DRIVING LAWS IN TURKEY

Traffic in Turkey drives on the right hand side of the road. Whether you plan to rent a car or drive your own car in Turkey, you should bring driving license, so that you don't need to apply for an international driving permit. The car rental agency in Turkey will want to see it and so will the police if you are stopped. If you are planning to stay long-term in Turkey, then your foreign driving license is usually only valid for up to 90 days. After this time, you must apply for an international driving permit. The minimum age to drive a motorcycle or car in Turkey is 18.

In Turkey, if a road accident occurs, the police must be contacted and a report should be made by them. By not doing so, you are breaking the law and possibly punishments may be served. Seat belts must be worn all the time by front seat passages, whether in rural areas or busy areas. Back seat passengers must wear seat belts in rural and less busier areas, where the traffic flows quicker and the speedlimit is higher. Although these are the laws, it is recommended for all passengers to wear a seat belt at all times to be safe.

Drinking and driving laws are strict in Turkey and therefore need to be known for anyone planning to drive. There should be no more than 0.05 % of alcohol found in the bloodstream for any driver travelling with a private vehicle. If your vehicle is towing a caravan or trailer, then there is a no tolerance law and if found with alcohol in your blood stream, the consequences will be harsh. The policeare very strict on driving under the influence of alcohol offences and therefore deal severe punishments to those who commit such offences.

Your vehicle that you are driving must have motor insurance and if you bring your insured vehicle from another EU country, it is often still valid in Turkey, but it is recommended to check first. Good, reputable insurance companies can be found all over Turkey and oftenfirms and companies dealing with vehicles will often recommend one to you.

Headlights must be on in the evening, when visibility is more difficult. Lights should also be switched on in the day time in bad weather conditions, when visibility is unclear.

Many fuels are available to buy in Turkey. LPG can be found and legally bought in large towns and cities in Turkey and Diesel, leaded and unleaded can all be found in most fuel stations around the country. Most fuel stations accept credit cards, including foreign ones,but it is advised to inform your bank or credit card user before hand to inform them that the card will be used in Turkey. For all people travelling around Turkey in any sort of vehicle, it is compulsory to have certain equipment and documents with them. Police may stop the car for a routine inspection and problems may occur if the required equipment and documents are not present in the vehicle. These things are: a warning triangle, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher. The driver must also have their valid driving license and any relevant documents for the vehicle.