Turkey on an Italian Licence — No IDP, but Istanbul Traffic Is the Real Test

Per chi si chiede se si può guidare in Turchia: yes, and with the Italian licence alone. The Farnesina’s Viaggiare Sicuri sheet for Turkey lists the Italian licence among the documents for driving, and Turkish regulation (article 88) lets a foreign licence be used for six months from the date you enter. No International Driving Permit is needed for a holiday. Both countries drive on the right, so the licence is the easy part and the traffic is the lesson.

A note on conflicting permit advice

Some sources, including a UK government note aimed at British drivers, say a 1968 IDP or a notarised licence is needed and that the 1949 permit is no longer accepted. That advice is written for UK and other non-EU licences. For an Italian licence the more specific source is Italy’s own foreign ministry, and it names the licence as sufficient, so this page follows it. If a rental desk asks for more, ask them to put the requirement in writing. The Driving Permit Checker shows the position for neighbouring countries on the way, such as Greece or Bulgaria.

If you bring your own car

A car from Italy needs a Green Card that covers all of Turkey. If the car belongs to someone else, the Farnesina advises travelling with the owner’s notarised authorisation, ideally with a Turkish translation. Rental cars avoid both problems.

Speed limits compared with Italy

The 140 km/h figure applies to cars on build-operate-transfer toll motorways, a category with no Italian equivalent, and it has stood since 2 June 2022. Italians who treat 130 as a ceiling should note that the signed number on a toll motorway may be higher than they expect.

Fines under the new Turkish scale

Since 27 February 2026 Turkey fines by the number of km/h over, not by percentage. In towns, 6-10 over is TRY 2,000, 11-15 over TRY 4,000, 16-20 over TRY 6,000, 21-25 over TRY 8,000 and 26-35 over TRY 12,000. Outside towns, nothing is fined below 11 km/h over. The top band, 66 or more over in town, brings TRY 30,000 and 90 days without a licence. Italy’s matching bands run from EUR 42-173 up to EUR 543-2,170, so for small excesses the Turkish sums look lower.

The other offences work the same way. No seatbelt costs TRY 2,500, roughly EUR 65; a hand-held phone or a red light costs TRY 5,000, roughly EUR 130. In Italy a phone costs EUR 250-1,000 with a suspension of 15 days to 2 months. The Farnesina warns that a driver who cannot pay on the spot may have the vehicle impounded, and that speeding or drink-driving can lead to withdrawal of the licence and a ban on driving in Turkey.

Alcohol

The headline limit is 0.05 for a private car without a trailer, the same figure as Italy. It falls to zero for every other vehicle, including a car towing a caravan. Italy’s zero rule for drivers under 21 and in their first three years does not carry over as a specific rule, but the safe habit does. The Farnesina lists a fine and/or 15 to 60 days’ arrest for drink-driving.

What the road is like

The Italian foreign ministry warns of frequent accidents, particularly in summer, caused by inadequate roads and often careless driving, and of agricultural vehicles without lights at night on rural roads. UK advice says roads between major cities are generally excellent while surfaces in remote areas may be poor. Istanbul’s ring roads and bridges can clog for hours and lane changes are sudden, so use live traffic and avoid the centre at rush hour on the first day. After an accident, you must wait for the police.

Kit and numbers

Turkey requires a fire extinguisher, a first-aid kit, spare bulbs and a warning triangle in the car. Italy asks for a reflective vest, which Turkey only recommends. The emergency numbers differ from Italy’s 118, 115 and 113: in Turkey dial 112 for ambulance (and as the general line), 110 for fire and 155 for police. The wider rules are in the Turkey driving guide, and the guide to who pays driving fines abroad explains what happens to a ticket after you leave.

Sources

• Ministero degli Affari Esteri, Viaggiare Sicuri, Turchia country sheet (Italian licence; Green Card; notarised authorisation; 0.05% / 0%; 15-60 days’ arrest; wait for police after an accident; vehicle impounded for unpaid fines; licence withdrawal; 112): viaggiaresicuri.it
• Karayolları Trafik Yönetmeliği, article 88, amended through Resmî Gazete issue 31146 dated 5 June 2020, on using a foreign licence for six months from entry: resmigazete.gov.tr
• Law no. 7574 amending the Highway Traffic Law, Resmî Gazete of 27 February 2026 (step fines by km/h over): resmigazete.gov.tr
• Karayolları Genel Müdürlüğü, legal speed limits table (50 / 90 / 110 / 130 / 140 km/h for cars): kgm.gov.tr
• GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Turkey, safety and security (road conditions between cities and in remote areas): gov.uk