Driver’s licenses in Turkey have specific features that are important to consider for both foreigners and local residents. Here are some key aspects of obtaining and holding driver’s licenses in Turkey.
For foreigners, it is important to know that they are allowed to drive with their foreign licenses for up to six months from the date of entry into the country. However, after the six-month period, they are required to obtain Turkish driver’s licenses from the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (Nüfus Müdürlüğü) in order to continue driving legally.
The process of obtaining Turkish driver’s licenses is quite simple. Foreigners need to fill out an application form on the website and provide the following documents: original and notarized copy of their passport, original and translated copy of their driver’s license, a medical fitness certificate for driving a vehicle, a biometric passport-sized photo, a blood type declaration document, and a certificate of criminal records for electronic verification.
Obtaining driver’s licenses is possible after completing a driving course at a driving school (sürücü kursu) and passing a two-step exam. The courses are divided into theoretical and practical parts.
The theoretical part of the driving education lasts for about three weeks and culminates in an electronic exam called “e-sınav.” This exam can be taken in several languages, including Turkish, English, German, French, Russian, Chinese, and Arabic. It consists of 50 questions covering topics such as first aid, traffic rules, mechanics, and road etiquette.
After successfully passing the theoretical exam, the practical part of the training follows, involving 12 hours of driving with an instructor.
Upon completion of the training and passing all the necessary exams, you will receive a driver’s license that will be valid in any city in Turkey.
It is important to note that there are age restrictions for obtaining driver’s licenses in Turkey. For example, for the M, A1, and B1 categories, the age limit is 16 years old, for categories A2, B, BE, C1, C1E, F, and G – 18 years old, for category A – 20 years old, for categories C, CE, D1, and D1E – 21 years old, and for categories D and DE – 24 years old.
Considering all these rules and procedures, foreigners in Turkey must adhere to the regulations and make sure to obtain Turkish driver’s licenses after the six-month period of stay in the country. This ensures the legality of their driving and helps avoid any troubles with local law enforcement authorities.
