Driving — Turkey
What travelers need to know about driving in Turkey. What is legal at home can be a serious crime here — each rule links to its official source.
Driving in Turkey: restricted — there are real limits travelers must follow.
Turkey's drink-driving limit is 0.50 per mille for a private car and 0.21 per mille for anything else — a rented van, a minibus, any commercial vehicle. Being over it is an administrative offence punished whatever else follows, and the money changed drastically in February 2026: the first-offence fine went from 700 to 25,000 Turkish lira and your licence is taken for six months. Refusing the roadside test is punished harder than failing it, and a withdrawn licence is only returned once every fine under the Act has been paid.
Over 0.50 per mille in a private car, or 0.21 per mille in any other vehicle (Highway Traffic Act No. 2918, art. 48): a 25,000 TRY administrative fine and the driving licence withdrawn for 6 months, even where the act is also a crime. Counting back 5 years from the latest offence: second time 50,000 TRY and 2 years; third or more 150,000 TRY and 5 years each time. Refusing to be measured: 150,000 TRY and the licence withdrawn 5 years. Narcotic or stimulant use: 150,000 TRY and the licence cancelled. Over 1.00 per mille also brings Turkish Penal Code art. 179(3); causing an accident over 0.50 per mille (0.20 in other vehicles) brings the Penal Code as well. Amounts set by Law No. 7574 of 12/2/2026.
§ Cumhurbaşkanlığı Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi — Karayolları Trafik Kanunu (Kanun No. 2918), madde 48, as amended by Kanun No. 7574 of 12/2/2026 (amending table: art. 48 in force 27/2/2026)Verified Oct 5, 2026