Can Foreigners Drive in Turkey? (2025)

Yes, foreign nationals can drive in the Republic of Turkey. However, this right is strictly tied to specific legal durations and administrative conditions. Driving in Turkey with a foreign driver’s license should fundamentally be evaluated under two different scenarios:

1. Short-Term / Tourist Use: Covers the first six-month period from the date of entry into Turkey.

2. Long-Term / Residence Status: Includes the legal obligations and procedures that arise for stays longer than six months.

According to the Highways Traffic Regulation, non-Turkish foreign nationals can use their driver’s licenses obtained from foreign countries for a maximum of 6 (six) months from their date of entry into Turkey. At the end of this six-month period, it is a legal requirement to convert (tebdil) the existing foreign driver’s license to a Turkish driver’s license to continue driving in Turkey.

Being unaware of this distinction can cause foreigners to unknowingly fall into “unlicensed driver” status after six months and face serious legal sanctions.

Short-Term (Tourist) Driving: The 6-Month Rule and Conditions

Turkey’s participation in the Highway Traffic Convention and related national legislation permits foreigners to drive for a specific period.

Legal Basis: Highways Traffic Regulation Article 88

The legal basis for the 6-month rule is clearly defined in Article 88 of the Highways Traffic Regulation:

Highways Traffic Regulation Article 88 – (b) clause

Foreign nationals driving in our country with driver’s licenses obtained from foreign countries:

1. A copy of the driver’s license, along with its notarized or consulate-approved Turkish translation, shall be kept with the driver’s license and presented upon request.

2. They can drive for a maximum of six months from the date of entry into our country.

3. At the end of six months, to be able to drive in our country, it is mandatory to replace the driver’s license obtained from foreign countries with our country’s driver’s license.

This period begins from the foreigner’s last date of entry into Turkey (as stamped in the passport).

Document Requirements for the First 6 Months

During this legal period, foreign drivers are required to present the following documents upon a traffic inspection:

• Valid Original Driver’s License: The original, valid license from their home country.

• Passport: To confirm the date of entry into Turkey and to match the identity with the driver’s license.

• Translation: In addition to the original license, the following is required:

  • A notarized or consulate-approved Turkish translation of the foreign driver’s license.

Long-Term Stays (Over 6 Months) and the Requirement to Convert (Tebdil)

When the 6-month legal usage period… expires for a foreign national, their foreign driver’s license becomes legally invalid for driving in Turkey.

As stated by the Highways Traffic Regulation, at the end of 6 months, it is a legal requirement to convert (Tebdil) the foreign license to a Turkish driver’s license to continue driving. Continuing to drive without this conversion after the 6-month period has the same legal consequences as “driving without a license.”

License Conversion: Country Categories

Whether a foreign driver’s license can be converted to a Turkish license after 6 months depends on whether the issuing country is party to international agreements.

Category 1: Countries Party to the Highway Traffic Convention (Conversion without Exam)

Turkey is party to the 1968 Vienna Highway Traffic Convention. Driver’s licenses obtained from countries that are party to this convention can be directly converted to a Turkish driver’s license without needing to take any theoretical or practical exams.

Table of Countries Party to the Highway Traffic Convention (Eligible for Conversion)

The following table shows the countries whose licenses can be converted in Turkey without an exam, according to data from the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (NVİ).

Source: General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs

How to Convert (Tebdil) a Foreign Driver’s License

This section details the administrative procedures for foreign nationals whose driver’s license is from one of the (Category 1) countries listed in the table above.

Authorized Institution and Appointment

The conversion of foreign driver’s licenses is handled by the District Civil Registry Offices (Nüfus Müdürlükleri), under the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (NVİ). Applicants must make an appointment via the website https://randevu.nvi.gov.tr or the Alo 199 call center under the category “Driver’s License-Foreign Driver’s License Conversion (Tebdil)” before appearing in person.

Required Documents for Conversion (Checklist)

The following documents must be submitted completely and currently during the application at the Civil Registry Office:

• Identity Document: Valid Passport or a Residence Permit Card issued by the Republic of Turkey.

• Foreign Driver’s License: The original and a color photocopy of the foreign license to be converted.

• Certified Translation: A notarized or consulate-approved Turkish translation of the foreign driver’s license.

• Driver’s Health Report: A current health report from an authorized hospital or private clinic stating “Can Drive.”

• Biometric Photo: 1 biometric photo taken within the last 6 months.

• Payment Receipts: Receipts for the driver’s license fee and foundation fee, paid to the tax office or partner banks before the application.

• Blood Type: A document indicating blood type or a verbal declaration.

• Education Certificate: Notarized Turkish translation of education diplomas obtained from abroad.

• Criminal Record Certificate: (This is checked automatically via the system).

Other Important Legal Obligations and Rules

The Most Common Mistake: Vehicle Stay (2 Years) vs. License Validity (6 Months)

One of the most common and costly legal mistakes foreigners make in Turkey is confusing the period a foreign-plated vehicle can stay in Turkey with the validity period of the foreign driver’s license.

• Vehicle Stay Period: Under certain conditions (e.g., being resident abroad), foreigners can bring their personal foreign-plated vehicles to Turkey temporarily for up to 730 days (2 years).

• License Validity Period: However, the foreign license that grants the right to drive that car is only valid for 6 months.

The intersection of these two different laws creates a dangerous situation: A foreigner in their 7th month, while legally driving their 2-year permitted vehicle, falls into the status of an unlicensed driver because their 6-month license validity has expired. This situation leads to the loss of all insurance rights and heavy legal penalties in the event of an accident.

Furthermore, a foreign-plated vehicle can only be driven in Turkey by the person who brought it in and their first-degree relatives (spouse, mother, father, and children) who are also resident abroad.

Basic Traffic Rules (Inspection, HGS, Insurance)

Foreign drivers are subject to the same traffic rules and legal obligations as Turkish citizens while driving in Turkey:

• Vehicle Inspection: All vehicles on Turkish roads, including foreign-plated ones, must undergo periodic vehicle inspection (TÜVTÜRK).

• Toll Systems (HGS/OGS): The use of HGS (Fast Pass System) is mandatory for toll highways and bridges in Turkey.

• Compulsory Traffic Insurance: A valid traffic insurance (or a Green Card insurance with international validity for foreign vehicles) is an absolute requirement to drive in Turkey.