How to Import Your Car to Turkey: A Guide for Foreigners

Obtaining Vehicle Documentation

One of the first steps in bringing a car from abroad to Turkey is to obtain the vehicle's title or registration papers, which will be required to clear it through customs. The foreigner also needs to have the original invoice of the vehicle, showing that the car is legally theirs.

Vehicle Inspection

If the car is to be imported permanently, it must meet Turkish technical regulations and standards, which may require an inspection and, in some cases, modifications to the vehicle. This applies to permanent import, not to a car brought in temporarily on foreign plates.

Customs Clearance Process

Temporary entry and permanent import are two different customs procedures. A car brought in temporarily on its foreign plates is recorded by Turkish customs at the border and can be used for a limited period without paying import duties (see below). Permanent import means clearing the car through Turkish customs, paying the import duties and taxes owed on it, obtaining any necessary permits, and then registering it in Turkey. In both cases, the car must have a valid registration plate.

Driver’s License and IDP

The foreigner also needs to have a valid driver’s license and an International Driving Permit (IDP), which are accepted in Turkey to drive the car. The IDP is an internationally recognized document that serves as an official translation of the individual's driver's license; whether you need one depends on the country that issued your license, so check before you drive.

Vehicle Use Limitations

A car on foreign plates can be used in Turkey only for a limited period, and only if its owner is resident abroad, which normally means having spent at least 185 days outside Turkey in the year before entry. Turkish customs records the permitted period at entry: it can be up to 730 days, but it depends on the owner's nationality and residence status and on how long the car has already been used in Turkey. For foreign nationals it cannot be longer than their permitted stay in Turkey, and foreigners without a residence permit get at most 90 days in any 180-day period. Before the period ends, the car must leave Turkey or be dealt with as the customs rules require. Registering a foreign-plated car in Turkey is not a simple formality: it means permanent import, which can be complicated and may require additional documentation and inspections.

Regulations and Restrictions

It's important to note that there are restrictions on the permanent import of older cars and of cars that do not meet the emission standards in force, so check the current rules with Turkish customs before you ship a car. Furthermore, if the car was bought on loan, the proper document should be given by the bank to prove that the car belongs to the individual.

Navigating the Process

Bringing a car from abroad to Turkey can be a complex process, involving a number of steps and a significant amount of paperwork. It's important for foreigners to be familiar with the country's regulations and to work with an expert such as a lawyer or customs agent to make sure that all the necessary documents and permits are in order.