkey?
A: Yes, it is as long as you obey the traffic rules. There are lots of signs on the roads to inform you. Also, Turkey has lots of new roads, and highways to provide easy access to every part of the country.

Berk Çetin

AUTHORBerk ÇetinDigital Marketing Supervisor

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