Author: Luxury Estate Turkey
Viewed 59 times
03 December 2025
Many wonder whether a foreigner can buy a car in Turkey, and the answer depends on how Turkish law distinguishes between the purchase itself and full registration. Requirements, restrictions, and legal nuances differ from what many foreigners are used to, and much depends on your status: whether you have a residence permit, plan to stay long term, or intend to use a car only temporarily.
There are several legal models for buying and owning a car in Turkey as a foreigner, each with its own logic, time limits, and operating rules. This guide explains which documents you need, how taxes and insurance work, and what rules apply when a foreigner drives and owns a car in Turkey.
This is the first question every foreigner asks when they start thinking about buying a car in Turkey. Formally, the purchase itself is straightforward — the complexity begins later, at the registration and ongoing use stages. To avoid confusion, it is important to separate two things: the transaction and the right to full legal ownership with proper registration.
Yes, the purchase itself is available to a foreigner even without a Turkish residence permit. Notaries can formalise the deal using a foreign passport and Turkish tax number (Vergi Numarası).
Without a residence permit, you can:
sign a sale and purchase agreement
pay for the car
become its lawful owner
However, buying a car and registering it for regular use are two different procedures.
When it comes to the registration of a foreign car in Turkey, the law is much stricter.
Permanent registration without a residence permit is not possible: to complete a standard registration and obtain regular Turkish licence plates, you need not only your passport, but also a valid residence permit.
Only residence permit holders receive a Foreigners’ Identification Number (Yabancı Kimlik No, YKN), necessary for a standard vehicle registration certificate (Ruhsat) and Turkish plates to be issued by the traffic police.
In practice, this means:
you cannot properly register the car in your name as a resident
you will not have “standard” long-term registration linked to your address of residence
The car may be legally considered your property, but you cannot use it for an extended period in the usual way. Vehicle inspection, insurance, and annual taxes are all linked to your legal status in the country — the system is designed for owners who live in Turkey legally and on a permanent or long-term basis.
When buying a car in Turkey as a foreigner, the notary process follows a clear legal structure. The standard set of documents includes:
Passport and residence permit: If you hold a Turkish residence permit, you must present the original card and provide your Yabancı Kimlik No. If you do not have a residence permit, your foreign passport is used together with a notarised Turkish translation.
Tax number (Vergi Numarası): Issued free of charge by the tax office based on your passport. If you already have a Foreigners’ ID number (YKN), a separate Vergi Numarası is not required.
Sale and purchase agreement (Noter Satış Senedi): The notary prepares and certifies the contract.
Vehicle registration certificate (Ruhsat): Provided by the seller.
Compulsory traffic insurance (Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası): This insurance must be arranged before the transaction is finalised.
Invoice (fatura) and certificate of conformity: Required when buying a new car.
Buyer’s photograph: Notary offices in Turkey usually request a photo of the buyer for the documentation.
If you do not speak Turkish, a sworn interpreter is required at the notary.
After signing the contract, the notary issues the Noter Satış Beyannamesi and enters the data into the electronic system ASBİS, the national vehicle registry. The next step is registration with the traffic police (Trafik Tescil Şube Müdürlüğü), where Turkish licence plates are issued.
In addition to the cost of the car itself, the buyer incurs related expenses:
notary fees (typically 0.5–1% of the car’s value, with a minimum threshold of about 300–500 TRY)
registration fees (harç) at the traffic police
for new vehicles – additional costs for initial registration, including TÜVTÜRK certification and taxes charged at the first registration
There are four legal models of car ownership in Turkey for foreigners, including full registration, guest ownership, temporary import under the 185-day rule, and the preferential Tax-Free Vehicle regime.
This option is suitable for residents who already hold a Turkish residence permit. You register the car as a full resident of Turkey: in your own name, with payment of all taxes and standard long-term plates. For owning and using a car in Turkey on a regular basis, this is the most straightforward and predictable model, without any link to visa validity.
Step-by-Step Purchase Process
1. Selecting a car
The process starts with selecting a suitable model at official dealerships or via reputable online platforms. Turkey has authorised dealerships of all major brands where you can review specifications, check stock availability, and order specific configurations.
2. Technical check and expert report
Before buying a car in Turkey, an expert inspection (ekspertiz) is essential: specialists assess the technical condition of the vehicle, verify the odometer reading, check for hidden damage, past accidents, and any liens.
At the same time, you should verify all data in the vehicle registration certificate (Ruhsat): VIN, current owner, and absence of judicial restrictions or outstanding debts. In case of doubt, it is advisable to involve a lawyer or independent expert.
3. Insurance
Before payment, you must arrange compulsory traffic insurance Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası (the local equivalent of third-party liability insurance). Comprehensive insurance (Kasko) is optional.
4. Notary transaction
The sale and purchase are formalised exclusively at a notary's office. The buyer and the seller sign the Noter Satış Senedi.
5. Registration with the traffic police
With the notarised contract and insurance, you visit the registration office (Trafik Tescil Şube Müdürlüğü), where a new registration certificate (Ruhsat) is issued, and plates are assigned. From that moment, the car is officially registered in your name.
Some foreigners consider buying a car in Turkey before obtaining a residence permit, while staying on a short-term visa. Formally, this is possible: the car can be sold, and the contract notarised, but full registration without a residence permit and Yabancı Kimlik No is not possible.
Restrictions for Buyers Without a Residence Permit
In practice, the “guest” regime has several important limitations.
1. Long-term ownership is not possible
The core restriction is registration. The car is linked to the period of your lawful stay in the country (tourists may stay in Turkey for 90 days within any 180 days) and cannot be fully registered in the usual format. Once the 90 days expire, you must:
take the car out of the country, or
initiate a costly full import process.
Extending the legal stay of the car in Turkey without leaving the country is not possible, even if you exit briefly and re-enter.
2. Complications with resale
Selling a non-fully registered car to a Turkish citizen is practically impossible without paying all customs duties and completing full deregistration. In practice, such cars are usually sold to other foreigners in the same legal position.
Who is this option for?
Buying a car without a residence permit may suit those who remain in Turkey only for a limited period: students, seasonal workers, or foreigners on temporary visas. For permanent living, long-term use, and unrestricted resale, this scenario is not suitable.
In some cases, foreigners prefer to bring their own car into Turkey temporarily rather than buying locally. In this model, the car is not purchased in Turkey but imported for personal use while keeping its foreign registration. The regime is governed by the “temporary 185-day import rule” and specific conditions for tourists and residents abroad.
Temporary Import Conditions and Allowed Duration
Temporary import of a personal vehicle is allowed for those who live outside Turkey for at least 185 days per year: you must be registered or hold a residence permit in another country, and your cumulative stay in Turkey during the last 365 days must be under 180–185 days.
This rule applies equally to foreigners and Turkish citizens residing abroad. If the requirement is not met, customs authorities may deny temporary import or demand payment of full customs duties.
Length of Stay for the Car in Turkey
1. Tourists: up to 90 days
If you enter as a tourist, your car may stay in Turkey for up to 90 days within each half-year period. The vehicle must leave the country together with its owner. There are no customs duties or taxes, but all traffic fines must be settled before departure.
2. Residents of another country: up to 730 days
If the 185-day rule is met, the car can remain in Turkey for up to 730 consecutive days (2 years). After that period, you must either take the car out of Turkey or complete full customs clearance.
To reapply for temporary import after the two-year period, the car and its owner must both stay outside Turkey for at least 185 days.
3. Re-entry
After leaving the country and waiting for six months, the car may be imported again under the same conditions. It does not receive a Turkish registration certificate; it remains under temporary import status.
Risks and Sanctions for Violating Temporary Import Rules
Violations of the temporary import regime lead to serious consequences:
confiscation of the vehicle
requirement to pay the full customs value
ban on future temporary imports
The most common breaches are overstaying the allowed period and allowing unauthorised third parties to use the car.
Who is this option for?
Temporary import is reasonable for those who live abroad and plan to use their car in Turkey only for a limited period. For permanent use, this format is usually neither economically nor administratively advantageous.
The tax-free regime in Turkey for foreigners, commonly known as the “blue plate” system, allows eligible individuals to purchase a vehicle exempt from ÖTV and KDV. In this model, the car is also assigned foreign-type plates and treated under a special tax status.
Tax exemptions are granted only to certain categories. The state supports them either under international agreements or through specific programs.
The right to buy a car with “blue plates” (without ÖTV and KDV) is generally given to:
foreign retirees who receive their pension abroad and hold an active Turkish residence permit
holders of work permits – those with a work visa and residence permit
accredited journalists, university lecturers, and students with an officially recognised status in Turkey
staff of international missions — diplomats, NATO and UN personnel, employees of major international organisations — and their immediate family members
In practice, this scheme works similarly to an extended temporary import: the car is treated as “preferentially imported”, exempt from customs duties, but remains in a special status and is subject to specific rules and deadlines.
Restrictions for “Blue Plate” Vehicles
The tax-free purchase regime comes with binding conditions.
Non-commercial use only
The car can be used solely for personal purposes. Renting it out or using it for any commercial activity is prohibited.
Limited length of stay in Turkey (up to 4 years)
After four years, the car must be taken out of Turkey or sold to another foreigner who is also eligible for the preferential regime. Selling it within Turkey to a Turkish citizen or a foreigner without such privilege is not allowed.
No transfer to third parties
You cannot rent out, loan, or formally transfer the car to third parties while it remains in Turkey. Any such attempt is treated as an illegal import.
Strict customs control
Failure to export the car after four years or attempts to pass it to an unauthorized person will lead to loss of the tax benefit and substantial fines. In some cases, customs may confiscate the vehicle.
MA/MZ plates are used in only two situations:
temporary import of a car by a non-resident under the “185-day rule”, and
purchase under the Tax-Free Vehicle scheme (without ÖTV and KDV)
In both cases, the car remains in the status of a temporarily imported vehicle and does not become a fully “Turkish” car in legal terms. For a standard car purchase in Turkey by a foreigner with a residence permit, MA/MZ plates are not used, as the car receives regular regional Turkish plates.
A car with MA/MZ plates may be driven only by:
the owner
the owner’s foreign spouse
the owner’s foreign children
In preferential schemes (Tax-Free Vehicle), it is usually required that the spouse and children are also foreigners and either hold a Turkish residence permit or otherwise qualify for the same privileged status.
Allowing Turkish citizens, friends, distant relatives, or any third party to drive such a car is treated as a violation and may be considered an illegal import.
The key factor is high purchase taxation. A new car in Turkey is subject to a special consumption tax, ÖTV (Özel Tüketim Vergisi). Depending on engine size and category, the ÖTV rate may range from roughly 40% to 220% of the vehicle’s value. On top of this, VAT (KDV) at 18% is added, calculated on a base that already includes ÖTV.
As a result, the final retail price is significantly higher than the factory price and often higher than in many European countries. On top of that, buyers pay registration fees, some local charges, and related costs.
Against this background, preferential regimes (such as tax-free purchases without ÖTV and KDV for certain categories of foreigners) become especially attractive. Without these benefits, the final price of a car can easily be two to three times higher than the manufacturer’s base price.
Owning a car in Turkey implies regular mandatory payments.
Annual motor vehicle tax (MTV)
The MTV rate depends on engine capacity and vehicle age: older cars with smaller engines pay less; newer and more powerful cars are taxed higher. MTV is paid twice a year, in two instalments.
Compulsory traffic insurance (Zorunlu Trafik Sigortası)
The policy is valid for 12 months and is required for both vehicle registration and lawful operation.
Comprehensive insurance (Kasko)
Optional full coverage; typical premiums are in the range of 5–10% of the car’s market value per year.
TÜVTÜRK inspection
The first inspection for a new car is due three years after registration, then every two years. Late inspection results in fines and blocks further registration actions.
HGS for toll roads
Motorways, bridges, and some tunnels operate under an automatic tolling system. A sticker or transponder (HGS) is attached to the windscreen, and payments are debited from your account. HGS tags can be obtained at PTT offices and banks, and the balance can be topped up online.
All payments must be made on time. If debts accumulate, registration actions are blocked, and fines grow progressively.
Technical inspection in Turkey is carried out by the TÜVTÜRK-accredited centers.
A new car undergoes its first inspection three years after initial registration.
Thereafter, passenger vehicles are inspected every two years.
During inspection, the following are checked: braking system, steering, lighting, emissions compliance with environmental standards, and general technical condition.
When buying a car in Turkey as a foreigner, attention to due diligence is crucial.
An independent expert inspection before the transaction is indispensable. The expert checks the vehicle’s technical condition, identifies signs of past accidents, evaluates the engine and suspension, verifies mileage, and records any potential restrictions.
The resulting ‘ekspertiz raporu’ provides an objective view of the car. Verbal assurances from the seller about “perfect condition” should never replace a professional report.
Typical risk areas on the used-car market include:
Mileage tampering
One of the most common practices which can usually be detected only through professional diagnostics or a detailed service history.
History of accidents
Even well-repaired vehicles may show records in insurance databases, TÜVTÜRK inspection logs, or differences in paint thickness.
Legal encumbrances
The car may be subject to liens, judicial seizures, or debts of the previous owner. Before purchase, you must obtain an official statement confirming the absence of such restrictions.
Frequent resales (al-sat)
Rapid changes of ownership over a short period and a suspiciously low price are clear signals for deeper inspection.
The safest route is to buy a car from an official dealer or a reputable showroom. As a rule, they prepare the vehicles technically, provide a complete document set, and sometimes offer a limited warranty.
Buying from a private seller is possible, but requires maximum attention, an independent expert report, checks of the vehicle history via available databases, and a notarised transaction with bank transfer rather than cash.
Before finalising the purchase, it is important to ensure that the full set of documents is in order: invoice (fatura) confirming payment and taxes, TÜVTÜRK marks, and valid insurance. In some cases, it is worth visiting the traffic registration office (Trafik Tescil) in advance to verify the VIN and confirm that there are no parallel or forged documents relating to the car.
If a car is sourced through an agency, that agency should carry out all these checks on your behalf. The intermediary’s reputation matters: responsible companies do not pressure the buyer and do not conceal the results of diagnostics.
Licensed real estate agency Luxury Estate Turkey provides full support not only in buying property in Turkey, but also in arranging car ownership for foreign clients.
We help analyse and select the optimal ownership model for your situation and legal status. After the property and vehicle are purchased, we assist with registration of the car, renewal of insurance policies, payment of taxes, and the correct entry of all data into the Turkish system.
Our specialists speak your language and understand Turkish law and administrative procedures. With Luxury Estate Turkey, buying and owning a car in Turkey becomes a predictable, legally secure process that complements your broader relocation and real estate strategy.
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