Buying a used car in Turkey: notary, number plates and costs
Can a foreigner buy a car in Türkiye? How the notary sale works, what plates tell you, and what to check on a dealer’s card.
Table of Contents
Foreigners can buy a used car in Türkiye and register it in their own name. Every sale goes through a notary (noter), and a sale made without one is invalid.
Used cars in Türkiye at a glance
Notary, your own insurance, secure payment.
- Foreigners can buy. The notary registers the car under your temporary ID number, or your tax number if you have no ID number. It gets MA–MZ plates.
- A notary must sign the sale. Taxes and fines are paid, nothing bars the transfer, the inspection is valid, and you hold your own compulsory third-party insurance.
- Pay through Güvenli Ödeme. The secure payment system holds the money until the notary has signed.
- Notary fee: 2‰ of the price, at least 1,000 TL. The base is never below the car’s value on the kasko list (the insurers’ value list).
- Dealers owe an inspection report and a warranty (3 months or 5,000 km) for cars up to 8 years old and 160,000 km. Private sellers owe neither.
Turkish number plates
Plate decoder
What a Turkish plate tells you
Tap a plate or type your own. The example plates are fictional. Source: registration regulation, art. 31, 34–38 and Annex 6 (province codes).
Standard plate
The plate is given at first registration: the province code of the owner’s address, then letters and digits in one of six layouts. A white background with black characters is a private vehicle; a black background with white characters is a government vehicle. The letters alone do not tell you which.
white background, black charactersblack background, white characters
„…plakalarda zemin beyaz, harf ve rakamlar siyah”
MA–MZ: foreigners
MA to MZ: cars of foreigners staying in Türkiye, including cars they buy there. White background, black characters.
white background, black characters
„Çeşitli nedenlerle yurdumuzda bulunan yabancı kişilerin araçlarına, “MA”dan “MZ”ye kadar harf”
CD and CM: embassies and international organisations
CD and CM: cars of embassies, international organisations and their staff with diplomatic immunity. White background, green characters.
white background, green characters
„Büyükelçilikler ve uluslararası kuruluşlar ile bunların diplomatik muafiyeti bulunan mensuplarının araçlarına “CD, CM””
CC and CG: consulates
CC and CG: cars of consulates general and their staff with consular immunity. Green background, white characters.
green background, white characters
„Başkonsolosluklar ile bunların konsüler muafiyeti bulunan mensuplarının araçlarına “CC, CG” harf”
A, AA, AAA: government and police cars
A, AA and AAA: cars assigned to government offices, and police vehicles. Government office cars have a white background with red characters; police vehicles have a blue background with white characters.
white background, red charactersblue background, white characters
„makam hizmetlerine tahsis edilen araçlar ile emniyet araçlarına “A-AA-AAA” harf”
T or G and five digits: temporary plates
A vehicle with a temporary document gets the letter T (prototypes and test drives) or G (all others), then five digits. Yellow background, black characters.
yellow background, black characters
„prototip veya yol testi için kullanılacaklara “T”, diğerlerine “G” harf ve beşli rakam”
GMR: temporary customs plates
GMR and three digits: temporary customs plates. Green background, red characters.
green background, red characters
„Geçici gümrük plakalarına “GMR” harf ve üçlü rakam”
JAA–JZZ: gendarmerie
JAA to JZZ and three digits: vehicles of the Gendarmerie General Command. Blue background, white characters.
blue background, white characters
„Jandarma Genel Komutanlığına ait araçlara, “JAA”dan “JZZ” ye kadar harf ve üçlü rakam”
SGH: coast guard
SGH and three digits: vehicles of the Coast Guard Command. Blue background, white characters.
blue background, white characters
„Sahil Güvenlik Komutanlığına ait araçlara, “SGH” harf ve üçlü rakam”
After the sale: the plate stays with the car and passes to the new owner. A buyer who lives in another province can ask the notary to change it; after a move, there are 30 days to ask. Foreigners get the MA–MZ series.
81 province codes
- 01 Adana
- 02 Adıyaman
- 03 Afyonkarahisar
- 04 Ağrı
- 05 Amasya
- 06 Ankara
- 07 Antalya
- 08 Artvin
- 09 Aydın
- 10 Balıkesir
- 11 Bilecik
- 12 Bingöl
- 13 Bitlis
- 14 Bolu
- 15 Burdur
- 16 Bursa
- 17 Çanakkale
- 18 Çankırı
- 19 Çorum
- 20 Denizli
- 21 Diyarbakır
- 22 Edirne
- 23 Elazığ
- 24 Erzincan
- 25 Erzurum
- 26 Eskişehir
- 27 Gaziantep
- 28 Giresun
- 29 Gümüşhane
- 30 Hakkari
- 31 Hatay
- 32 Isparta
- 33 Mersin
- 34 İstanbul
- 35 İzmir
- 36 Kars
- 37 Kastamonu
- 38 Kayseri
- 39 Kırklareli
- 40 Kırşehir
- 41 Kocaeli
- 42 Konya
- 43 Kütahya
- 44 Malatya
- 45 Manisa
- 46 Kahramanmaraş
- 47 Mardin
- 48 Muğla
- 49 Muş
- 50 Nevşehir
- 51 Niğde
- 52 Ordu
- 53 Rize
- 54 Sakarya
- 55 Samsun
- 56 Siirt
- 57 Sinop
- 58 Sivas
- 59 Tekirdağ
- 60 Tokat
- 61 Trabzon
- 62 Tunceli
- 63 Şanlıurfa
- 64 Uşak
- 65 Van
- 66 Yozgat
- 67 Zonguldak
- 68 Aksaray
- 69 Bayburt
- 70 Karaman
- 71 Kırıkkale
- 72 Batman
- 73 Şırnak
- 74 Bartın
- 75 Ardahan
- 76 Iğdır
- 77 Yalova
- 78 Karabük
- 79 Kilis
- 80 Osmaniye
- 81 Düzce
A province keeps its number when its name changes. The number of an abolished province stays unused. New provinces get numbers after 81.
Read a real plate
- Blue band
- TR stands for Türkiye.
- 48
- The province code: 48 is Muğla.
- Letters, digits
- One of six layouts; they are blurred in this photo.
- Not in the decoder
- Plates with a first name, surname or company name (for a fee set by the Ministry of Interior), plates for the highest offices of state, and local series for commercial vehicles set by municipal commissions.
An older plate
- 34
- The province code: 34 is Istanbul.
- S 3730
- One letter and four digits, a layout that is still in use.
From the advert to the notary
Choose who sells and who you are: the steps change to match.
The route to the notary
What applies to your purchase
Who is selling?
Who are you?
Notary fee calculator
Example: price 900,000 TL, kasko value 1,000,000 TL. The higher one is the base, so the fee is 2‰ = 2,000 TL. Price 300,000 TL, kasko value 350,000 TL: 2‰ is 700 TL, so the minimum of 1,000 TL applies. A sale to a licensed dealer has no fee.
Fees Law (Harçlar Kanunu) No. 492, tariff 2 and art. 43, as amended on 4 December 2025
1 Advert and vehicle card
Buying from a dealer
Required Every car at a dealership has an information card with set details. Row by row, what to compare: What to check before buying.
Buying from a private seller
Good to know There is no card. Before an advert goes up, the listings site checks who the advertiser is and that the car is theirs, a close relative’s or their spouse’s, or that they have the owner’s permission.
Regulation on the motor vehicle trade, art. 20 and 22
2 Inspection
Buying from a dealer
Required The dealer orders a report from a company certified by the Turkish Standards Institution (TSE) in the 10 days before the sale, and pays for it. It applies to cars up to 8 years old and 160,000 km.
Buying from a private seller
Your choice No report is required. If you want one, agree it with the seller before you go to the notary.
Regulation on the motor vehicle trade, art. 16
3 Your ID and liability cover
You are a foreigner
Required You are registered under your temporary ID number, or your tax number if you have none. Your own compulsory third-party insurance (trafik sigortası) must be valid on the day of sale.
You are a Turkish citizen
Required Your T.C. kimlik number goes into the agreement. Your own compulsory third-party insurance (trafik sigortası) must be valid on the day of sale.
Registration regulation, art. 17 and 18; trade regulation, art. 27; general conditions of compulsory motor liability insurance, C.4
4 Debts and restrictions
Every purchase
Required The notary signs only if:
- No vehicle tax (MTV, the yearly car tax), interest, fine, road penalty or toll is unpaid.
- Nothing bars the transfer: no seizure, no pledge.
- The roadworthiness inspection is valid.
- Your own insurance is valid (step 3).
In January and July the MTV instalment must be paid before the owner changes.
Highway Traffic Law No. 2918, art. 20(d); registration regulation, art. 18; Motor Vehicles Tax Law No. 197, art. 9
5 Secure payment
Every purchase
Required Cash, bank transfer and EFT payments go through Güvenli Ödeme. The part paid with a loan is not included.
- The seller opens the dealWith an approved intermediary, and enters your phone number.
- You get an SMSIt carries a reference number.
- You pay inThe money is held, not paid out.
- The notary signsThen the money goes to the seller.
Fee
Good to know The Ministry of Trade sets the system fee. If you do not add it to the amount, it is taken from the seller’s money. Outside working hours and at weekends the FAST transfer limit is 2 million TL.
Regulation on the motor vehicle trade, art. 26; Türkiye Noterler Birliği (TNB)
6 At the notary
Every purchase
Required The agreement states the first registration date, chassis number, plate, date and time, both ID numbers, and the mileage (from the inspection report or the parties’ own statement). The fee is 2‰ of the price, at least 1,000 TL; the base is never below the kasko value. A fixed notary fee (adjusted every year) and the cost of the registration certificate forms come on top.
Fees Law No. 492, tariff 2; Highway Traffic Law No. 2918, art. 20(d); trade regulation, art. 27
7 After signing
Every purchase
Good to know You get a temporary document valid for one month, and the registration certificate within the month.
Buying from a dealer
Required For a car up to 8 years old and 160,000 km, the dealer’s warranty covers the engine, gearbox, and electrical and electronic systems for 3 months or 5,000 km. Repairs must be done within 45 working days.
You are a foreigner
Good to know The car gets MA–MZ plates and a note on who may drive it.
Highway Traffic Law No. 2918, art. 20(d); trade regulation, art. 17; registration regulation, art. 17
On the day of sale
- You signAt the notary. This is day 0.
- Within 3 working daysThe notary tells the vehicle register and the tax office. From then the car counts as registered in your name.
- Within 1 monthThe registration certificate arrives.
- January and JulyVehicle tax (MTV) is paid in two equal instalments. From the day of sale you owe it.
The seller’s insurance ends the day the insured person changes, and the seller gets back the premium for the days left. Buy your own policy before you go to the notary.
Can a foreigner buy a car?
Yes. The notary registers the car in your name, with an MA–MZ plate.
- Your number
- Your temporary ID number (geçici kimlik numarası), or your tax number (vergi numarası) if you have no ID number. The traffic law also asks for a tax number.
- Residence permit card
- It is not on the list of conditions. Ask the notary which papers it wants before you meet the seller.
- Who may drive
- You, your spouse and children, or a driver employed under a work contract drawn up at a notary. The notary notes this on the car’s record.
- Bought with a Turkish citizen
- A car bought jointly with a Turkish citizen gets no MA–MZ plate. The rules for Turkish citizens apply.
- Driving licence
- A foreign licence is valid for six months from entry. More: driving licences in Türkiye · car rental.
A car on foreign plates
Someone who lives abroad can bring in their own car for a while under temporary admission.
- 185daysThe country where you spent this many days in the year before your latest entry counts as your home.
- 24monthsHow long a passenger car for personal use may stay.
- 1month a yearFor residents of the EU, EFTA and the UK who have used up those periods or do not meet the residence test.
- A resident of Türkiye may drive such a car only occasionally, with the owner’s consent and while the owner is in Türkiye.
- People arriving for work or study can get temporary registration in Türkiye.
What to check before buying
A licensed dealer (yetki belgesi) must put an information card beside every car for sale. Tap a row of the example card to see what to check it against. The card does not replace the documents you can see before you sign.
The dealer’s vehicle card
Row by row: what to compare
The rows of a dealer’s card. The car, plate and number are fictional.
Information cardDealer licence no.: ••••••
Make, model, type, model year, equipmentcompact hatchback, 2021, base trim
Compare with:
- The car’s registration certificate.
- The inspection report, if there is one: it shows the make, model, year and mileage.
- The agreement at the notary: it includes the model year and first registration date.
Last 6 characters of the chassis number…K4R219
Compare with:
- The chassis number on the car itself.
- The registration certificate.
- The agreement at the notary: it includes the chassis number.
Registration number34 ABC 12
Compare with:
- The registration certificate.
- The e-Devlet service “Araç Plakasına Yazılan Ceza Sorgulama” (fines linked to the plate); unpaid fines block the sale at the notary.
Fuel typepetrol
Compare with:
- The registration certificate.
Mileage68,400 km
Compare with:
- The inspection report, if there is one.
- The agreement at the notary: it includes the mileage from the report, or both parties’ own statement of it.
Sale price— (example without a price)
Compare with:
- The amount in the agreement at the notary and in the secure payment system.
- The kasko list value: the base for the notary fee is never lower than it.
Repainted and replaced partsrepainted front bumper
Compare with:
- The inspection report, if the car is up to 8 years old and has up to 160,000 km.
- The appearance of the parts on the car itself.
Damage history with descriptions1 damage record: rear bumper
Compare with:
- The e-Devlet services “Trafik Poliçe ve Hasar Bilgileri Sorgulama” and “Kasko Poliçe ve Hasar Bilgileri Sorgulama”, which the owner opens after logging in.
- The inspection report, if available.
Pledge or seizure (rehin, haciz)none
Compare with:
- The notary’s check: a car with a bar on transfer cannot be sold.
- The e-Devlet service “Adıma Tescilli Araç Sorgulama”, opened by the owner.
Remaining manufacturer’s warrantynot applicable
Compare with:
- The manufacturer’s or importer’s warranty document.
- This is separate from the dealer’s warranty: 3 months or 5,000 km for cars up to 8 years old and 160,000 km.
- The card must be clearly visible and easy to read, and its details up to date.
- A dealer’s advert shows the same details as the card.
- Before an advert goes up, the listings site checks who the advertiser is, and that the car is theirs, a close relative’s or their spouse’s, or that they have the owner’s permission.
Inspection and warranty
The dealer orders an inspection report from a TSE-certified company in the 10 days before the sale, and pays for it. You pay only if the sale falls through by your own fault.
A private seller owes you neither a report nor a warranty. Ask for a report yourself and agree it before you go to the notary.
The dealer’s limits
- 10daysThe report is ordered in this time before the sale.
- 8 years160,000 kmReport and warranty apply to cars within both limits (age by model year).
- 3 monthsor 5,000 kmThe dealer’s warranty on the engine, gearbox, and electrical and electronic systems.
- 45working daysThe time the dealer has to repair a fault.
e-Devlet services that help you check a car (login needed)
| Service | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Adıma Tescilli Araç Sorgulama | Cars registered to the person who is logged in. |
| Trafik Poliçe ve Hasar Bilgileri Sorgulama | Third-party insurance policies and damage records. |
| Kasko Poliçe ve Hasar Bilgileri Sorgulama | Kasko (own-damage) policies and damage records. |
| Barkodlu Araç Muayene Raporu Sorgulama | The roadworthiness inspection report. |
| Vergi Borcu Sorgulama ve Ödeme | Outstanding taxes, and payment. |
| Güvenli Ödeme Bilgileri Sorgulama | Since 12 May 2026: the parties to secure-payment transactions of the last 15 days, visible only to the buyer and the seller. |
Why new cars are expensive in Türkiye
A new car carries ÖTV (special consumption tax) once, on first acquisition. The rate depends on the engine size and on the price before ÖTV and VAT. VAT (KDV) of 20% is then charged on the price plus ÖTV. Later sales of a registered car carry no ÖTV.
Worked example: an engine up to 1,400 cm³, price before tax 600,000 TL
- Price before tax600,000 TL
- ÖTV at 70%+ 420,000 TL
- VAT at 20% on 1,020,000 TL+ 204,000 TL
1,224,000 TLat the till: 2.04 times the price before tax
Since 31 July 2026, ÖTV on a passenger car cannot be less than 100,000 TL; the amount is adjusted every year.
| ÖTV basis | ÖTV rate |
|---|---|
| up to 1,400 cm³ | |
| up to 650,000 TL | 70% |
| 650,000 TL–900,000 TL | 75% |
| 900,000 TL–1,100,000 TL | 80% |
| over 1,100,000 TL | 90% |
| 1,400–1,600 cm³ | |
| up to 850,000 TL | 75% |
| 850,000 TL–1,100,000 TL | 80% |
| 1,100,000 TL–1,650,000 TL | 90% |
| over 1,650,000 TL | 100% |
| 1,600–2,000 cm³, hybrid (electric motor over 50 kW, combustion engine up to 1,800 cm³) | |
| up to 1,250,000 TL | 70% |
| over 1,250,000 TL | 80% |
| 1,600–2,000 cm³, other | |
| up to 1,650,000 TL | 150% |
| over 1,650,000 TL | 170% |
| over 2,000 cm³, hybrid (electric motor over 100 kW, combustion engine up to 2,500 cm³) | |
| up to 1,650,000 TL | 150% |
| over 1,650,000 TL | 170% |
| over 2,000 cm³, other | |
| any | 220% |
| plug-in hybrid up to 1,600 cm³ (below 25 g CO₂/km, electric range at least 70 km) | |
| up to 1,350,000 TL | 45% |
| over 1,350,000 TL | 75% |
| plug-in hybrid 1,600–1,800 cm³ (same conditions) | |
| up to 1,350,000 TL | 85% |
| electric, up to 160 kW | |
| up to 1,650,000 TL | 25% |
| over 1,650,000 TL | 55% |
| electric, over 160 kW | |
| up to 1,650,000 TL | 65% |
| over 1,650,000 TL | 75% |
Two rules for used cars, until 1 January 2027
- Advert price
- A used car cannot be advertised above the price the maker or importer currently recommends.
- Dealer sales
- A dealer cannot sell a car until 6 months have passed since its first registration and it has covered 6,000 km.
Quick answers
Can a foreigner buy a used car in Türkiye?
Yes. The notary registers it under your temporary ID number, or your tax number if you have no ID number. The car gets MA–MZ plates.
Do I need a residence permit card?
It is not on the list of conditions: the rule asks for a temporary ID number or a tax number. Ask the notary which papers it wants before you arrange the sale.
How much does a sale at the notary cost?
The fee (harç) is 2‰ of the price, at least 1,000 TL. The base is never below the car’s value on the kasko list. A sale to a licensed dealer has no fee. A fixed notary fee (adjusted every year) and the cost of the forms come on top.
Can I pay the seller cash in hand?
No. Cash, bank transfer and EFT payments must go through the secure payment system (Güvenli Ödeme). Only the part paid with a loan is outside it.
Will the seller’s third-party cover transfer to me?
No. The policy ends on the day the insured person changes, and the notary completes the sale only if you have your own compulsory third-party insurance valid that day.
What do the letters MA on a plate mean?
MA–MZ is the series for cars of foreigners staying in Türkiye: white background, black characters.
Does a private purchase require an inspection report?
No. The report and the warranty of 3 months or 5,000 km apply to licensed dealers, for cars up to 8 years old and 160,000 km.
How long can I drive a foreign-plated car in Türkiye?
A passenger car of a person living abroad can stay for 24 months. Residents of the EU, EFTA and the UK who have used up those periods, or do not meet the residence test, get one month once a year.
Sources
- Highway Traffic Law No. 2918, art. 20 (sale at the notary) — mevzuat.gov.tr, checked 15 October 2026
- Regulation on vehicle sale, transfer and registration (art. 17, 18, 31, 34–38) — mevzuat.gov.tr, checked 15 October 2026
- Annexes to that regulation (Annex 6: province codes) — mevzuat.gov.tr, checked 15 October 2026
- Regulation on the motor vehicle trade of 2024 (art. 5, 16, 17, 20, 22, 26, 27) — mevzuat.gov.tr, checked 15 October 2026
- Extension of restrictions until 1 January 2027; 22 June 2026 —
Ministry of Trade, checked 24 October 2026 - Secure payment system for car sales — Türkiye Noterler Birliği, checked 24 October 2026
- Checking secure payment details in e-Devlet, 15 May 2026 — Türkiye Noterler Birliği, checked 15 October 2026
- Fees Law (Harçlar Kanunu) No. 492: tariff 2 and art. 43 — mevzuat.gov.tr, checked 15 October 2026
- Motor Vehicles Tax Law No. 197, art. 3 and 9 — mevzuat.gov.tr, checked 15 October 2026
- General conditions of compulsory motor liability insurance, C.4 — mevzuat.gov.tr, checked 15 October 2026
- Customs decree 2009/15481, art. 3 and 16–20 — mevzuat.gov.tr, checked 15 October 2026
- Special Consumption Tax Law No. 4760, art. 1, 11 and 12, as amended by Law No. 7590 (art. 14, the 100,000 TL minimum) — mevzuat.gov.tr, checked 16 October 2026
- Presidential Decision No. 10115 (ÖTV rates for passenger cars) — Resmî Gazete, checked 16 October 2026
- Presidential Decision No. 7346 (VAT 20%) — Resmî Gazete, checked 16 October 2026
