Traffic Fines in Turkey & How to Pay (2026)

In the Turkish legal system, administrative fines are not subject to arbitrary determination; they are increased annually in proportion to the Revaluation Rate (YDO) announced by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, pursuant to Article 298 of the Tax Procedure Law.

Based on data released in late 2025, the YDO for 2026 has been finalized at 25.49%. This rate has been used as a “multiplier” in calculating traffic fines, causing the previous year’s fine amounts to increase by approximately 1.25 times.

From an economic perspective, the primary motivation for this increase is not merely inflationary adjustment. It also aims to change driver behavior toward rule compliance within the framework of “rational choice theory” by increasing the cost (opportunity cost) of violating traffic rules. For instance, the “drifting” fine, which has reached the 58,217 TL level, is well above the average income level, indicating that this violation has ceased to be a simple misdemeanor and carries a serious risk of economic ruin.

Violations of the Highway Traffic Law and 2026 Sanctions

In this section, violations that are most frequently encountered in traffic, which directly threaten public safety, and which have the highest increase rates in 2026, have been analyzed alongside the full texts of the relevant law articles.

1. Penalty for Driving Without a License (Article 36)

A driver’s license is an official authorization document proving to the state that an individual has the competence to drive a vehicle. The absence of this document constitutes an “abstract danger” crime in terms of traffic safety.

Full Text of the Law Article:ARTICLE 36 – (Amended: 12/7/2013-6495/15 art.)

It is prohibited for motor vehicles to be driven on highways by persons who do not possess a driver’s license, and for such persons to be permitted to drive.

In the event that it is detected via license plate or image that:

• Those without a driver’s license,

• Those whose driver’s licenses have been temporarily or precautiously withdrawn by Courts or Public Prosecutor’s Offices or by authorities specified in this Law,

• Those whose driver’s licenses have been cancelled,

  Are driving in traffic; an administrative fine shall be imposed on them and on the owners of the registration plate (if the registration plate does not belong to the driver) by the traffic police pursuant to the third paragraph of Article 36 of Law No. 2918.

  (Amended paragraph: 18/10/2018-7148/18 art.) Administrative fines are imposed on drivers and vehicle owners who act contrary to the provisions of this article. If the driver is not also the vehicle owner, a penalty report for the same amount is also issued to the owner of the registration plate.

Legal Analysis and 2026 Implementation:

Article 36 has become one of the articles with the highest financial sanction power in 2026. The legislator has adopted a “double penalty” (a structure similar to joint and several liability) system to prevent unlicensed driving.

• Scope of Violation: The three groups listed in the text of the article (those with no license at all, those whose licenses were seized, those whose licenses were cancelled) are subject to the same sanction. That is, a driver caught behind the wheel after losing their license for drunk driving and a 16-year-old unlicensed child caught driving require the same penalty under Article 36.

• 2026 Fine Amount: The fine amount, which was 18,678 TL in 2025, has risen to 23,439 TL with a 25.49% increase.

• Vehicle Owner’s Liability: The most critical paragraph of the article is the phrase “to drivers and vehicle owners.” If the person behind the wheel and the license holder are different, a fine of 23,439 TL is issued to both separately. In this case, the total amount to be paid reaches 46,878 TL.

• Implementation Example: If a rent-a-car company rents a vehicle to a customer whose license has been temporarily seized and the customer enters a police checkpoint, a fine is applied to both the customer and the company (license holder).

• Recidivism: In case of repetition (re-commission) of the Article 36 violation, there is a risk of opening a judicial investigation pursuant to Article 179 of the Turkish Penal Code in addition to the administrative fine.

Status of Foreign Drivers:

The Convention on Road Traffic, to which Turkey is a party, and national legislation allow foreigners to drive vehicles for a certain period.

• Highway Traffic Regulation Article 88 – paragraph (b): Vehicles may be driven for a maximum of six months from the date of entry into our country. At the end of six months, it is mandatory to exchange the driver’s license obtained from foreign countries with our country’s driver’s license.

2. Obligation to Comply with Traffic Signs and Rules (Article 47)

Traffic order is a set of rules based on a certain hierarchy. Article 47 regulates this hierarchy and the basic directives to be followed.

Legal Analysis and 2026 Implementation:

• 47/1-a (Non-compliance with Police Warning): Not complying with the traffic police’s “STOP” warning. 2026 Fine: 2,719 TL. (Penalty Points: 20).

• 47/1-b (Red Light Violation): It is a violation monitored 24/7 with EDS. 2026 Fine: 2,719 TL. (Penalty Points: 20).

• 47/1-c and 47/1-d (Signs and General Rules): Parking bans, mandatory direction signs, etc. 2026 Fine: 1,246 TL. (Penalty Points: 20).

3. Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Drugs (Article 48)

The application of Article 48 has been severely tightened in 2026 in terms of both financial and administrative measures.

A. Drunk Driving Penalties (Graduated System):

• First Capture: 11,629 TL fine + License suspended for 6 months.

• Second Capture: 14,584 TL fine + License suspended for 2 years.

• Third and More: 23,437 TL fine + License suspended for 5 years.

B. Drugs and Stimulants:

There is no promille limit; detection is sufficient. 2026 Fine: 60,037 TL. License suspended for 5 years.

C. Refusal of Measurement (Not Blowing into Device):

Driver refusing to blow into the breathalyzer or drug-test device. 2026 Fine: 33,317 TL. License suspended for 2 years.

4. Speed Limit Violation (Radar) Penalties (Article 51)

Due to the effect of kinetic energy on accident severity, speed violations are subject to a penalty system graduated according to their rates.

Legal Analysis and 2026 Implementation:

Legal tolerance is 10%.

• Between 10% – 30% (51/2-a): 2,719 TL (10 Points).

• Between 30% – 50% (51/2-b): 5,662 TL (15 Points).

• 50% and Above (51/2-c): 11,629 TL (15 Points).

5. Drifting and Dangerous Maneuver Penalty (Article 67)

For the act known among the public as “sideways driving” or “drifting,” the 2026 Fine has been determined as 58,217 TL. Additionally, the license is suspended for 60 days and the vehicle is banned from traffic for 60 days.

2026 Traffic Fines Full List (Table)

Traffic Fine Payment, Discount and Periods

Early Payment Discount (25%) and New Periods

If payment is made within 1 month from the notification date of the traffic administrative fine decision report, a 25% discount is applied to the fine amount.Calculation Example (2026): If a fine of 2,719 TL is paid within 1 month, it is collected as 2,039 TL.

Late Fee and Interest

If the fine is not paid within 1 month from the notification date, a 5% late interest is applied for each month. The total interest cannot exceed twice the principal fine.

How to Object to a Traffic Fine?

If you think that an unfair traffic fine has been applied to you, you have the right to object to the fine by applying to the Criminal Judgeship of Peace within 15 days from the date of notification. You can review our article titled “How to Appeal a Traffic Ticket in Turkey (2026)” to get comprehensive information about the objection period, the competent court, and necessary petition samples.

Conclusion

In conclusion; it is of vital importance for drivers who will be in traffic in 2026 to be aware of the heavy financial obligations introduced by Law No. 2918.

Legal Warning: This article has been prepared for informational purposes in line with current legislation and publicly available sources. It is recommended to rely on professional legal support in legal disputes.