Driving in Turkey | Rules + Documents + Traffic Fine

Rules of Driving in Turkey are the first thing you should know before rent a car in Istanbul, buying a car, or getting a license in Turkey. Driving in Turkey has difficulties, especially in Istanbul. Because of the crowd and traffic, the Mastery of driving in Istanbul is more important. So, if you plan to drive in Turkey, read this article from the travelling topic website carefully.

Traffic rules in Turkey 

Driving at illegal speed is one of the most dangerous things you can do on Turkish roads because some Turkish roads are not as high quality as European roads. The speed limit on Turkish highways is 120 km/h, and on national roads, 90 km/h; you must follow this law. Otherwise, the police will fine you.

In the following, I will mention the most important driving rules of this country, which I have always followed in Turkey:

• Pedestrians always have the right of way.
• Observing the legal distance with the vehicle in front must always be observed.
• Attention should be paid to traffic lights and traffic signs.
• Seat belts are mandatory for all passengers.
• Pay attention to the speed limit on all streets and roads.
• Do not occupy the overtaking lane (left) in any way.
• Do not drive while drunk.
• Not using mobile phones while driving.
• If vehicles such as an ambulance or fire engine are behind you with sirens, move your vehicle to the right place to open the way for them to pass.

Traffic signs

it is better to familiarize yourself with the traffic signs before driving in Turkey to have a better performance in the implementation of driving laws.

I read about this on Wikipedia and suggest you do the same : Road signs in Turkey

Necessary documents for driving in Turkey

When you drive in Turkey, the license, car insurance, car tax deposit slip, car card, technical inspection, and exhaust inspection card must be with you, and if you don’t have them with you, the police will fine you.

The most traffic accidents in Turkey

Looking at the statistics of 2016, you realize that there were 413,000 traffic accidents in Turkey. Unfortunately, more than 7,000 people have lost their lives in these incidents. The reason for all these accidents is the non-observance of traffic rules.

Here I have mentioned some of the things that cause violations of traffic laws in Turkey:

• Not Using a seat belt 
• Violation of the pedestrian priority law (Pedestrians have the right of way)
• Crossing the red light
• Non-observance of traffic signs
• Having a speed higher than the legal limit
• Drinking alcohol while driving
• Turning to the sides without using the turn signal
• Talking or texting on a cell phone while driving
• Failure to keep a safe distance from vehicles in front
• Not using wheel chains in winter

Receive discounts for traffic offenses in Turkey

Suppose you get a traffic fine in Turkey; if you end up paying it within 15 days, You will get a 25% discount.

How to check traffic violations online

To know the number of traffic violations in Turkey, you can check the fine through the Turkish e-Government system (intvrg.gib.gov.tr) by entering the license plate number. 

How to pay a traffic fine in Turkey

If you have an bank account in Turkey, you can use Turkish credit cards or bank mobile software and pay for driving offenses online. If you pay a traffic fine on the Turkish General Directorate of Roads website, you must wait a little to ensure that your license plate debt is zero after payment.

Fines for cars with foreign license plates can be paid in cash at financial offices, bank branches of this country, and post offices.

Petrol stations in Turkey

All Turkish roads have Petrol stations, and you can easily refuel them. The price of gasoline in some of these stations may vary up to ten percent.

Petrol 95 : 36 Lira
Petrol 98 : 37 Lira
Diesel : 39 lira
Liquid gasoline gas (LPG) : 16 lira

Car preparation for travel

I have reviewed the following tips before the road trip in Turkey, and I suggest you Check them:

1. Check the Tire pressure
2. Checking machine oils
3. Checking the radiator water level
4. Checking the air filter
5. Check the brake system
6. Check battery
7. Check the lights
8. Checking the heating system and cooling

All in all

If you plan to drive in Turkey, you should be careful about the abovementioned points. Do not act against Turkish driving while going, as the police will penalize you.

Frequently Asked Questions