Turkey Announces New Rules for Using Foreign-Plated Vehicles by Expats

Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi has announced new regulations that make it easier for expatriates and their families to use foreign-plated vehicles while in Turkey.

The minister revealed the new rules in a post on his social media account, saying they introduce important changes to how vehicles registered with foreign license plates can be used inside the country.

Under the previous system, only the person who officially registered the vehicle was allowed to drive it. Under the new regulation, other people will also be allowed to drive the vehicle, provided certain conditions are met.

According to the new rules, which were prepared jointly by two government ministries, vehicles registered with foreign license plates in the name of Turkish citizens living abroad can now be driven by the owner's spouse, parents, grandparents, children, and grandchildren, as long as they also live outside Turkey and the vehicle owner is present in Turkey, even if they are not the one driving.

The regulation also expands who can use the vehicle. People living abroad may drive it as long as the owner is in Turkey, while in emergency situations, residents of Turkey may also drive the vehicle, provided the owner is inside the vehicle.

The new rules are intended to help expatriates returning to Turkey by allowing them to share driving duties during long trips, reducing driver fatigue and improving road safety.

The government expects the new regulation to solve many of the problems foreign-plated vehicle owners face while staying in Turkey, including administrative fines and vehicle impoundment.