Renting a Car in Turkey in 2024 – Safety Tips & Best Companies

With very good roads, scenic drives, and epic viewpoints, renting a car in Turkey is the ultimate way to explore this beautiful country. Yet I understand that driving here isn’t for everyone – some people may have concerns about driving in Turkey (and that’s completely normal), as this destination is still relatively unexplored and, thanks to the media, can sometimes seem a bit intimidating.

When my husband and I lived in Istanbul, we didn’t rent a car right away. At first, we were scared. But around the fourth month, we realized that traveling by plane and bus had too many limitations, so we took the plunge and rented our first car. One rental led to another, then another, and eventually, we started to rent a car for an entire month (and did it in other Turkish cities too) instead of just a few days, as we got so used to it.

All these car rentals gave us valuable experience. Now we know how to rent a car in Turkey, best and worst car rental companies, what is needed (documents to have), what to know about rental car insurance, and how to avoid scams (because, yes, they are common among car rentals in this country).

Below I am sharing all this knowledge together with tips for driving in Turkey, traffic rules, rental costs, and other practical information for a smooth process of Turkey car hire. 

Best Car Rental Company in Turkey

The first thing you need to understand – there is no single company (aggregator) that covers Turkey car hire equally throughout the entire country. The best company to rent a car in Turkey will depend on the region (and your final goal for a trip).

My husband and I personally book through (and recommend) two different companies, depending on the city where we need a car.

The first one has rentals from big companies and another one works only with the best local suppliers. More on what each of them offers and how to choose one for your needs is below. 


Please note: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you).

Is It Safe to Rent a Car in Turkey?

driving rental car in Antalya mountains
In our Izmir car rental when we drove around western and central Turkey on the way to the Beydaglari Mountains

When people ask me this question, I always try to clarify whether they mean safety in terms of driving or rental process itself.

If you’re asking if it is safe to hire a car in Turkey in terms of driving, then yes, it is safe (anywhere in the country from west to east), as long as you don’t mind the slightly chaotic driving styles that are present in and around cities. (Not that you need to rent a car to drive in Turkish cities, but you may have it on hand while staying in Izmir, Bursa, Mersin, or Antalya for example). 

When driving in Turkey and wanting to stay safe, always lock the car and keep valuables out of sight, especially in crowded areas and when leaving it for the night. Additionally, make sure to purchase full insurance coverage to protect yourself from any accidents or damages that may occur during your rental period.

Overall, Turkey is a very good country and is safe, thus renting a car there is also safe. However, if your only driving experience comes from the calm towns of Western Europe or rural America, hiring a car and immediately heading off in Türkiye might be stressful. (Note, not unsafe, but rather stressful).

As for the safety of the rental process, it has a few nuances. Some companies are known to scam customers, so renting from reputable providers is crucial (I list the trustworthy companies below). Stay away from small individual rental car offices often located near hotels or in touristy areas. Also, avoid renting from individuals or unlicensed operators, and then you will be safe.

Be sure to check all my tips out to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Having lived in Turkey for a total of two years (in various regions) and returning annually to travel (often renting cars myself in Bodrum, Izmir, and Dalyan as well as in winter in Antalya, Ankara, and Cappadocia ) I’m sharing my personal experiences and best advice to keep your rental experience stress-free.

Should You Rent a Car in Turkey?

cars parked in Ephesus
driving in Bodrum

Let’s address one of the most common concerns. Many people ask me this question due to hesitation caused by media-driven misconceptions, but there’s really no reason not to hire a car unless you do not feel comfortable driving in unknown surroundings.

Of course, you should not be renting a car when visiting Turkish cities alone (absolute no-no), especially Istanbul. But hiring it to go on a road trip or visit Turkish villages and coastal towns – that’s a different story.

Turkey is a fantastic country for road trips, with well-maintained roads and beautiful scenery. While tours are fun, they limit the ability to explore slowly and reach more remote areas.

Road trips along the Aegean or Mediterranean coasts (like between Fethiye to Pamukkale or Fethiye to Antalya for example) give you access to secluded beaches, hidden historical sites, and scenic routes that are impossible to reach with public transport. Even a simple drive between Istanbul and Izmir opens up a totally different perspective on Western Turkey.

But my favorite place where I believe is especially worth renting a car is Cappadocia because the region is quite spread out and vehicle helps to see more in less time.

Where to Rent a Car in Turkey

There are many rental offices of international companies across Turkey and many aggregators where to rent a car. We tried dozens of them and found two companies that work best and cover the entire country safely. 

They are Discover Cars and LocalRent. Both proved to be reliable, transparent and show genuine care for the client. They also have excellent perks and customer care support. However, they work for different needs.

LocalRent – Best Turkey Car Hire for Hotel Delivery, One Way Rentals & Cheap Cars

rental car in Turkey on a parking lot
One of the cars we rented in Istanbul through LocalRent

LocalRent is the best car hire in Turkey if you are looking to find cheap car rentals or a good selection of SUVs, need a car to be delivered to your accommodation, and when looking for flexible one-way car hire (for example to pick up a car in Istanbul and drop it off in another city and vice versa) as their rates for this service are the lowest.

What makes LocalRent unique is that they work only with local suppliers that they carefully select and check. Any supplier that gets bad reviews or doesn’t meet a level of standard gets removed from the list immediately.

This is why when booking through them, you can be sure that you won’t encounter any scams, but will have a high level of quality service, and always have that exact car that you booked. 

And if something goes wrong, their customer service is just excellent, always helpful, and on top of everything.

Another feature that makes this company stand out is that they offer delivery of a rental car (or pick up) to your doorstep (for an extra fee). That means that it is possible to rent a car not only at the airport but pretty much anywhere around Turkey, including smaller quiet beach towns. In big cities, car rentals are available in different neighborhoods, not just at the airport. See for yourself. 

CHEAP CAR RENTALS IN TURKEY WITH ‘LOCALRENT’

Discover Cars – Top Turkey Car Hire for Airport Rentals & Best Insurance Packages

Discover Cars is another aggregator that we love. It is excellent for finding rental cars anywhere in Turkey. They work with all kinds of companies (including local and international suppliers) but mainly those that are located in and around the airport. They do not have the option to deliver a car to you but offer a ‘meet and greet’ service at the airport.

Discover Cars is great in the sense that it compares prices among all companies that join their network and offers different deals based on your needs, from lowest to highest price. So you have access to a huge car fleet which is very convenient when booking at the last minute.

What we particularly like about them is the transparency (no hidden costs and clear contracts), always very reasonable rates (even in the high season), and very good insurance packages for good prices.

What I recommend you do is compare prices between LocalRent and DiscoverCars in that city where you need a vehicle, and see which one of them has better deals based on your needs. Both of them are the best car rental companies in Turkey with the biggest choice of cars.

COMPARE PRICES & FIND A TURKEY RENTAL CAR WITH DISCOVER CARS

How Much Do Car Rentals Cost?

Turkey is definitely not the cheapest country for renting cars. But it is also not crazily expensive, especially compared to car hire in Dubai or some countries in Europe like when renting a car in Norway or Germany, for example.

The price is significantly higher during the high season, which is rather long – from May until mid-October. During that time the basic mini or economy car will cost around $25-$30 per day. The bigger car will be more expensive. In the off-season, you can expect to pay around $10-$12 per day for the economy class.

I recommend you book a car rental you like right away to avoid the increase in price later.

You may also find companies on the market that offer car rentals for about $5-$6 per day but to be honest, renting anything from them is not a good idea. They always have hidden fees and make you pay more in the end. It just looks pretty cheap in the beginning but then in the end you end up overpaying. 

view from the car window in Antalya region

Where NOT to Hire a Car in Turkey

After our experiences renting cars in Turkey, we were scammed a few times. Once by eDreams (when renting a car at Istanbul airport) an aggregator with numerous hidden fees and deceptive practices. They had absolutely unresponsive support, refused to issue our refund even though we canceled within the allowed timeframe, and until this day they partner with companies that also scam customers.

Another time, when renting a car in Antalya, we were scammed by Green Motion, which provided us with a car in poor condition that fell apart and then they tried to charge us for it upon dropoff. Additionally, when in Bodrum, upon vehicle return Goldcar took part of our deposit for damages on the car that were pre-existing but were not noted on the contract.

Green Motion and Goldcar overall receive quite bad reviews not just in Turkey, but in other countries as well, like when renting cars in Montenegro, Spain, or any other country.

When we travel abroad, especially with the car, we prefer to stay connected with reliable simcards. I recommend you do the same.

Great Choice of a Simcard For Turkey

Turkey Car Rental Requirements & Practical Tips

How to Rent a Car in Turkey

Driving in a rental car in Cappadocia
car parked on cobbled street

You’ll need a driver’s license, passport, and a credit card in the driver’s name to rent a car, that’s it, quite easy (as in most countries). Only the driver’s card can be used for the deposit, so someone else in your group can’t pay the rent.

Make sure you’ve held your license for at least one year. Some companies require two, so check the contract.

If your current license is recently renewed, carry the old one too. The issue date on the new license might not reflect your full driving experience, and it could cause problems. Mark had this issue, but showing his old license solved it.

Do I Need an International Driver’s License to Hire a Car?

No. Car hire companies in Turkey do not require an international driver’s permit (IDP). So you can rent a car and drive for up to 6 months with a US license, European, American, Canadian, UK, or Australian license as well.

I’ve driven in Turkey for over a year and was stopped by the police a few times – they never asked for an IDP. However, you cannot rent a car in Turkey with Indian license or from the UAE if it isn’t in English. In this case, you will need to arrange IDP in advance.

NOTE: For stays in Turkey over 6 months, some rental companies may refuse to give a vehicle based on your last entry stamp, but this is not backed by official law.

Does it Cost More to Have More Than One Driver?

Yes, pretty much always unless it is included in the package. But that happens rarely. Price varies from $5 per day to $25. Or it can be one fixed price for the entire period. For one week, I have seen the price for an extra driver from $20 to $50.

renting a car in Turkey
Driving around the Bodrum Peninsula. If budget allows, I highly recommend you hire a car in Bodrum as there is so much to see in the region!

Renting a Car in Turkey With Insurance – Do You Need It or Not?

Whether to purchase car rental Turkey insurance or not is a personal decision that depends on your own experience and confidence. 

If you ask me if we purchase insurance when renting a car in Turkey, I’ll answer yes, always. In the past, we used insurance from a credit card company (located in the US). But after that time when we lost our entire deposit because this CC company didn’t want to reimburse the money, we stopped relying on it. And now every time we are in Turkey, we always buy car rental insurance.

The question is which type of insurance is better to purchase.

What you need to know is that every car you rent in Turkey comes with Third Party Liability (TPL) and Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) which means that in case of an accident or any damages to the car, you pay the amount up to your deposit. Depending on the company this deposit can be somewhere between $900-$1500, depending on the vehicle class.

But if you want to protect this deposit, you have an option to buy full coverage insurance which means your deposit will be protected. This coverage is not insurance for your vehicle but for your excess only. And it is a good option to have peace of mind without spending much.

The cheapest insurance and a good number of different protection plans are offered by DiscoverCars. You can purchase insurance from them for as little as $7 per day which is the best value for the money. In addition, they usually offer nice bonuses like Roadside assistance and cover extra fees for Lost keys or lockouts.

Check Prices & See Turkey Car Rental Insurance Packages Here

Should You Rent a Car in Istanbul?

For your first or second short trip to Istanbul, there is no need to rent a car. In fact, having a rental vehicle with you will cause a headache. The city is gigantic and the number of sightseeing spots and places to visit will keep you busy for weeks.

However, if you wish to expand your horizons by exploring the surroundings of the city then hiring a car is a great idea. And for that, considering how hectic the streets are and how stressful driving in Istanbul can be, I recommend renting a car in Istanbul airport or nearby.

Do not hire it from rental offices located in hotels or in the neighborhood where you stay (like Sultanahmet, Karakoy, or Balat for example). Getting out of those will take a lot, a lot of time.

driving in Istanbul
Do you need to rent a car in Istanbul? Definitely – no. You need a car only if planning to go outside the city since there is a lot to explore even within one hour of Istanbul

Keep in mind, if you are renting a vehicle in IST airport and plan to drive to the Asian side, there are tolls on all three bridges (that cost between $2-$5 one way) and traffic is usually pretty intense.

Renting a car in Istanbul IST airport works great for those who plan to travel around the European side of Istanbul and go to Canakkale by ferry (with a car). Sabiha Gokcen works better if you plan to stay on the Asian side and go on day trips to the Black Sea coast or explore a bit of the Anatolia region by car.

Thus, if you plan to be in Istanbul for only a few days – you do not need a car. It is better to concentrate on the city and spend more quality time there. For all other reasons, I encourage you to have it because there are tons of activities on the outskirts.   

For more answers about car rental in Istanbul, I offer you to read my rent a car Istanbul guide.

Things to Keep in Mind When Hiring a Car in Turkey

Here are a few more important things to remember in order to have a positive experience:

1.) White is the cheapest color when renting a car in Turkey, this is why it is the most popular and there are so many white cars on the roads. If you want a different color, then choose a car from LocalRent since with them, you receive a specific make and model. 

2.) Returning the car later than the agreed period is subject to a fine. And by later I mean more than one hour, sometimes even less than that. If you know you will be late, better get in touch and let the agent know. In Turkey, companies are more strict with this rule. So if you know you need to extend your rental time, do it in advance.

3.) Before leaving the rental office with the car, do not forget to take photos of the vehicle even if the agent is telling you “everything is ok!”

4.) Always check that you have a spare wheel, key, jack, fire extinguisher, emergency triangle, and first aid kit.

5.) Check all the lights and all illumination on the inside. 

6.) If you plan to drive on toll roads, ask about the payment options. Some cars have HGS stickers that allow you to drive without stopping but they are more expensive than when you pay on your own. For more information about tolls, see the general directorate of highways.

7.) And the last thing… if you plan to have a second driver then be sure to add his/her name to the contract. When paying and making a deposit, the card should be under the main driver’s name, not the secondary one. 

Alright, this is it for now. I was trying to cover all the main questions about the process of car rent in Turkey. If you have any other questions, please drop them in the comment section, so others could also see my response. And happy driving! 


Are You Planning a Trip to Turkey?

I have tons of resources on travel in Turkey and how to make the most of your trip. Check out my Turkey Travel Guide page for more inspiration and practical tips. If starting a journey in Istanbul, here is my Istanbul travel planning page. Below are just some of the articles:

Need more inspiration for travel by car in Turkey? See the following posts:

Renting a car in Turkey guide #turkeytravel #turkeytraveltips #istanbul #antalya #bodrum
Renting a car in Turkey guide
 
 

Similar Posts

52 Comments

  1. Amazing! I know nothing about traveling all over the country, what a wonderful looking place to explore.

    1. Most of the article that stated are valid. We recently came back from a 16 days trip. We did not rent a vehicle in Istanbul but did rent in other Cities. Roads are far better for my aching back. We booked with Avis, despite booking with them – there’s something most Westerners don’t know neither did we. Avis has a fuel policy on quality of gasoline that can be used as per vehicle user manual. If the vehicle or engine gets in trouble with poor quality gasoline the tenant is liable. This is what is happening to us. Our 9 seater van got into trouble in Denizli. We filled the gas tank at Petrol ofisi on our way to Pamakkule. We drove with no issues. But the next day morning as we headed out we started to get warning signs saying “water in diesel tank, repair needed”. Avis road assistance was awful other than saying a technician will contact you which they never did. For many cities we rented most renters are private companies who go under Avis. We finally went to Avis Denizli who helped us. But they made us to go to Service station. Lo behold it took more than 7 hours to get a replacement vehicle. This was on May 18, 2022 and as of today Avis Kayseri and customer support are giving us a run around, saying fuel test results are not complete. So beware of reputed Avis company as well.
      Also most car rental companies ask for a deposit which they take 7-8 days or more to refund.
      I have no trust with Avis as it’s horrible

      1. Great addition to the post, thank you for stopping by to share. However, a quick note.

        Most companies in Turkey say in their contracts that they take up to 30 days to return the deposit, although it happens much faster, depending on the bank. 7-8 days sounds right but that’s normal, nothing to worry about.

        1. Thanks Anya. We got deposits back from 2 rental locations. We complained to Avis International and they claim to refund us a days worth of rent. But the deposit when fuel caused the issues, unfortunately no refunds. What I am frustrated is with the policy and no process or paperwork to support that Fuel caused the damage. Neither has Avis stepped in to find the root cause. It’s only word of mouth.

          So buyer beware is caution.

  2. I serisously appreciate so much the people who take the time to write these kinds of articles. I am an avid traveller and everytime before I travel somewhere, I do a lot of research. I love when people write and post articles like these to offer helpful advice to those considering travelling to these places as well. Thank you so much! Great article!

    1. Thank you, Catherine, for your kind words! I truly enjoy writing here and sharing a few of my experiences with the world. Thank you for stopping by to read and leave a comment!

  3. if my wife paying for the car rental but she is not have a driving licence how? because i’m a main driver and i don’t have a credit card.

    1. Hi Chandra, it might be a problem, to be honest. Usually, the company requires to provide a credit card of a driver. But if it is impossible, you can make your wife the main driver and add yourself as a second driver. In this case, you’ll be able to drive using your wife’s card. If you decide to go with this option, keep in mind there is an extra expense for an additional driver.
      I also recommend you get in touch with myrentacar customer service and ask them the same question. They might be able to make arrangements for you on your behalf and help you out.

  4. thank you for the information … but just to reconfim please that i can drive my rented car while lockdown timing and freely moving around istanbul and visit tourest attractions?

    1. Hi Adel, so sorry for the late reply, I hope this information is still relevant.
      Yes, you can drive your rented car during the lockdown anywhere you want! Lockdown in Turkey doesn’t affect tourists. In fact, now is the best time to visit Turkey and go on road trips! Tourist places are empty and you can enjoy them on your own. We are now traveling around Turkey too and it feels amazing! We went to Pamukkale just when curfew started and were the only visitors there and it felt incredible! We are now in Cappadocia, there are only a few tourists (balloons fly), accommodation prices are low as well and prices for tours dropped too. Now is seriously the best time to be in Turkey!

      P.S. On the days of lockdowns when we drive around, there are police blocks on some roads where they stop every vehicle to see the documents that allow traveling. Since we are tourists, we just show them our passports and that’s it. Some policemen check the first page of the passport, others check the entry date, and others don’t check anything and just wish us a good day. Nothing to worry about. You can move around Istanbul or any other city in Turkey as a tourist, no problem! Tourist attractions are empty without crowds of people and you can enjoy them to the fullest!

  5. Dear Anja! Thank You for your article! I saw You updated it in June 2021.
    We will plan to travel to Turkey next week, but there is no one car belove 45 $/day. Especially if you drop it off at a place other than where you picked it up, than it is a horrible amount. We need a car from Mardin. Do you have any idea why I get such high prices?
    Thank You!!

    1. Hi Kinga, yes this post is up to date and all information is relevant.

      The thing is that prices are really much higher now all over Turkey since it’s July and Turkey has just opened up fully and everyone is trying to make money on tourists. Plus Mardin is more expensive than other cities since it’s less popular among travelers.
      If you need to drop a car in a different location, I suggest you pick up a car in Mardin and drop it off in the next city you are going to (which will also have cheaper car rentals) and rent another car there and then drop it off in your final destination. Let’s say you are traveling from Mardin to Fethiye and go through Alanya or Antalya. In this case, I suggest you rent a car in Mardin and drop it off in Alanya or Antalya in a day or two when you reach it and then rent another car in one of those cities for the rest of your trip and drop it off in Fethiye (or your final destination).
      I know it is not very convenient but it will definitely help you save money since Mardin is a more expensive city where to rent a car.

      Also, if you want, you can send me an email with the details of your trip and I’ll check all deals for you and suggest a few options.

  6. We rented a car from trabzon. We had noticed later after signing the lease that the tires are worn off ( very smooth tires ). We asked them if they could replace us with another car. They said they don’t have any available. Now we are asking them to at least replace the tires. I was wondering if i could get a refund from them and go to another company to rent another car. Is that possible?

    1. Whatever you are describing is a legitimate reason to get a refund. If you rented through myrentacar, they will definitely help you in one way or another but I cannot say the same about other aggregators. Get in touch with the customer service asap and let them handle it for you.

  7. Thanks for sharing up–to-date on this subject! I find it is very informative and very well written one! Keep up on this quality

  8. Hi
    I have a question about renting a car in Turkey. I have never rented a car in Turkey, and I have been living here for 7 1/2 years. Do the car rental companies allow you to drive the car out of the country, and return it back to its origin?

  9. Thank you Anya for providing thorough, accurate and very informative descriptions.
    While I have been living abroad for over 30 years, I visit my home country Turkiye at least once a year, and my experiences with renting a car and driving in Turkiye are exactly as you describe.
    Cheers!

  10. Hi Anya,

    Firstly, thank you for your brilliant posts. I’ve been reading almost all of your posts regarding Turkey and can’t thank you enough for how detailed, clear and useful there are! Thank you!

    I’ve question. I’m from India and planning to travel to Turkey for a couple of weeks from Christmas. Last time when my brother (a British passport holder) and I went to Italy
    and tried to hire a car, they wouldnt accept an Indian driving licence (mine) while of course accepted my brother’s UK driving licence and lent us a car.

    This time however, it’s my wife and I who are traveling to Turkey and was concerned about the sufficiency of Indian driving licences for renting a car in Turkey. Do you think you could help with any info on this?

    Many thanks!

    1. Hi Chandru,

      I had other readers from India rent a car in Turkey and so far they had no problem picking it from the supplier. But what I can recommend doing to double-check on that is to get in touch with Myrentacar company customer service (they are quick to respond) and ask them the same exact question. They will get in touch with rental companies and ask them directly for you.

      As far as I know, Turkey doesn’t discriminate on the origin of a driver’s license, it just has to meet the international standard (be written in Latin alphabet at least) but if you want to be completely sure, please contact Myrentacar right away. They should get back to you within a few hours.

      And one more thing, as I mentioned higher in this post, I wouldn’t even bother renting from cheap suppliers like Gold Car, Green Motion, etc. because they are deceiving customers everywhere and can really come up with a reason like this one about the license or similar even if they don’t have any right to do so. They’ll just make up a story and charge you for it anyway.

  11. Hello,
    I am planning a trip for next year. We will begin and end in Istanbul, but spend a couple of weeks driving around. Everything I have seen counsels against driving in Istanbul, so I don’t plan to have a car for the time we are there (we are staying in Sultanahmet), but am trying to decide between renting a car near the hotel and braving Istanbul once to get out and once to get back, or taking the ferry to Yalova and renting there. I know we could also rent from Bandirma or Bursa, but there seemed to be more felxibility with times going to Yalova. We would be initially going west out of Istanbul and down to Canakkale.
    Also, are there specific car makes/models to avoid standing out as a tourist? I usually drive an older VW Touareg. Most rentals are smaller than this. Does a small SUV in general stand out? I have seen VW Caravelles–are streets likely to be too small for a larger vehicle? It will most likely be two of us, but there is a possibility of two others joining for part of the trip. Appreciate any insight!
    Ellen

    1. Hi Ellen,
      Yes, you do not need a car in Istanbul, especially in the Sultanahmet area. I also don’t recommend you rent a car near your hotel since it will be a hassle parking it, getting out/in Istanbul and rent will cost much more than near the airport.

      Instead, I’d recommend you rent a car in Sabiha Gokcen International Airport from where you can drive to Yalova/Canakkale taking Osmangazi Bridge. It is very easy to get to Sabikha from Sultanahmet by ferry/bus. It is out East and is mostly out of congested Istanbul streets. Also, cars are the cheapest at that airport and drive to Bursa or Yalova isn’t very long. If you don’t want to take Osmangazi Bridge (which has a toll), there is a way to go around the bay through Izmit. That route is longer but more scenic.

      As for SUVs, you will see plenty of those on the road. Small cars would be easier to navigate on tiny streets in iconic old towns, but if you don’t plan to visit those (Canakkale has lots of wide areas) or park outside old cities, I wouldn’t worry about it. If you’re used to driving a Touareg on regular basis already, I wouldn’t stress much about the size. Just rent whatever you are more comfortable with. The only thing that I’d probably avoid would be a red color. By statistics, police in Turkey stop more red cars for some reason.

  12. Is it possible to rent a car from Istanbul, drive to Cappadocia via the coastline and then return the car to Kayseri airport?. At that point we would fly back to Istanbul. Thanks for your input

    1. Yes, it is possible through Myrentacar company (they changed their name to Localrent), although there will be a charge for a drop-off in a different location. The amount depends on the distance between the cities where you pick it up and drop it off and all prices are available online when you check on their website.

      The only thing you want to pay attention to is the limit of mileage, if you plan to travel to Cappadocia via coast within a short period of time, then rent a car with unlimited mileage. Some companies set a limit when the car is taken in one city and dropped off in another one.

      1. Kayseri is the worst airport for car returns. It’s a small airport and there are No signs for car returns. Even police could not help me, parking attendant did not know where cars are retuned. If you don’t speak Turkish this airport is horrible for a tourist to return the car. Finally after a long hour of agitation I finally found where the underground returns are. A gentleman who spoke some English guided me. Inside the parking lot there’s a small entrance close to the exit to drive down. Despite airport being a tourist center not many spoke English.

  13. Great article, having just returned from Turkey and explored both the Bozburn & Datca peninsulas – we collected & returned our car to Dalaman airport – driving in Turkey is pure joy, the roads and views are awsome.

    As Anya states, please overcome your aprehensions (if you have them) embrace the adventure and rent a car – you will get so so much out of it.

    We will, without doubt, be renting again next time we go to Turkey – it’s a “no brainer” 🙂

    1. Hi Mike, thank you for your input! 🙂

      Once you hit the road, you quickly understand that driving is really easy and enjoyable. I am glad you guys loved it, the coast area is particularly scenic, so going by car is the best choice!

  14. Hi, we are planning a family holiday in Dec (17-29). We plan to fly into Istanbul, drive to Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Selcuk and then back to Istanbul. I got a deal on Booking.com through Cizgi. Would you recommend driving? Is Cizgi a reliable car rental company. We thought of getting a Ford Tourney as we are 4 adults with 4 big bags and due to the long drives thought more space would be better. We travel from South Africa.

    I love your thorough articles and find it most valuable!

    Kind regards,
    Tania

    1. Hi Tania,
      I definitely recommend driving in Turkey as it is an amazing experience but I can’t say anything about the company you mention. I hear about them for the first time. Whatever I use and recommend is in this post above.
      In my experience, the best company for renting a car in Turkey from a local is LocalRent that I also mention in almost all my posts. Localrent does a thorough selection and works only with checked and reliable companies while booking registers everyone who wants to rent cars through them, good or bad. I’ve rented too many cars in Turkey to know how disappointing it can be to rent a vehicle through a wrong supplier, so I prefer to stick to those companies I refer to and sometimes pay a bit more not to have any problems later.
      One tip that I could give you – do not go with the company that offers the cheapest rate. It is a trick a supplier sets to attract customers but they’ll always charge you more in the end, claiming they charge for a tax, tolls, made up damage, or anything else. I don’t know how good the deal on cizgi is but if you compare it to other deals and see the price is significantly lower, I’d be alert and avoid it at any cost.

  15. Amazing post must say. Thanks for providing accurate information. This is a perfect guide to renting a car and driving in Turkey. The Do’s and Don’t are also helpful.

  16. Hi Anya, thanks for the comprehensive guides you wrote.
    I’m planning a road trip in Turkey this coming February, starting from Izmir – Kusadasi – Pamukkale – Cappadocia. Do you think I would need a winter packs (snow tires and chains)?
    *I don’t plan to visit mountains along the route.

    1. Hi Juan,

      No, you do not need any snow tires or chains for the route you asked me about. Izmir and Kusadasi areas have temperatures above 0 in February and never get any snow. Pamukkale might get snow powder but that doesn’t really affect driving. You might see some snow in Cappadocia at this time of the year but roads there are good and clean. However, for Cappadocia you do need to have at least seasonal tires, so make sure to check that with the rental company (although they are good with following the rules).

      Enjoy your road trip! February is really a good month to rent a car and travel in Turkey!

  17. Hi Anya,
    Thank you so much for this thorough and detailed article on car hire in Turkey. My question is:
    Can I rent a van in Istanbul city center and drop off at Kusadasi city center?

    1. Hi Lidee,

      Sure, you can rent a van in Istanbul city center and drop it off in Kusadaci, however, such delivery requirements are very limited among big aggregators. Your best option is to book through Local Rent. If you check their website, you will see they have an option during the booking process of delivery to the desired address. The same is for the drop-off in Kusadasi.

      However, also keep in mind that the company will charge you extra dollars for delivery and one-way rental, which is the cost of convenience. For the van, expect to pay around $200 for that (plus the amount for the rental itself) but I recommend you play with the dates to find a better price. Also, if you feel you need help, get in touch with the company directly (they have an easy contact form on the website) and ask them to help you arrange a vehicle.

      I hope that helps!

  18. Hello Anya, glad to find your nice website and lots of great info, thank you! I’m planning a road trip (3+ weeks) through Turkey with my parents. When renting from Istanbul (SEW airport), I am leaning towards rental with unlimited mileage. Is that what you would suggest? (I plan to drive all the way down to Antalya through the middle of the country one way, then coastal route back to SEW). Thanks for your advice.

    1. Hi Roger,

      That sounds like a great plan. And I think you are right to take the unlimited mileage option to take away the stress of going over the limit. And the good thing is unlimited mileage usually doesn’t even cost extra. I checked DiscoverCars and most of the deals there come without a limit on kilometers.

      If you have any other questions about your trip, let me know!

  19. Thanks Anya, very detailed and helpful. Bdw do you know whether Nissa is a reliable rental company? It gets mixed reviews, and it is cheaper than the rest.

    1. Hey Pas, my take on car hire in Turkey – never rent anything from companies that get bad reviews, if mixed reviews than it still can be fine, but if only bad reviews – stay away from it. I rented dozens of times cars from different rentals and had quite a few bad experiences, especially those ones that were offering very cheap cars (being in the same location) when average price on the market was higher.

      It doesn’t mean you will get a bad experience as many other people, but chances are very high. None of the companies will work at a loss, so if there is a very low price on an ongoing basis (compared to everyone else), there is something else behind it and other charges are coming, but in a different form.

      Also, one thing to remember – in Turkey, it is very easy to close a company and then reopen it with the different name on the following day. Nissa could be Trissa last year but if it was getting very bad reviews, they could just close it and reopen under a new name and ‘fresh start’. I am not saying this is what this company did, but just something to keep in mind when renting a car in Turkey.

      I’d say this – if you are on a very tight budget and Nissa offers what you can afford, take it, but get insurance to protect yourself, in this case, they won’t have any claims.

  20. Hi! thanks for this.

    Question, how do we rent a car to take outside of Istanbul? I’m finding every company I found said no cross border driving. I’m trying to go from Istanbul to Bulgaria down to Greece and back.

    1. Hi Hetal, that’s correct, it is not allowed to take a rental car in Turkey outside the country. You can take it outside Istanbul to travel around Turkey, but not to cross the border into other countries.

  21. You did such a fantastic job with this article. Thank you so much for this. I just have a question about getting the rental from IST. Since it’s advised to not drive in Istanbul, how should I go about renting the car? Do I pick it up and just park it for a few days while in Istanbul (while taking public transp during the stay)? Or rent from another city?
    -Kay

    1. Hi Kay, if you plan to spend a few days in Istanbul before going on a drive outside the city, do not rent a car right when you arrive. It is better to do so on the day of check out from your hotel or airbnb or at least a day before it.

      Traffic in Istanbul is really bad, especially so in historic neighborhoods where most tourists stay (I assume you’ll be in one of them too). Plus, there are parking costs and a need to pay extra for the car rental for those days when you won’t be using it while in the city.

      I’d say the best option to rent a car would be on your last day in Istanbul after you check out from accommodation. Yes, you will need to spend some time on reaching the airport again to pick up the vehicle but it will cost you less money and effort compared to that time when renting a car on the day of arrival.

  22. I just made a reservation but then noticed that when I pick the car up I have to pay in cash in Euro ?
    Is this really true that I wont be able to rent the car on my credit card?

    1. Hi Julienne, it depends on the provider you’ve chosen. Most likely you booked from a company that offers car rentals for cash (very convenient for people who don’t have CC to book with). If you are absolutely sure there is no option to choose how to pay, then I recommend you get in touch with the company (since you’ve already made a reservation, you should have all their contact info) and ask if you can pay by credit card. Most say yes.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *