The number of foreigners settling in Turkey has been increasing rapidly in recent years.
This means that these people are used to owning good and affordable cars.
Therefore, it is shocking for them to see the high prices of cars in Turkey.
The car market is very expensive in Turkey, as the customs and special consumption taxes imposed on cars are high.
Also, Turkish laws prohibit the import of used cars to Turkey, which is another factor that keeps car prices high.
For this reason, foreigners settling in Turkey are aware of the new reality that they cannot easily buy luxury cars.
They need to pay large sums of money even for simple cars.
Under these circumstances, many foreigners have this question in mind:
Can't I bring my own car with me? In our article, we will explain this topic.
What is the way to enter Turkey with my car?
First we will get to know the categories of visitors to Turkey which are two categories of visitors.
The first category :
Foreigners who do not reside in Turkey permanently and live in another country.
But they visit Turkey frequently these are temporary visitors.
The second category :
Foreigners who reside in Turkey permanently, these are permanent residents.
Category 1 Temporary Visitors:
There are some easing rules for bringing their cars from abroad and these facilities are called - tourist exceptions.
And even if foreigners somehow obtained Turkish citizenship, they can still benefit from tourist exceptions.
As long as they live in another country and only reside in Turkey temporarily. Temporary visitors can bring their cars to Turkey and use them for a maximum of 730 days (two years).
The conditions for benefiting from this exception are as follows:
- Having a usual residence address in a country other than Turkey for the owner of the car and the car.
He must be outside Turkey for more than 185 days within one year before entering Turkey.
/ This condition does not apply to people who have officially retired from their jobs and can prove this with the necessary documents for their first visit to Turkey after retirement/.
- Having a car registered in the country where the usual residence address is located.
/ If the usual address is in one of the European Union countries, it is acceptable for the car to be registered in any European Union country/.
- Having a car registered by an individual.
/ If the vehicle is registered with a legal entity such as a company or an NGO, the maximum period allowed to travel in that vehicle in Turkey will be 90 days instead of 2 years/.
Only one vehicle is allowed per foreigner within the scope of this exception.
It is important to note that if foreigners visiting Turkey have a permit to legally stay in Turkey for less than 2 years.
Their vehicles will only be allowed to stay in Turkey as long as that permit is valid.
Vehicles to be brought to Turkey using this exception must be reported online in advance.
The online reporting platform makes this customs procedure much easier.
Documents required when crossing Turkish customs
Then, the following documents must be brought when passing through Turkish customs :
1 - Car license.
2 - Power of attorney if the driver is someone other than the owner.
3 - Contact information of the rental office if the car is rented.
4 - An official document proving that the driver is a partner or employee of that company.
If the car is owned by a legal person such as a company or NGO.
5 - Driver's driving license.
6 - Driver's passport.
7 - Insurance policy stating that the car is valid in Turkey.
If the driver is officially retired, an official document proving this must be presented.
Official documents - which are not issued by the private institutions mentioned above - must be duly certified and translated by the Turkish embassy - consulate.
After the registration process is completed, cars are registered on the passports of the foreigners who hold them.
Once the maximum two-year period has expired foreigners cannot use the same car or bring another car from abroad.
Unless they leave Turkey and stay abroad for at least 185 days.
If foreigners leave Turkey with their cars before the permit expires, they can use the remaining days for their next visits.
Vehicles permitted in Turkey according to the tourist exceptions cannot be used by other people.
If the vehicle is caught by law enforcement officers while being used by other people, the driver will be fined.
The vehicle will be expelled from Turkey unless the driver proves that there is a legitimate reason for the vehicle being used by another person.
However, the spouse, parents and children of the vehicle owner can drive the vehicle.
As long as their usual addresses are also abroad and the vehicle owner is in Turkey.
Cars that fall within the scope of the tourist exceptions can never be sold to anyone else in Turkiye.
The second category of residents :
permanent residents of foreigners who have to live in Turkey permanently for business or educational purposes.
Therefore, foreigners in this category usually do not hold a work permit or a student permit.
And for permanent residents, the main privilege is the same as that of temporary visitors.
Foreigners in this category can bring their cars to Turkey and use them for 730 days.
Of course, if the foreigner residing in Turkey has a permit to stay legally in Turkey for less than two years.
The car will be allowed to stay in Turkey only until the permit is valid.
However, the main difference for permanent residents is that the permit period is a maximum of two years.
renewable as long as the stay in Turkey continues.
And the residence permit was renewed.
There are different types of procedures that can be applied to benefit from the exemption for permanent residents.
Because these procedures are extremely technical, we do not want to go into their details.
But we can't help but mention that in the first option, foreigners interact with the customs office directly.
While in the second option, they interact with a semi - governmental organization called - the Turkish Tourism and Cars Agency - which works as a guarantor for foreigners who want to bring their cars.
The list of required documents differs from those mentioned for temporary visitors.
Because permanent residents must submit some relevant documents that prove the reasons for their permanent residence in Turkey.
And contrary to the registration procedures according to the tourist conditions.
Documents can be submitted after entering Turkey by car within 30 days at most upon entry.
It is also important to note that foreigners must pay a certain amount of insurance to the customs authorities.
And it is almost 20% of the price of the car. This deposit can be collected again when leaving Turkey.
One of the most important differences for permanent residents is that foreigners are in this category.
They do not have to be outside Turkey at least 185 days before the entry date to bring their cars with them.
One car is allowed only for each foreigner within the scope of this exception.
And that car must be owned by a foreigner.
Foreigners who hold Turkish citizenship cannot also benefit from this exception.
Once the cars are registered in this way, they are given a special license plate that starts with the letters (MA) or (MZ).
These cars can be driven by the spouse, parents, children or the officially appointed driver of the car owner as well.
The owners of cars in this category are obliged to pay the vehicle tax (MTV) like the Turkish people.
It is a type of tax that must be paid twice a year.
Procedures upon expiration of the permit
Once the exceptional permit period for foreigners in both categories expires.
They must complete some papers by dealing with the Customs Authority before leaving Turkey.
If these specific procedures are not implemented properly.
Administrative fines will be imposed on the car owners. Also when the cars registered outside Turkey are not brought in on time despite the expiration of the permit period.
There will be administrative fines imposed on the car owners again.
Once the car exceeds 3 months, the fine value increases significantly.
Finally, when foreigners somehow seek the necessity of leaving Turkey for a long period during the permit period.
They have the opportunity to hand over the car to the Customs Authority to keep the car and freeze the permit.
Thus, they will not lose the permit period while they are outside Turkey.
They will not lose the exception and can use the remaining days of the permit once they return to Turkey.
The foreigner can bring a right-hand drive car, this is not prohibited in Turkey.
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