Having your own car is always an advantage. It gives you freedom of movement and makes everyday life more comfortable. Owners or real estate in Turkey need a car to work or travel while enjoying the beautiful views of the sea and mountains. However, buying a car is a crucial step. Therefore, we have prepared an article on how a foreigner can buy a car in Turkey and whether it is worth it.
Content:
- A car in Turkey: possible solutions for foreigners
- What do foreigners need to know before buying a car?
- Importing a car to Turkey
- Conditions for importing a car with foreign licence plates to Turkey
- How to buy a car in Turkey?
- How can a foreigner buy a new car in Turkey?
- Stages of buying a new car
- Buying a used car
- Stages of buying a used car
- Features of buying a car in Turkey
- Car rental
- Car maintenance in Turkey
- Is it possible to buy a car in Turkey for a foreigner?
A car in Turkey: possible solutions for foreigners
There are several ways to purchase a car in the Republic of Turkey:
- Enter the country by your transport with foreign licence plates;
- Purchase a new one;
- Buy a used car;
- Purchase it from a foreigner;
- Rent it.
Each of them will allow you to enjoy your car and freedom of movement. However, all these ways have their own peculiarities. If it is important for you to have a personal transport, you need to study the subtleties of buying and renting a vehicle before choosing a way to get it. First, you have to find out if you really need a car.
What do foreigners need to know before buying a car?
A personal car in Turkey is not only a means of transport but also a luxury. This is the country’s official position, so car owners have special conditions here. Buying and maintaining a vehicle is quite expensive. Therefore, you need to pay attention to the following points:
- Your future expenses and initial budget. As a buyer of a new car, you will have to pay the ÖTV luxury tax (Özel Tüketim Vergisi) and an annual tax, the amount of which depends on the age of your vehicle. You also need to pay for its registration and insure it. Petrol in this country is one of the world’s most expensive. You also need to take into account various maintenance costs, etc. The amount is impressive, and you should compare it with the money you want to spend. It often happens that purchasing your own transport is financially unprofitable. Read more about how to maintain a car below.
- Your real need to have your own transport. This point depends on your needs, work and lifestyle. People who live permanently in the country decide to buy a car. However, if you want to use your own vehicle, there are more profitable ways to travel, for example, public transport. Moreover, various options to import and resell vehicles for profit in Turkey are unlikely to be successful.
- If you cannot imagine your life without personal transport, you should pay special attention to the car model and the method of its purchase. Your expenses will directly depend on these options, and you will definitely succeed with a competent approach to choosing the right one.
So, buying a vehicle in Turkey is a search for a balance between meeting your needs and high costs. If you find this point of balance, you may find it very convenient to own a private car. Therefore, you should consider different options for how to buy private transport in the country with the lowest costs.
Importing a car to Turkey
A car with foreign licence plates
Being a foreigner, you can enter the country by your car. However, there is an important condition: you need to leave Turkey for a total of at least 185 days during the year. If you do not meet this requirement or have not been abroad for a total of 185 days in the past year, you will be denied entry to the country by your vehicle with foreign licence plates.
If you have completed the documents correctly and your residence permit is valid during this period, your car with foreign licence plates can stay in the country for 730 days, or two years. This period was 360 days some time ago. If you have a tourist visa, your transport can stay in the country for up to 90 days. If you want to stay in the Republic of Turkey longer, you need to obtain or extend your residence permit.
You can arrive in the country by any transport, no matter when it was released and what model it is.
To enter the country by car, a foreigner needs:
- A driving licence;
- A vehicle technical passport and a vehicle registration certificate;
- An identity card or a residence permit;
- A power of attorney or a car rental agreement;
- Insurance valid in Turkey. It is not available, the document can be issued at customs;
- Pensioners must have a notarized pension certificate translated into Turkish;
- A document confirming that the persons who transport cars belonging to the organization are employees or partners of this company. This official paper must be translated into Turkish and certified by a consulate or notary.
If you decide to import your vehicle temporarily, you will not be able to rent or sell it.
Conditions for importing a car with foreign licence plates to Turkey
This method is more suitable for those who are in the country temporarily or for rest. It is easier and more profitable to rent or buy a car in Turkey for permanent residence, study or work.
How to buy a car in Turkey?
Anyone can own a vehicle in the Republic of Turkey. Prices for cars are quite high here, as are taxes on them. For example, when purchasing, you will have to pay the ÖTV luxury tax, which ranges from 45% to 220% of the cost of the vehicle depending on its engine capacity. You will also have to pay VAT, or KDV – 18%, and an annual transport fee. Moreover, you will pay road tax, insurance, inspection and maintenance. The costs are considerable, and choosing the right way to purchase a car by a foreigner will help reduce them.
How can a foreigner buy a new car in Turkey?
A new car: a foreigner purchases a car in the Republic of Turkey
Foreigners can choose a model, brand and type of transport. To purchase a car, you will need:
- A passport;
- A residence permit;
- An INN;
- A notarized power of attorney to register the car in the local administration (Trafik tescil sube) for a representative in a dealership. To issue a power of attorney, the passport must be translated and notarized.
- Compulsory car insurance.
Local dealerships and dealer websites in the zone .tr will help you choose the right model and navigate the prices.
If you have chosen a vehicle, you can purchase it by card or in cash. You do not need to draw up a contract in this case. The buyer signs only the package list. As a rule, the price includes road insurance. The client also has the opportunity to purchase full hull insurance.
After the purchase, you need to contact the traffic police for paperwork and obtaining licence plates for your car. After that, you can pick it up and start using it.
Stages of buying a new car
The procedure will take 3–4 days if you make a deal with an authorized dealer and the model is available in the dealership. If this model is absent, you will have to wait about a month.
Buying a used car
Foreign citizens have the opportunity to purchase not only a new vehicle, but also a used one. You can find this option in private ads or among your friends. This transaction must be notarized. You will need:
- A passport translated and notarized;
- A residence permit;
- A Turkish INN;
- Sworn translator services.
You can pay for all services at the notary office. You must contact the traffic police with the documents received from the notary. They will issue all the necessary documents and insurance that will allow you to get new licence plates.
Stages of buying a used car
Purchasing a car from a foreigner
A foreigner has another way to become the owner of a personal vehicle in Turkey — it is to purchase it from another foreign national. An important advantage of this option is the exemption from the transport tax. However, you can use this opportunity under the following conditions:
- If you have a work permit in the country or a diplomatic status, you can purchase a car.
- You do not have to pay the tax, but you should have money for it. The fact is that when buying, a foreigner must open a deposit in a Turkish bank for the amount of this tax. The bank keeps this money during the entire period of using this vehicle. In case of violations and illegal actions, the owner may lose his deposit.
- You need to obtain special licence plates.
- If you need to go away from the country, before leaving, you need to contact customs and issue a commitment document indicating the address where you will leave your transport.
- When your work visa expires, you will have to sell your car within three months.
Features of buying a car in Turkey
Anyone who plan to become the owner of their own car should familiarize themselves with some of the features of owning transport in the Republic of Turkey:
- Foreigners receive special licence plates. They begin with the letter M, which indicates that the vehicle belongs to a non-Turkish citizen ("misafir", i.e. "guest").
- If the car owner is a Turkish citizen, anyone who has a driving licence can drive this vehicle. The owner does not have a power of attorney in this case. However, if the owner is a foreigner, he cannot grant anyone the right to drive his transport even by proxy. However, when registering, you can grant your family members the right to drive your car.
Car rental
An easy way to get transport for personal use without buying is to rent it. There are a lot of such services in Turkey. These are both large network companies and local agencies. The average rental cost per day is $37–$53. When renting a car for a long time, the daily cost is reduced. Prices also vary depending on the season, vehicle class, gearbox type, etc. To rent a private transport, it is enough to have a foreign passport (an ordinary passport is also suitable), a driving licence and a deposit card.
Car maintenance in Turkey
The main expenses for cars are taxes, insurance and fuel.
Fuel cost
Petrol prices in the country are among the highest in the world. Taxes and excise duties account for 70% of the fuel cost. The average price of 1 liter of petrol is 22.68 TRY/1.00 EUR. These prices vary depending on the gas station, region and petrol brand.
Diesel fuel or gas will be more economical options. The average cost of these types of fuel is TRY 20.25/EUR 0.90 and TRY 11.10/EUR 0.49, respectively.
Taxes
When buying, you must pay a luxury tax (ÖTV) and a value added tax (KDV). The first one depends on the engine capacity and ranges from 45% to 220% of the vehicle cost. Turkish VAT is 18%.
Car owners also have to pay an annual transport tax. It depends on the age of the vehicle.
Insurance
Owners must have a Green Card or an international insurance policy for their cars with foreign licence plate. Your home country or customs can provide you with this insurance.
Is it possible to buy a car in Turkey for a foreigner?
As you can see, there are several ways for foreign citizens to buy a car in the Republic of Turkey. Which one to choose depends on circumstances, goals, budget and other factors. If you are planning to move to this country for permanent residence, before you buy a private transport, you should think about purchasing your own real estate, for example, an apartment in Turkey or a house in Turkey.
You can find the right housing option right away on our website. The best offers from Turkish developers, trusted agencies and private sellers are at your service. Having your own housing will allow you to obtain a residence permit in the country, and this is a prerequisite for purchasing a car. Start searching your property in Turkey today!