Traffic Fines in Turkey in 2024

Considering the large number of tourists traveling to Turkey and the cost-effectiveness of renting a car compared to public transportation, it is better for these people to be aware of Turkey's latest laws and fines. In this regard, although traffic laws are largely the same in all countries, the amount of traffic fines changes every year.

Driving in Turkey and Its Features

Today, Turkey is one of the countries that has greatly improved driving and brought it to the level of European Union standards; in this regard, in order to prevent traffic accidents and violations by some drivers, the Turkish Traffic Department has set fines in different amounts, which we will mention below.

Traffic Rules in Turkey

In recent years, after the amendment of Turkish traffic laws based on European Union standards in this regard, driving in this country has become much easier and safer; because in addition to improving the conditions and quality of all types of inner and outer routes of the cities, police supervision has also increased, and the use of new technologies has greatly helped to this issue.

Also, in order to prevent drivers from being negligent in following the rules, the traffic department has set a fine for all types of traffic violations. For this reason, renting a car in Turkey at the best price can be very affordable if you follow these rules.

Driving Conditions in Turkey

In Turkey, driving is on the right side of the road, and overtaking is done on the left side of the vehicle. The speed limit in cities and on some rural roads, ranges from 30 to 50 km/h. For other routes, the speed limits are as follows: 90 km/h on suburban routes, 120 km/p on highways, and 110 km/p on two-lane highways.

Note that you can pay less for your travel by booking a hotel in Turkey near the places where you have the most traffic. At the same time, to prevent any problems while driving on inner and outer urban routes in Turkey, consider the following:

1.       Always drive about 10% below the posted speed limit.

2.       Slow down near all intersections and schools.

3.       Pedestrians always have the right of way.

4.       The use of turn signals is mandatory for any change of direction.

5.       On roads with multiple lanes, the right lane is only for ambulances and police cars.

6.       With the increase in driving fines and the accumulation of penalty points on a driver's license, the police in Turkey may confiscate the driving license.

Important Rules when Driving in Turkey

Undoubtedly, seat belt use is one of the main things that every driver and car passenger must follow. Also, if a child is shorter than 135 cm and weighs less than 36 kg, it is mandatory to use a "child seat" with protective straps, and children under 12 years old are not allowed to sit in the front seat.

At the same time, drivers must have a valid Turkish or international driver's license, third-party insurance, and, the contract of rented car (if they rent a car in Istanbul, for example); also, obtaining a driving license and car registration procedures in Turkey is an important issue for foreigners who have been in Turkey for more than 6 months or have bought a car in this country.

Types of Traffic Fines in Turkey

As you know, every country has its own system and rules regarding the types of traffic fines and their category, which in Turkey are as follows:

·         Administrative Fine:

The most common type of traffic fine in Turkey is administrative fine, which includes not wearing a seat belt, talking on a cell phone while driving, driving at an illegal speed, etc. What should be remembered regarding this category of fines is the possibility of deducting 25% of the total amount if paid within 15 days after issuance; administrative fines increased by about 60% in 2024 compared to the previous year.

·         Penalty Points:

According to the rules of the Turkish Traffic Department, drivers who have committed any of the traffic violations will be recorded a corresponding negative point in their records; based on this, for example, if a driver crosses a red light, the police will record 20 negative points in the driver's record in addition to a fine. Recording 100 negative points for the first time during the year will result in the confiscation of the driver's license by the police for 2 months, and for the second time, 4 months, and for the third time, the driving license will be revoked.

·         Retrieval of Documents:

 As mentioned, sometimes, in addition to the fine of the offending driver, the police may seize the driver's documents for periods of: 30 to 60 days, 3 to 6 months, or 2 years.

·         Cancellation of Documents:

In cases such as: the number of traffic violations, the high amount of fines, non-payment of traffic fines, etc., the police can take and invalidate the license or other related documents; in such a situation, that person is required to get a driver's license again and go through its steps and courses.

·         Vehicle Prohibition from Traffic:

One of the types of traffic fines in Turkey is preventing the traffic of vehicles that do not have the necessary safety, or their drivers do not have the following documents; these documents include: driver's license (Turkish or international), and third-party insurance; if the driver is a foreign tourist, the passport and the original driver's license they received in their own country should always be with them.

·         Prohibition of the Person from Driving:

 In cases where the driver has a history of numerous and high-risk driving violations (such as driving at illegal speed, drunk driving, etc.), the Turkish police will prevent that person from driving.

The Most Common Traffic Violations in Turkey

According to what has been said so far, despite the strict rules of the Turkish police regarding traffic violations and violating drivers, the following are among the most common traffic violations in Turkey; it is clear that if you travel to Turkey on a tour and will be sightseeing by transportation provided by the travel agency, you don’t need to worry about what has been said before.

• ·         Not having a driver's license and third-party insurance (also, a passport and rental contract if you have rented a car in Turkey)
• ·         Not wearing a seat belt
• ·         Drifting
• ·         Drunk driving
• ·         Talking on a cell phone while driving
• ·         Ignoring speed cameras
• ·         Driving a car without third-party insurance
• ·         Failure to comply with the legal driving age of 18 years (this issue is about 23 years old in car rental rules)
• ·         Ignoring child safety laws
• ·         Failure to pay fines on time

List of Traffic Fines in 2024 in Turkey

In general, traffic fines in Turkey are set at high amounts to reduce drivers' violations and increase their attention to complying with the rules. Thus, those tourists who, for example, rent a car in Izmir and do not want their travel expenses to increase due to paying fines should consider the following table.

Benefits of Fast Payment of Traffic Fines in Turkey

According to the rules of the Turkish Traffic Authority, if drivers pay their fine bill within 15 days of receiving it, they will be entitled to a 25% discount; it should be noted that the amount of this discount changes every year and is announced on the website of this organization.

Methods of Paying Traffic Fines in Turkey

If you are planning to rent a car in Turkey, driving rules, the amount of fines and how to pay them are among the things you should consider before buying a flight ticket to Turkey. In this regard, those renting a car can pay any fees related to road tolls and fines after returning the car to the company.

But if you are a resident of Turkey or as a traveler planning to stay in this country for a relatively long time, you can choose one of the following methods to pay traffic fines in Turkey:

• ·         Bank branches of contracting parties
• ·         Special applications for mobile phones
• ·         Applications of contracting party banks
• ·         Electronic government website (e-Devlet)
• ·         Tax Department website

How to Inquire About a Traffic Fine in Turkey

As mentioned earlier, if you pay your traffic fines within 15 days from the date of issuance, you will receive a 25% discount; therefore, the need to inquire about traffic fines in Turkey increases by 50% in case of non-payment of fines on time; to avoid this, it is better to check your recorded fines at least once a month from the website specified for this issue and pay as soon as possible.