Driving Licence in Turkey for Foreigners: What You Need

Landed in Turkey and wondering if your home licence is enough? For most visitors it is, for six months. Here’s exactly when you need an International Driving Permit, when residents must convert, and the HGS and Green Card you’ll also want sorted.

Ramis Kalkan

Updated: Jul 8, 20267 min read

Driver's hands on the wheel crossing the Bosphorus bridge at sunset — driving in Turkey on a foreign licence.

Yes, you can drive in Turkey on a valid foreign driving licence. As a visitor aged 18 or over, you can use your home licence for up to six months from the day you enter the country. After that, or if you live in Turkey, you need to exchange it for a Turkish licence.

That sounds simple, and for a short holiday it usually is. The confusion starts with the details: whether you need an International Driving Permit, what counts once you become a resident, and the other documents Turkish roads expect you to carry. Get one of these wrong and you can end up uninsured or turned away at a checkpoint.

This guide walks through the driving licence rules in Turkey for foreigners, step by step. We cover the visitor rules, the resident exchange, the permit question, and the toll and insurance pieces that catch people out. Every rule here is tied to an official source.

Key Takeaways

Visitors aged 18 or over can drive in Turkey on a valid home licence for up to 6 months from entry.

For a UK licence, carry a 1968 International Driving Permit or a notarised Turkish translation. The older 1949 permit is no longer accepted.

After 6 months, or once you live in Turkey, you must exchange your licence for a Turkish one.

You also need to carry a Green Card to prove your insurance covers Turkey.

On the motorways you’ll need HGS, Turkey’s electronic toll system, because there are no cash booths.

Can You Drive in Turkey on a Foreign Licence?

For most foreign drivers the answer is yes, with a time limit that depends on whether you’re visiting or living there. The table below sums up the two cases.

Your situation	What applies
Visitor or tourist (aged 18+)	Drive on your valid home licence for up to 6 months from your entry date
UK licence holder	Carry a 1968 International Driving Permit or a notarised Turkish translation alongside it
Resident (residence permit)	Exchange your foreign licence for a Turkish one within the first 6 months
Under 18	Cannot drive, as 18 is the minimum age

The six-month visitor rule and the minimum age of 18 are set out in the UK government’s guidance on living in Turkey. Turkey’s own civil registry authority, the Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (NVI), confirms the same six-month rule, which has applied since 2016.

If you’re visiting

A short trip is the easy case. As long as your licence is valid and you’re 18 or over, you can drive a hire car or your own vehicle on it for up to six months. The clock starts on the date you enter Turkey, not the date you pick up the car.

Most tourists never get close to that limit. The thing to watch is the paperwork that should travel with your licence, which we cover next.

If you live in Turkey

The six months is not extended just because you hold a residence permit. If anything, it’s the trigger. Once you settle in Turkey on a residence permit, you have six months to exchange your foreign licence for a Turkish one before it stops being valid for driving there.

An International Driving Permit does not buy you more time. It’s a translation, not a substitute, so it doesn’t remove the obligation to convert once you’re a resident.

Do You Need an International Driving Permit for Turkey?

For a UK licence, yes in practice. UK government guidance says you need a 1968 International Driving Permit (IDP), or a UK driving licence notarised in Turkish, to drive in Turkey. Turkey specifically requires the 1968 permit, not the older 1949 version, so it’s worth checking you’re getting the right one.

A few practical points make the difference here:

A 1968 IDP lasts three years, or until your licence expires, whichever comes first
You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so sort it before you travel
It’s a booklet that translates your licence, and you carry it together with the licence itself

You can confirm the current rule on the UK government’s International Driving Permit checker. If your licence is from another country, the same logic usually applies: an IDP or an official translation helps when your licence isn’t in the Latin alphabet, and you should check your own licensing authority before you go.

Exchanging Your Licence for a Turkish One

If you’re staying past six months, the exchange is the route to staying legal. Turkey lets many foreign drivers swap their licence for a Turkish one, and depending on your country you may not have to sit a test.

Documents you’ll usually need

The exact list is set by Turkey’s civil registry (NVI) and can change, so treat this as a guide and confirm the current requirements before you apply. You’ll typically be asked for:

Your valid foreign licence, with a notarised Turkish translation
Your passport and residence permit
A health report and an eye test from an approved provider
Biometric photos and your Turkish tax number
The application fee

When you can skip the driving test

This is the part that surprises people. Turkey runs these exchanges, known as tebdil, with countries that are party to the Road Traffic Convention or hold a bilateral licence agreement. If your country qualifies and your licence is valid and readable, you can often swap it without taking the theory or practical test, which is much quicker than starting from scratch. If no arrangement exists for your country, you may have to test, so it’s worth checking your status before you commit.

The Other Documents Foreign Drivers Need in Turkey

A valid licence is only part of being road-legal in Turkey. Two more things catch foreign drivers out, and both are easy to sort in advance.

First, insurance. Turkey sits outside the EU’s standard motor-insurance area, so your home cover may not extend there by default. UK guidance is clear that you should carry a Green Card to prove you have third-party insurance for Turkey. If you’re driving in from Europe, you can arrange a motor insurance Green Card before you cross.

Second, tolls. Turkish motorways and bridges have no cash booths. They read your number plate and charge an electronic balance called HGS (Hızlı Geçiş Sistemi), the country’s toll system. Foreign plates are read the same way, so you need a funded balance before you use those roads. Our guide to HGS for foreign vehicles explains how to set one up without a Turkish bank account.

While you’re sorting documents, it’s worth a quick read of Turkey’s speed limits too, since the enforcement is camera-heavy and the fines reach foreign plates.

What Happens If You Drive on the Wrong Licence

Driving past the six-month point on a foreign licence, or without the permit or translation Turkey expects, puts you on the wrong side of the law. At a roadside check that can mean a fine, and your insurance may not pay out if you’re not legally entitled to drive.

The cleaner path is to plan ahead. For a holiday, carry your licence plus a valid IDP or translation. For a longer stay, start the exchange early in your six-month window rather than leaving it to the last week.

The Short Version

Driving in Turkey as a foreigner is straightforward once the paperwork is clear. A visitor aged 18 or over can drive on a valid home licence for up to six months, and a UK driver should carry a 1968 IDP or a notarised Turkish translation. Live there, and you exchange your licence for a Turkish one inside that first six months.

Sort the two extras before you set off: a Green Card so your insurance is recognised, and an HGS balance so the motorway tolls go through. Plan the licence, the insurance, and the toll together, and Turkey is an easy and rewarding country to drive. For more country rules, browse our driving guides before you travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive in Turkey with a UK licence?

Yes. If you’re 18 or over, you can drive in Turkey on a valid UK licence for up to six months from your entry date. UK guidance advises carrying a 1968 International Driving Permit or a notarised Turkish translation with it.

Do I need an International Driving Permit for Turkey?

For a UK licence, you need a 1968 IDP or a UK licence notarised in Turkish. Turkey requires the 1968 permit specifically, not the older 1949 version. You must buy the IDP before you leave, as you cannot get one outside the UK.

How long can I drive in Turkey on a foreign licence?

Up to six months from the day you enter the country. After that, or if you become a resident, you have to exchange your licence for a Turkish one to keep driving legally.

What is the minimum driving age in Turkey?

It is 18. You cannot drive in Turkey, even on a valid foreign licence, until you are at least 18 years old.

Can I exchange my licence without taking a driving test?

Often, yes. If your country has an exchange arrangement with Turkey and your licence is valid and legible, you can usually swap it without sitting the theory or practical test. Check your country’s status before you apply.

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