Foreigners are permitted to drive in Turkey with their foreign license for up to six months from the date of their entry into the country. After six months, foreign residents must obtain a Turkish driver's license.
Trying to get a driver’s license in Turkey may seem daunting with all the paperwork, lessons, exams, and fees, but it is not as hard as you think.
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If you have a foreign driver’s license, you are allowed to keep it and use it for up to 6 months from your official entry date into Turkey. After that date, to drive legally in the country and not incur fines, you’ll have to apply for a Turkish driver’s license.
You can go about getting a license in 2 ways:
- You can convert your original driver’s license into a Turkish one,
- Or apply to acquire a Turkish driver's license from scratch.
If you have never obtained a driver’s license before and want to drive here in Turkey, you’ll, of course, have to choose the second way.
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A foreign license holder resident in Turkey may exchange their license for a Turkish one. Application is made to the Transport Registration Department (Trafik Tescil Sube Müdürlügü) at the local police headquarters.
- For links to administration websites to find local transport offices: Click here (in Turkish)
- For information on the exchange process from the Istanbul Traffic Department website: Click here (in Turkish)
Documents required for a driving license exchange
- Application forms available from the Driver’s Association office (Soförler Odasi) at the local Transport Registration Department
- Original valid foreign driving license
- Notarized Turkish translation of the driving license
- Original and copy of the residence permit (Ikamet) or Turkish identification card
- 5 identity-sized photographs (required at various steps of the process)
- Original criminal report which can be obtained from the local court house (valid 12-months from issue)
- Original health report issued by a local state health center (Sağlık Merkezi) or private clinic; photos required (valid 12-months from issue)
- Blood group certificate (can be requested from a clinic or health center)
- Receipt from the tax authorities showing that the relevant driving license fee has been paid (cost depends on the class of license being exchanged)
- Payment for delivery of the credit card-sized photo-ID driving license
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The process
Confirm that the license may be exchanged. Get the ID-sized photographs before visiting the health center for the health report and blood group certificate (some centers require an appointment to be made, others do not). Get the criminal report and the license exchange applications forms. Complete the forms. It should be possible to pay the license fee and get the required receipt at the police headquarters at the time of submitting the application. Submit the completed dossier to the Transport Registration Department.
Further Information
- Government road transport website: Click here (in Turkish)
How to obtain a new Turkish license
- You will have to find a local driver’s ed course (sürücü kursu) authorized by the Ministry of National Education (Milli Eğitim Bakanlığı). Before you enroll in a course, you need to pay the driver’s license (sürücü belgesi) fee to the tax office. For example, for a class B vehicle, your fee will be TL 988,70. (Check prices here.)
- Don’t forget to inquire about the schedule of classes so you can arrange your hours accordingly. Each driving school will have different prices for lessons but expect to pay an average of TL 1,800 for a class B vehicle.
- The lessons are divided into 2 categories: theoretical and practical.
The first stage: theoretical exam
You’ll first have to take about 3 weeks’ worth of theoretical lessons, consisting of about 12 hours of lessons on traffic and environment, 8 hours of first aid training, 6 hours of auto mechanics, and 6 hours of traffic etiquette. You will also be given a handbook to read and learn the information necessary to pass the exam.
Once you have completed the theoretical training, take the electronic exam called “e-sınav,” which can be taken in Turkish, English, German, French, Russian, Chinese, and Arabic. Make sure to inform the course of your preferred language at least 3 days in advance. The tests, held simultaneously with students from many other courses, are held at designated testing centers.
The 50-question multiple-choice exam will measure your theoretical knowledge of the subject matter, divided into 3 main categories: traffic (speed limits, right of way, etc.), first aid, and mechanics (motor in Turkish). You need to score a minimum of 70/100 to pass.
A day before the exam, you will have to pay TL 90, the fee for the written exam, via a state-owned bank (Halkbank or Ziraat).
Once you successfully pass the theory exam, you’ll need to take a few weeks' worth's of practical lessons.
2nd stage: practical exam
You will have to take about 12 hours+ of driving lessons with an instructor, learning how to parallel park, start up on a slope, and emergency-break, among many others, for this part of the course. The lessons will be in Turkish. It is mandatory for you to take these classes even if you already know how to drive.
During the exam, your instructor will want you to complete a specific route and a set of maneuvers in the order you were told to memorize during your lessons. You will have to know when and where to make these moves without being prompted by your instructor.
If you pass:
- You will be given a temporary license that day as you wait about 2 weeks for the actual one to be issued by the General Directorate of Security and be sent by mail.
If you fail:
- You have 3 more chances to take the exam. Each exam will set you back TL 120.
Once you pass both exams, get an appointment at https://randevu.nvi.gov.tr. The driving school should give you your driver’s file (sürücü dosyası) to take to the registrar’s office for your appointment. Within a week or 2 of passing your exams, you should also be issued a driver’s certificate signed by the District National Education Directorate.
Don’t forget to bring your ID, driver’s certificate and file, medical report, blood type card, receipt of payment for license fees, and 2 photos to your appointment.