Erdal Nuhbasa – Law and Consulting Firm – Legal Services
Erdal Nuhbasa – Law and Consulting Firm – Legal Services
If you live abroad and want to bring your own car to Turkey for up to 24 months without paying customs duties, the Tourist Entry rules are what you need to know.
When bringing your car to Türkiye, there are two options:
A passenger-accompanied vehicle (yolcu beraberinde getirilen taşıt) is your personal car that you bring with you into Turkey under the tourist facilities regime. You keep your original foreign plates and do not pay import taxes or customs duties, as long as you comply with the regulations. It is a temporary import for personal use only.
The main purpose of this system is to allow individuals living abroad to use their personal vehicles during temporary stays in Turkey.
As a general rule, people who live abroad can bring a foreign car to Turkey. This includes:
Eligibility is evaluated based on actual residency status rather than citizenship alone. The main condition is that you must have spent at least 185 days physically outside Turkey in the 365 days before your entry. The days do not need to be consecutive.
In particular, dual citizens should be aware that possessing a second passport does not automatically create the right to bring a vehicle into Turkey.
The law does not care about your passport as much as it cares about where you actually live. To be considered a “resident abroad,” you must have spent at least 185 days outside of Türkiye in the 365 days prior to your entry. In practice, customs authorities examine whether you genuinely qualify as residing abroad. All entries and exits — whether by air, land, or sea — are taken into account.
Regardless of your citizenship, if you spent more than half of the previous year in Türkiye, you may not qualify to enter the country with a foreign-plated vehicle. Individuals can check their status through the “Yurt Dışı Yerleşiklik Sorgulama” service available on e-Devlet.
Foreign-plated vehicles may generally remain in Turkey for up to 730 days. However, this does not create an unlimited or unconditional right to keep the vehicle in the country.
The vehicle owner must continue to comply with customs regulations throughout this period, including residency requirements and vehicle usage rules. Violations may result in administrative fines, customs penalties, and possible restrictions on future vehicle entry.
Vehicle usage restrictions are strictly regulated under Turkish customs law.
Generally, the vehicle may only be used by:
If someone in Türkiye who is not authorized uses the vehicle, customs penalties and fines may apply.
No. Temporary importation of a foreign-plated vehicle is completely different from Turkey’s tax-free vehicle regime. Tax-free vehicle ownership generally applies to MA/MZ plated vehicles and certain groups such as diplomats, foreign employees, and some residence permit holders.
You can read our detailed guide here:
Buying a Tax-Free Car in Turkey – Complete Guide for Foreigners
Yes, provided they qualify as residents abroad and satisfy the 185-day requirement.
Potentially yes, but dual citizenship alone may not be sufficient.
Generally up to 730 days.
Violations may result in administrative fines, customs sanctions, and legal complications regarding the vehicle.
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