Owning a Car in Turkey as a Foreigner
A Growing Market with High Costs
The car market in Turkey is actively developing, offering a wide range of new models from various brands through dealerships and showrooms. However, it’s important to be aware that due to high taxes, car prices in Turkey are significantly higher compared to other countries.
Foreigner Requirements for Car Ownership
To purchase a car in Turkey as a foreigner, you’ll need a valid residence permit and a driver’s license. The registration process itself, along with the required documents, is identical for both Turkish citizens and foreigners.
One key difference: When registering a car owned by a foreigner, it will be assigned a special registration number from the “MA/MZ” group, similar to cars imported from abroad. Additionally, all new cars must be registered with the traffic police within three months of purchase.
Documents Required for Car Registration
Here’s a breakdown of the documents you’ll need for car registration:
- Notarized bill of sale (Noter Satış Senedi)
- Invoice for the sale of the car (Fatura)
- Certificate of compliance with road regulations (Karayolu uygunluk belgesi)
- Receipt of payment of special consumption tax (Özel Tüketim Vergisi/ÖTV Ödendi Makbuzu)
- Mandatory car insurance (Zorunlu Motor Sigortası)
Registration Process and Support
Car registrations in Turkey are handled by the Traffic Registration Departments (Trafik Tescil Genel Müdürlüğü) under the Department of Security and Police (Emniyet Müdürlüğü). In most cases, dealerships will handle the registration paperwork on your behalf.
Conclusion: Owning a Car in Turkey
While purchasing a car in Turkey as a foreigner involves some formalities and specific documentation, the developed car market with its diverse offerings makes car ownership achievable for foreigners residing in Turkey.
