Rules for importing a car to Turkey

Turkey attracts many tourists and expats, some of whom prefer to transport their cars. However, the process of importing a car into this country has its own peculiarities and rules. This new article looks at the key aspects of importing a car into Turkey.

Turkish law allows free importation of cars with foreign license plates, but a number of conditions must be taken into account. According to the Turkish Ministry of Commerce, a foreigner needs to:

• be outside Turkey for at least 185 days during the last year;
• have a place of residence abroad;
• have one road license plate registered in the place of residence.

Period of car stay

• Turkish citizens permanently residing abroad and foreign citizens with a residence permit in Turkey are allowed to keep and use their cars with foreign license plates in the country for 2 years (730 days);
• Foreign nationals who do not have a residence permit in Turkey are granted a period of 90 days within 180 days;
• If vehicles owned by legal entities are imported into Turkey by power of attorney, a period of up to 90 days is granted;
• The period granted to the vehicle can be used all at once or in installments.