Driving is a convenient and enjoyable way to explore the beautiful country of Turkey. For foreign nationals, the regulations for driving in Turkey were updated on 1 January 2016 to bring the country more in line with the existing European Union regulations for road users. With a valid EU license, foreign nationals can legally drive in Turkey for up to six months before needing to convert it to a Turkish license. British nationals, for example, will have their licenses sent to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The DVLA has stated that expats in the UK can drive on a Turkish license for a maximum period of twelve months; however, if they are settling in the UK, the Turkish license cannot be exchanged for a UK license and they must take a practical driving test.
Turkish Driver License
To obtain a Turkish driving license, motorists must be at least eighteen years old for a car and sixteen for a motorbike. The driving test consists of both a practical and a theory test which has been made more challenging to meet the European Union regulations.
In addition to the age requirement, applicants must also have a valid passport and residence permit (if applicable). They must also provide proof of address and a medical certificate from a doctor or hospital in Turkey confirming that they are medically fit to operate a motor vehicle. The applicant must also provide two recent passport-sized photographs. Successful applicants will be issued with a Turkish driving license valid for five years.
