"Driver's License Guide in Turkey: Process of obtaining, Entry rules and Fines."

When traveling to Turkey, tourists often need driver's licenses issued in their own countries. However, for longer stays, an international driver's license or a Turkish national license may be required, depending on the duration of the stay and the type of driver's license.

Russian driver's license in Turkey

There is a special regime for Russian citizens. The Turkish authorities recognize foreign driver's licenses in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. Russia is also a participant in this convention, so Russian citizens do not need an international driver's license when staying in Turkey for up to 90 days.

However, difficulties arise if the driver has old Russian licenses that do not have all the information written in Latin characters. Although this issue usually does not occur when renting a car in tourist areas, the traffic police may require a document with complete transliteration. It should be noted that in Russia, the validity of old licenses has recently been extended for another 3 years, but for trips abroad, it is recommended to replace the outdated document with a new one.

It is important to note that in some non-tourist areas of Turkey, car rental companies and insurance companies may require an international driver's license to process the rental agreement. To avoid inconveniences and additional expenses during your trip to Turkey, it is recommended to obtain an international license in advance in Russia.

What are international driving permits?

International driving permits are documents that confirm the right to drive a vehicle outside the country where the original driving experience was obtained. These permits essentially translate the information from national driver's licenses into major international languages and must be presented along with the original license.

It is important to note that if the original national driver's license is lost, the international driving permit also becomes invalid, as it is not a standalone document on its own.

To obtain an international driver's license, drivers from Russia are not required to take additional exams. Applications for international licenses can be submitted online through the State Services portal or in person at a Multifunctional Center (MFC) or a traffic police department. The following documents are required for this:

1. Russian driver's license.

2. A Russian citizen passport or another document confirming identity.

3. A certificate from a medical institution confirming fitness to operate vehicles.

4. A photo sized 35x45 mm.

5. Receipt for payment of the state duty.

Submitting an application for a driver's license transfer through the State Services is a more economical option, as a lower fee is charged (currently 1400 rubles, compared to 1600 rubles for in-person submission).

International driving permits are valid for no more than 3 years, but their validity cannot exceed the remaining validity period of the national driver's license.

Russian driver's licenses in Turkey for renting a car

When planning a short-term stay in Turkey (less than 180 days) and renting a car in resort areas, Russian citizens generally only need their Russian driver's license. However, to avoid potential issues with insurance companies, it is also recommended to have an international driver's license.

In some cases, local rental companies may provide a car with insurance included, regardless of the type of driver's license. However, this can lead to complications in the event of an insurance claim. If your license has not been translated into Latin characters beforehand, you can order a translation on-site in Turkey from local operators, but the cost of this service will be higher than in Russia.

The Turkish Association of Motorists and Tour Operators (TTOK) provides legitimate services for translating driver's licenses from various countries. However, one should be cautious when considering offers from unauthorized firms, as not all translations are recognized by the Turkish government. According to TTOK's rates, obtaining an international driver's license for one year will cost you 2,490 Turkish lira (approximately 8,900 rubles at the exchange rate in January 2023), and renewing this document after a year will require an additional 715 Turkish lira (about 2,500 rubles).

Features of Turkish traffic rules

Many Russian drivers, when they find themselves on the roads of Turkey, note that local drivers do not always follow traffic rules, including speeding, failing to signal when turning, parking in prohibited areas, and other violations. Pedestrians also sometimes cross the road in unauthorized places. However, it is worth noting that, according to data from Turkish authorities, in 2021, 87% of accidents in the country were caused by drivers, while only 8% were caused by pedestrians.

To reduce the number of traffic accidents, especially in cities, Turkey has set a low speed limit of 50 km/h in populated areas. Outside of cities, the speed limit is allowed up to 90 km/h, while on highways it is 130 or 140 km/h, depending on road conditions.

The permissible blood alcohol content for drivers in Turkey is 0.5 per mille, which is relatively high compared to some other countries. For example, in Russia and Germany, exceeding 0.3 per mille is considered a violation.

All passengers and the driver must wear seat belts, and children weighing up to 36 kg must be in a child car seat in the back seat.

Traffic signs in Turkey are usually made in accordance with international standards and often have text indicators translated into English. However, there are sometimes exceptions, such as the sign "DUR," which is used instead of "STOP."

Fines for traffic violations

In recent years, Turkish authorities have increased fines for traffic violations, surpassing the rate of inflation. As of January 1, 2023, new fines for running a red light, speeding, driving under the influence, and other violations have come into effect in Turkey. Here are some of them:

• Speeding by 11-30% over the limit: 951 Turkish lira.

• Speeding by 31-40% over the limit: 1,979 Turkish lira.

• Speeding by 41% or more: up to 4,064 Turkish lira.

• Driving under the influence (first offense): 4,064 Turkish lira.

• Driving under the influence of alcohol (repeat offense): a fine of 5,096 Turkish lira and a 2-year license suspension.

• Driving under the influence (third offense): a fine of 5,096 Turkish lira and a 5-year license suspension.

• Refusal to undergo a breathalyzer test: 8,551 Turkish lira.

• Driving under the influence of drugs: 20,977 Turkish lira.

• Driving without seat belts: 436 Turkish lira.

• Driving without insurance: 1,008 Turkish lira.

• Driving without a technical inspection: 935 Turkish lira.

• Driving without a license or with an expired license: 8,090 Turkish lira.

• Running a red light: 951 Turkish lira.

• Stopping in prohibited areas: 709 Turkish lira.

The fines are quite high, and there are also penalties for late payment.