Turkey Driving License Guide: Costs, Exchange & Exams (2026)

Let’s be honest: Possessing a Turkish driving license (Sürücü Belgesi or commonly Ehliyet) is about more than just the legal right to drive. It is a strategic move for any long-term resident. In a country where bureaucracy can be daunting, this little plastic card doubles as a powerful ID that opens doorssometimes literally.

But here is the catch that catches most expats off guard: The “six month rule.” It’s not just a minor traffic violation; ignoring it can void your insurance coverage completely. Whether you are looking to swap your foreign license or start from scratch, this guide cuts through the noise and gives you the practitioner’s roadmap for 2026.

The Basics: More Than Just a Permit

Issued by the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü), the Turkish license is valid for everything from scooters to tractors. For expats, its secondary value is immense: it is accepted almost everywhere as a primary form of identification, meaning you can often leave your passport and residence permit safely at home.

There are 17 different classes, but before we get into the alphabet soup of vehicle types, we need to address the most critical deadline for foreigners.

The 6-Month Trap: Validity of Foreign Licenses

Many expats assume they can drive on their home country’s license indefinitely. This is a dangerous misconception. The rules differ significantly depending on your citizenship status.

For Foreign Nationals (Expats & Tourists)

You can use your foreign license for a maximum of 6 months from the date of your entry into Turkey.

The Practitioner’s Warning: On day 181, your foreign license is legally invalid for driving in Turkey. If you have an accident, your insurance company will likely refuse to pay, citing that you were driving without a valid license. Don’t risk it.

For Turkish Citizens (Dual Nationals)

Turkish citizens returning from abroad get a slightly longer grace period: one year. However, there is a friction point here. After the first six months, you must carry a notarized Turkish translation of your foreign license whenever you drive.

For details on how to get these documents processed efficiently, check our guide on the Notary Public in Turkey.

The Direct Exchange (Conversion)

If your license is from one of the 84 countries that signed the “Convention on Road Traffic,” you hit the jackpot. You can swap your license directly without taking any exams. If your country isn’t on the list (e. g., USA, Canada, Australia in some contexts), you unfortunately have to take the full course and exams.

Step-by-Step: How to Exchange Your License

The conversion happens at the Population Directorate (Nüfus Müdürlüğü). It is not as chaotic as it sounds if you prep your documents correctly.

1. Book the Appointment: Go to randevu.nvi.gov.tr. Select “Sürücü Belgesi,” enter your details, and pick a slot.
2. Gather the “Golden” Documents: Missing one of these will result in you being sent home.
   • Original License + Color Copy: Bring both.
   • Notarized Translation: Essential.
   • ID: Your Passport and Residence Permit (Ikamet).
   • Health Report (Sürücü Olur Raporu): You don’t need a fancy hospital for this. A local Family Health Center (Aile Sağlığı Merkezi) can often do this for free or a nominal fee. It proves you aren’t colorblind and have basic motor functions.
   • Biometric Photo: Must be taken within the last 6 months.
   • Blood Type Card: Unless it’s stated on your health report or old license, you need a document proving your blood type.
   • Criminal Record (Adli Sicil Kaydı): Easily downloadable from the e Devlet portal.
   • Receipt of Payment: Pay the taxes at a bank or tax office before you go.

If you need help legitimizing your foreign documents, read our breakdown on the Legalization of Foreign Documents in Turkey.

Verified Costs for 2025 (Inflation Watch)

Turkey experiences significant inflation, and government fees (Harç) are typically re evaluated every January. The prices below are the verified totals for late 2025. Pro Tip: If you are reading this in December, pay your fees immediately. Prices often jump significantly on January 1st.

• Class B (Cars): Approx. 7,438.60 TL (Total including tax, card fee, and foundation share).
• Class A, A1, A2 (Motorcycles): Approx. 3,643.10 TL.
• Commercial (C, D, etc.): Approx. 11,235.60 TL.

License Classes: What Can You Drive?

Before you buy your vehicle, make sure you are aiming for the right class. Check out this interactive breakdown of the 17 different categories:

#turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic { font-family: ‘Poppins’, sans-serif; max-width: 1200px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 40px 20px; background-color: #F8F8F8; border-radius: 20px; box-shadow: 0 10px 30px rgba(227, 10, 23, 0.1); }#turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic{ box-sizing: border-box; }#turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic h2 { color: #E30A17; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 40px; font-size: 2.5em; font-weight: 700; text-shadow: 2px 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); }#turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic.license-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(250px, 1fr)); gap: 30px; }#turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic.license-card { background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius: 15px; padding: 25px; box-shadow: 0 5px 15px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); transition: all 0.3s ease; cursor: pointer; display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; text-align: center; }#turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic.license-card:hover { transform: translateY(-10px); box-shadow: 0 15px 30px rgba(227, 10, 23, 0.2); }#turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic.license-icon { font-size: 3em; margin-bottom: 15px; background-color: #FFF0F0; width: 80px; height: 80px; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; border-radius: 50%; transition: all 0.3s ease; }#turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic.license-card:hover.license-icon { background-color: #E30A17; color: #FFFFFF; }#turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic.license-type { font-size: 1.5em; font-weight: 700; color: #E30A17; margin-bottom: 10px; }#turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic.license-info { font-size: 0.9em; color: #333333; line-height: 1.4; }#turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic.modal { display: none; position: fixed; z-index: 1000; left: 0; top: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.5); opacity: 0; transition: opacity 0.3s ease; }#turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic.modal.show { opacity: 1; }#turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic.modal-content { background-color: #FFFFFF; margin: 10% auto; padding: 40px; border-radius: 20px; width: 90%; max-width: 600px; box-shadow: 0 15px 30px rgba(0,0,0,0.2); transform: scale(0.7); opacity: 0; transition: all 0.3s ease; }#turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic.modal.show.modal-content { transform: scale(1); opacity: 1; }#turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic.close { color: #B20000; float: right; font-size: 40px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; transition: color 0.3s ease; }#turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic.close:hover { color: #E30A17; }#turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic.modal-title { color: #E30A17; font-size: 2em; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: center; }#turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic.modal-info { display: grid; grid-template-columns: auto 1fr; gap: 15px; align-items: center; }#turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic.modal-info strong { color: #E30A17; }@media (max-width: 768px) { #turkpidya-drivers-license-infographic.license-grid { grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(200px, 1fr)); } }const licenseData = [ { type: “M”, vehicle: “Moped”, age: 16, duration: 10, icon: “🛵” }, { type: “A1”, vehicle: “Motorcycle up to 125cc”, age: 16, duration: 10, icon: “🏍️” }, { type: “A2”, vehicle: “Motorcycle max power 35 kW”, age: 18, duration: 10, icon: “🏍️” }, { type: “A”, vehicle: “Motorcycle over 35 kW”, age: 20, duration: 10, icon: “🏍️” }, { type: “B1”, vehicle: “Four-wheeled motorcycle”, age: 16, duration: 10, icon: “🛺” }, { type: “B”, vehicle: “Cars and Vans”, age: 18, duration: 10, icon: “🚗” }, { type: “BE”, vehicle: “Cars/Vans with Trailer”, age: 18, duration: 10, icon: “🚚” }, { type: “C1”, vehicle: “Trucks up to 7,500 kg”, age: 18, duration: 5, icon: “🚛” }, { type: “C1E”, vehicle: “Trucks (C1) with Trailer”, age: 18, duration: 5, icon: “🚛” }, { type: “C”, vehicle: “Trucks”, age: 21, duration: 5, icon: “🚚” }, { type: “CE”, vehicle: “Trucks with Trailer”, age: 21, duration: 5, icon: “🚛” }, { type: “D1”, vehicle: “Minibus”, age: 21, duration: 5, icon: “🚐” }, { type: “D1E”, vehicle: “Minibus with Trailer”, age: 21, duration: 5, icon: “🚐” }, { type: “D”, vehicle: “Bus”, age: 24, duration: 5, icon: “🚌” }, { type: “DE”, vehicle: “Bus with Trailer”, age: 24, duration: 5, icon: “🚌” }, { type: “F”, vehicle: “Tractor”, age: 18, duration: 10, icon: “🚜” }, { type: “G”, vehicle: “Construction Machinery”, age: 18, duration: 10, icon: “🚧” } ];const licenseGrid = document.getElementById(‘licenseGrid’); const modal = document.getElementById(‘licenseModal’); const modalTitle = document.getElementById(‘modalTitle’); const modalContent = document.getElementById(‘modalContent’); const closeBtn = document.getElementsByClassName(‘close’)[0];licenseData.forEach(license => { const card = document.createElement(‘div’); card.className = ‘license-card’; card.innerHTML = ``; card.addEventListener(‘click’, () => showModal(license)); licenseGrid.appendChild(card); });function showModal(license) { modalTitle.textContent = `License Type ${license.type}`; modalContent.innerHTML = `Vehicle: ${license.vehicle} Min. Age: ${license.age} Years Duration: ${license.duration} Years `; modal.style.display = ‘block’; setTimeout(() => modal.classList.add(‘show’), 10); }closeBtn.onclick = closeModal; window.onclick = (event) => { if (event.target === modal) { closeModal(); } };function closeModal() { modal.classList.remove(‘show’); setTimeout(() => modal.style.display = ‘none’, 300); }

Starting from Scratch: Getting a New License

If you can’t exchange your license, you have to go to school. You will need to enroll in a private driving course (Sürücü Kursu). In cities like Istanbul, Izmir, and Ankara, it is increasingly common to find schools offering theory in English or Arabic.

1. The Theory Exam (E Sınav)

This is a computerized test comprising 50 questions covering First Aid, Traffic Rules, Engine Mechanics, and Traffic Etiquette. You have 45 minutes to score at least 70/100 (35 correct answers).

Cost: ~900 TL.
Insider Tip: Even if you take the exam in English, the translations can be literal and slightly confusing. Study using local apps that feature previous exam questions.

2. The Practical Exam (Direksiyon Sınavı)

The driving test lasts about 35 minutes. An MEB (Ministry of Education) committee will sit in the car with you. It’s strictly gradedmaking minor mistakes like forgetting your seatbelt or failing a parallel park usually results in immediate failure.

Cost: ~1,350 TL.

Final Documents for Issuance

Once you pass, the driving school issues a certificate. You take this to the Nüfus Directorate along with:

1. Education Certificate: Your high school or university diploma. Note: Foreign diplomas usually require a “Denklik” (Equivalency) certificate or a notarized translation.
2. Health Report, Biometric Photo, Criminal Record: Same as the exchange process.

After applying, your license arrives by mail within a few days. You will get a temporary paper document allowing you to drive immediately.

Now that you are legal to drive, the next step is navigating the car market. For a deep dive into vehicles and taxes, read our ultimate guide on Buying a Car in Turkey as a Foreigner.