License RequirementsUK Licence in Turkey 2026: 1968 IDP or Notarised Copy
To drive in Turkey on a UK licence you need a 1968 International Driving Permit or a UK licence notarised in Turkish, plus a green card proving third-party insurance. Buy the IDP before you fly.
Your UK licence alone is not enough in Turkey. You need the 1968 version of the International Driving Permit — or a UK licence notarised in Turkish — plus a green card proving third-party insurance.
The version number matters
There are three International Driving Permits in circulation, issued under conventions signed in 1926, 1949 and 1968, and they are not interchangeable. Turkey wants the 1968 one. UK government guidance is unambiguous: “You need a 1968 international driving permit (IDP) or a UK driving licence notarised in Turkish to drive in Turkey”, and it adds the insurance requirement in the same breath — “You must also carry a green card to show you have third party insurance” (gov.uk foreign travel advice).
There is one more sentence worth taking seriously: “You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.” There is no Turkish office that will sell you one, no online issuer that counts, and no sympathy at the roadside for having meant to get round to it. The Post Office issues it over the counter for GBP 5.50 while you wait.
What to Carry in the Car
- UK photocard licence
- 1968 IDP, or your licence notarised in Turkish
- Green card (third-party insurance proof)
- Passport
- Rental agreement or V5C and insurance certificate
The HGS Toll Tag
Turkish motorways run on HGS electronic tolling. There are no cash booths: a gantry reads a windscreen tag and debits an account. A rental car should arrive with a valid, topped-up tag, and if it does not, you accumulate penalties silently as you drive.
Confirm at pick-up that the tag is fitted and funded. This is the single most common administrative problem foreign drivers hit in Turkey, and it surfaces weeks later as a charge on the card the rental company holds.
Other Driving Rules to Know
- Motorway speed limit: 130 km/h (140 km/h on build-operate-transfer toll motorways)
- Blood alcohol limit: 0.05 BAC
- Driving side: Right
- Minimum driving age: 18
- Licence validity for visitors: 6 months
Confirm licence validity for your trip
Check Permit RequirementsWhat Most Guides Don’t Tell You
Brexit changed nothing here
Turkey is not in the EU and never was, so the UK’s departure did not alter the arrangement. British drivers needed an IDP for Turkey before 2020 and need one now. If a guide frames this as a post-Brexit change, it is describing a rule that was already in place.
EDS cameras measure the whole stretch
Turkish enforcement leans on EDS average-speed systems on the intercity motorways rather than single-point radar. Slowing for a gantry and accelerating away from it is pointless — the system computes your average between two readings and issues on that.
Fines are settled at the exit
Foreign-plated and rental vehicles are commonly stopped at toll exits so that outstanding penalties can be settled before the driver leaves the country. Carry a card that works in Turkey.
Driving on the right, from the left
British drivers face the usual mirror-image adjustment at junctions and roundabouts, compounded by traffic that is denser and faster than most visitors expect around Istanbul and Izmir. Take the first hour gently.
How Turkey Compares
| Country | IDP for a UK licence | Insurance document | Max stay | Driving side |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 1968 IDP or notarised translation | Green card | 6 months | Right |
| Greece | Not required | Standard EU cover | 12 months | Right |
| Bulgaria | Not required | Standard EU cover | 12 months | Right |
| Georgia | Recommended | Local policy | 12 months | Right |
Key Facts at a Glance
| Country | Turkey |
| UK licence accepted | Yes, with an IDP or notarised translation |
| IDP version | 1968 |
| IDP cost | GBP 5.50 at a UK Post Office |
| Insurance | Green card required |
| Max stay on foreign licence | 6 months |
| Minimum driving age | 18 |
| Driving side | Right |
| Blood alcohol limit | 0.05 |
| Tolls | HGS electronic tag, no cash booths |
| Emergency number | 112 |
Explore More
Full rules, fines & requirements
Winter tyres, tread depth & rules
Renting a Car?
Compare prices from all major rental companies. Free cancellation on most bookings.
Compare Car Rental PricesSome links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How our affiliate links work.
Related Questions
Yes. UK government guidance states you need a 1968 international driving permit or a UK driving licence notarised in Turkish to drive in Turkey. The 1949 and 1926 versions do not apply here.
At a UK Post Office, over the counter, for GBP 5.50. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so it has to be obtained before you travel.
A green card showing third-party insurance cover. UK government guidance lists it alongside the IDP as a must-carry document.
Up to six months as a visitor. Beyond that you are into the process for a Turkish licence.