Turkey enjoys remarkably scenic landscapes and has played vital historic roles; this, together with long sandy and pebble beaches, attracts millions of foreigners, both as tourists and new residents. Turkey is currently concentrating on strengthening its infrastructure with good roads and other means of transport. Carsharing services are common here. Foreigners often take cars with them to move comfortably, as in their country. That is why the topic of getting and using an existing driving license is relevant for lots of people. In this article we will tell you what rules apply in Turkey in this regard. If you are interested in moving or investing in real estate in Turkey, you can always get a free and detailed consultation from our experts.
Content:
- Important nuances for using a driving license in Turkey
- How to get a driving license in Turkey?
- What a license costs in 2026
- Getting a driving license in Turkey from scratch
- Important nuances when getting a driving license from scratch
- Renting a car: what the rental desk asks for
- Popular questions
- Investing in Turkish real estate
Important nuances for using a driving license in Turkey
Foreigners have the right to drive a car in Turkey for a certain period of time with their valid driving license, which they received in their country. It is equal to 6 months after the visa requirements are fulfilled. At the same time, they must have a photo on the license. If it is not available, the driver must present an international certificate or a special permit (IDL/P).
The six months are counted from entry into the country, and this is a deadline rather than a recommendation. Anyone who stays longer and keeps driving on a national license is, from the traffic police’s point of view, driving without one: that means a fine and the car held until the matter is settled. So the exchange is worth planning as soon as you move, not left for later.
Please note: you can only drive land vehicles with an international driving license. If we are talking about other types of transport, the license must have a notarized translation valid on the territory of Turkey.
The rules for entering Turkey in your own car, how long it may stay in the country and the insurance it needs are covered in a separate article on driving to Turkey.
How to get a driving license in Turkey?
Foreigners with a valid driving license are not required to take the driving license exam. They need to make an appointment on the official website of the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs, as well as contact the Department of Population, setting a date and place of the meeting. The procedure is called tebdil, the replacement of a document. An appointment can be booked at randevu.nvi.gov.tr, through the NVİ Mobil app or by calling 199, and the applicant has to come in person: fingerprints and biometric data are taken, so an application by proxy is not accepted.
The documents for getting a driving license in Turkey that you need to provide are as follows:
- identity ID;
- health certificate;
- document which confirms fee payment for getting a driving license;
- one biometric photo;
- original and color photocopy of the driving license obtained in your country;
- consular or notarized translation of the driving license into Turkish;
- information about the blood type;
- notarized certificate of the foreign citizen’s education, translated into Turkish.
A criminal record certificate is not on the official list of the population directorate for an exchange — it is asked for when enrolling in a driving school, that is, when obtaining a license from scratch. In most offices the blood type is accepted as a verbal declaration.
After a person has submitted the above documents, he or she is issued a new driving license. It is sent to the address the person indicated via PTT, the Turkish state postal service.
What a license costs in 2026
The total is made up of three parts: the duty, the cost of the document itself and a foundation contribution. The last two are the same for everyone; only the duty depends on the class.
| Class | Duty | Document and contribution | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| A, A1, A2, F | 2,239.90 TL | 2,115 TL | 4,354.90 TL (90 $) |
| B — passenger car | 6,754.60 TL | 2,115 TL | 8,869.60 TL (184 $) |
| B1, BE, C, C1, CE, D, D1, DE, G, M | 11,271.20 TL | 2,115 TL | 13,386.20 TL (277 $) |
| Renewal of a new-format license | Not charged | 2,115 TL | 2,115 TL (44 $) |
Converted at 48.33 TL per dollar for September 2026. These amounts are paid both when exchanging a foreign license and when obtaining one from scratch; driving school tuition is charged separately.
Getting a driving license in Turkey from scratch
If you do not have a driving license in Turkey, you are obliged to get it from scratch. To do this, you need to go through some stages:
- enroll in a driving school;
- successfully pass the theory exam;
- pass the driving test;
- get a certificate of academic performance at a driving school;
- submit an application to the Department of Population.
Each vehicle in Turkey has its own license class. A person with a car license cannot drive every vehicle on the roads. There are a total of 17 license classes:
- M, A1, A2, A – for motorcycles;
- B, B1, BE – for cars;
- C1, C1E, C, CE – for trucks;
- D1, D1E, D, DE – for buses and minibuses;
- F – class for tractors;
- G – for working machines.
The most common class is B, an ordinary passenger car up to 3.5 tons. It can be obtained from the age of 18.
Important nuances when getting a driving license from scratch
When enrolling in a driving school under the Ministry of National Education in Turkey, the driver provides a package of documents:
- an identity document or a passport;
- biometric photos;
- a health certificate;
- a criminal record certificate;
- information about the blood type;
- proof of education: at least a primary school certificate, and for a foreigner translated into Turkish and notarized.
A marriage certificate is not required by a driving school, although the item keeps turning up in guides.
After enrolling in a driving school and passing the theory course, the student takes a written exam. The obligatory limit is 70 points. In total, a person can try to pass a written exam four times. If the exam fails for some reason, the student has the right to take it again. The retake is paid for, and the fee is revised every year. The theory is no longer taken on paper: the exam is held at Ministry of Education centers on a tablet or a computer.
There are also four attempts to take the driving test. To do this, you need to write a petition to the Ministry of National Education within 45 days. If these four attempts are unsuccessful, it is necessary to enroll in a driving school again for re-training.
To apply for a driving license, you need to make an appointment online on the website of the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs or by calling the ALO 199 hotline.
The training itself is in Turkish, and the theory exam is taken in Turkish too, which is the main obstacle for those who start from scratch after moving. That is why foreigners who already hold a valid national license almost always choose the exchange instead of studying again.
“The mistake that costs the most is putting off the exchange. After six months a national license simply stops working in Turkey, and people find that out at the first roadside check,” a relocation specialist says.
Renting a car: what the rental desk asks for
While the six months have not run out, a national license is enough for a rental as well. But rental companies add their own requirements on top of the law.
- The minimum age is usually 21, and 25 for the larger classes of car;
- at least a year of driving experience, and two at some companies;
- a bank card in the driver’s name for the deposit, as cash is rarely accepted;
- a passport, or a residence permit card for those living in the country.
What a residence permit gives and how it is obtained is covered in our article on the ikamet in Turkey.
Popular questions
How long can you drive in Turkey on a foreign license?
Six months from entry. After that the document has to be exchanged for a Turkish one, otherwise the trip counts as driving without a license.
Is an exam required for the exchange?
No. The holder of a valid foreign license is not given any exams; the procedure comes down to submitting documents and paying the fees.
How much does the exchange cost?
For class B in 2026 it is 8,869.60 TL (184 $): the duty, the document and the foundation contribution.
Is proof of education needed?
Yes, it is on the official list both for the exchange and for a license from scratch. A foreign school or university certificate is translated into Turkish and notarized.
Can the documents be filed by proxy?
No. The applicant comes in person: fingerprints and biometric data are taken at the office.
Investing in Turkish real estate
Having a car in Turkey is convenient both for families and for individual use. It is easy to travel between cities by car. In addition, you can explore almost the whole of Turkey by car, visit the picturesque Trabzon with lush tea plantations and Alpine landscapes, magical Cappadocia, travel all over Antalya and the Aegean coast. Getting a driving license is a fairly simple procedure, although it has its own characteristics.
Contact us in a way that is convenient for you. We will answer all your questions related to buying a house or apartment in Turkey, getting a residence permit or buying a car.