Driving in Turkey Validity of foreign driving licenses
Legal Framework Turkey has become a party to Vienna Convention on Road Traffic with the date of November 8, 1968 (“Convention”) as of August 8, 2012 and as per Article 43 of the Convention, contracting parties shall be supposed to amend their existing legislation according to the provisions of the Convention at the latest five years after their entry in force. As per Article 41/b of the Convention, contracting parties shall recognize any domestic permit or any international permit, conforming the conditions in the Convention, as valid for driving provided that they were issued by another contracting party until this territory becomes the place of normal residence of their holder. In this direction, Turkey has issued Regulation as to Amendment of Highway Traffic Regulation which has entered into force by publishing in the Registry Gazette with the date of April 17, 2015, No. 29329. (“Regulation”) 2
Validity of foreign driving licenses If the country by which the driving license has been issued shall be a party to the Convention; Article 15 of the Regulation has amended Article 88 of the former Highway Traffic Regulation and provides that foreigners shall be allowed to use their driving license obtained from the contracting foreign countries for a period of six months after their entry to Turkey. Although it is not specifically stipulated in the Regulation, it is highly advised for the foreign drivers to carry a notarized or consulate approved translation of the foreign driving license with their passport showing their entrance to Turkey. At the end of the six months following the entrance of the foreigner to Turkey, in order for foreigners to be able to drive a vehicle in Turkey, the driving licenses obtained from the foreign countries should be changed with a Turkish driving license. Six months shall be continuous, therefore, if the contracting parties’ driving license holders stay less than six months in Turkey, they will be able to use their driving licenses. 3
Validity of foreign driving licenses The obligation for driving course and exam is not required for the contracting party driving license holders. However the requirements of age, education, health and not being convicted shall still be sought. Contracting parties’ driving license holders’ driving licenses may be changed with the Turkish ones by following the procedures provided herein below under the title of “Application to Police Department”. It should be of significance to emphasize that foreign driving licenses shall be collected by the competent police department and delivered to relevant issuer countries as soon as the change process of the driving license is completed. Foreigners who obtain Turkish driving license shall also use their driving licenses in other countries. However the validity period depends on the countries’ domestic legislation. 4
Validity of foreign driving licenses An exemplary course of events for a citizen of a contracting country to Vienna Convention. He can drive in Turkey with After this 6 months period, his Belgium driving license he has to trade his Belgium A Belgium citizen enters for 6 months. This 6 driving license for a Turkish Turkey. months period restarts driving licence in order to after each time he enters drive in Turkey. Turkey . He has to give required If he doesn't get the Turkish driving documents and his Belgium license after 6 months, he will be driving license to Turkish subject to a fine of 343 Liras for Police Departments for every single time he gets caught by getting the Turkish driving the police while driving. license. 5
Validity of foreign driving licenses If the country by which the driving license has been issued shall not be a party to the Convention; Holders of the driving licenses obtained from non-contracting parties to the Convention shall be also allowed to use their driving licenses for a period of six months after their entry to Turkey. Although it is not specifically stipulated in the Regulation, it is highly advised for the foreign drivers to carry a notarized or consulate approved translation of the foreign driving license with their passport showing their last entrance to Turkey. However, driving licenses, obtained from non-contracting parties to the Convention and from the countries which Turkey does not have a bilateral agreement as to recognition and change of driving licenses, shall not be changed with a Turkish driving license. 6
Validity of foreign driving licenses Non- contracting parties’ driving license holders are under an obligation to qualify for a Turkish driving license by having the driving course and exam as stipulated under Article 42 of the Highway Traffic Law with the date of 13.10.1983 and No. 2918 after six months following their entrance to Turkey. Non- contracting parties’ driving license holders are under an obligation to qualify for a Turkish driving license by having the driving course and exam as stipulated under Article 42 of the Highway Traffic Law with the date of 13.10.1983 and No. 2918 after six months following their entrance to Turkey. 7
Validity of foreign driving licenses An exemplary course of events for a citizen of a noncontracting country to Vienna Convention. He can drive in Turkey with his After this 6 months period, he US driving license for 6 months. has to obtain Turkish driving An US citizen enters Turkey. This 6 months period restarts license in order to drive in after each time he enters Turkey. Turkey. He has to take the exam and If he doesn't get the Turkish driving license driving test like every Turkish after 6 months, he will be subject to a fine citizen for getting the Turkish of 343 Liras for every single time he gets driving license. caught by the police while driving. 8
Validity of foreign driving licenses International driving licenses International Driving Licenses are regulated under Article 41/5 of the Convention and shall be obtained from all of the contracting party countries as per their domestic laws. Holders of the international driving licenses can drive vehicles for one year following the issuance except for the countries which have issued the international driving license itself and the country where the holder is resident. Turing and Automobile Association of Turkey is authorized to issue international driving licenses in Turkey. However, as was mentioned, an international driving license obtained from Turkey cannot be used in Turkey. 9
Application to police department Gayrettepe Police Department in İstanbul is authorized to change foreign driving licenses with Turkish driving licenses at the end of six months following the last entrance to Turkey. There are two steps of the application. At the first application, driving license application form shall be filled in at the Police Department and the Department shall contact with the relevant country to confirm that the driving license is true and valid. When the confirmation is received which takes approximately one or two weeks, an appointment shall be made from the Police Department via internet. 10
Result of non-compliance The result of non-compliance has been provided under Article 39 of Highway Traffic Law with the date of 13.10.1983 and No. 2918. As per Article 39, foreigners who have not changed their driving licenses to Turkish driving licenses in prescribed time and the foreigners driving vehicles who does not qualify the aforementioned requirements shall be imposed an administrative fine with the amount of 343 Turkish Liras each time. The new Turkish driving licenses conforming the criteria provided in the Convention are being issued since 1 January 2016. Foreigners who already obtained their Turkish driving licenses before 1 January 2016 may use them until 31 December 2020. Those should be changed with the new Turkish driving licenses until then. This memo shall be prepared to provide a general overview. The situation may be changed where there are specific bilateral agreements between Turkey and the country of the foreigner as to the validity of driving licenses. Therefore, it is highly advised to receive specific legal assistance for each scenario. 11
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