One of the questions we hear most often from Turks living in Europe or making a permanent return to Turkey is: "Can I bring my car to Turkey, and how?" The answer depends on your situation: on a permanent return to Turkey it is duty-free import (bedelsiz ithalat, the vehicle 'permi'); for those who continue to live abroad it is temporary entry; and for people resident in Turkey the only route is normal import. As for physically getting the car from Europe to Turkey, the safest and most economical way is not to drive it yourself but to send it on a double-deck car carrier: no mileage is added, you do not queue at borders and the risk of damage is lower. In this guide we cover transport methods, customs entry conditions, documents, taxes, transit times and insurance.
Vehicle Transport Methods
| Method | Description | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Open double-deck carrier | 6-9 vehicle capacity, regular weekly departures; the most economical | Standard cars, SUVs, light commercial vehicles |
| Enclosed carrier | Protection from weather and stone chips; 2-4 vehicles | Luxury, classic and sports cars |
| Container / inside a truck | Vehicle travels in the same truck or container as your household goods | Household goods + car together on a permanent return |
| Ro-Ro (ship) | Trieste/Toulon – Turkish ports; without a driver | Alternative route, longer transit |
REG Transport runs regular car-carrier departures to Turkey from Germany (Frankfurt), the Netherlands, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom; for UK vehicles the Channel crossing and the export declaration are included.
Bringing a Foreign-Plated Vehicle into Turkey: Three Scenarios
1. Duty-free import (vehicle permi) — permanent return to Turkey
- For people who have lived abroad for at least 24 months and are making a permanent return to Turkey.
- The vehicle must have been registered in your name for at least 6 months before the date of your permanent return.
- The vehicle must be no more than 3 years old (model-year rule: 3 model years including the year of return).
- The entitlement can be used once every 5 years, per family, and is independent of the household goods entitlement.
- "Duty-free" covers the customs duty only; ÖTV (special consumption tax) and VAT are payable according to the engine size and value of the vehicle. For cars with large engines the tax burden in Turkey can therefore be substantial; we calculate an estimate at the survey stage.
- Right-hand-drive vehicles (from the UK) cannot be registered for road use in Turkey.
2. Temporary entry — for those who continue to live abroad
- People resident abroad (at least 185 days outside Turkey in the last year) can use their foreign-plated vehicle temporarily in Turkey for up to 730 days (Vehicle Tracking Programme).
- The vehicle is recorded against the owner's passport; it cannot be driven by anyone else in Turkey or sold there.
- Temporary entry can also be processed for vehicles arriving on a car carrier, but the owner must be present at customs.
3. Normal import — people resident in Turkey
When someone living in Turkey wants to bring a car from Europe, the import of used vehicles is prohibited as a rule; only brand-new vehicles, or those meeting specific conditions, can be imported on payment of customs duty + ÖTV + VAT. We assess requests of this kind in advance with our customs broker.
Required Documents
- Vehicle registration document (original; Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and II in Germany, V5C in the UK)
- Passport; for a permanent return, the consular certificate of permanent return and proof of residence abroad (Abmeldung, council tax, tenancy agreement)
- Invoice / proof of purchase and, where applicable, a loan settlement letter (a vehicle under finance cannot leave the country)
- Export plates / export declaration (Ausfuhrkennzeichen in Germany; DVLA "permanent export" notification in the UK)
- Power of attorney (for Turkish customs formalities)
- Certificate of Conformity (CoC) — for registration in Turkey
- Turkish motor insurance and roadworthiness inspection (at the registration stage)
The Process Step by Step
- Eligibility assessment: based on the registration and residence details, we confirm eligibility for duty-free import or temporary entry and estimate the taxes.
- Documents and exit formalities: deregistration/export plates in the European country of departure; export declaration.
- Vehicle handover: collection from your address or delivery to our Frankfurt or London depot, with a photographed condition report at handover.
- Transport: by double-deck carrier under T1 transit; Germany–Turkey 5-8 days, UK–Turkey 8-12 days.
- Turkish customs: transit via Kapıkule, declaration at the customs office of destination (duty-free import or temporary entry); payment of ÖTV/VAT (for duty-free import).
- Delivery and registration: the vehicle is delivered to your address and we hand over the documents you need for registration (plates).
Insurance and Damage Management
- A photographed condition report at collection and at delivery; every scratch is recorded.
- CMR carrier liability cover is standard; fully comprehensive transit insurance based on the vehicle's value is optional and recommended.
- On an open carrier the risk of stone chips is low but not zero; for luxury cars we recommend an enclosed carrier.
- No personal belongings may be carried inside the vehicle (customs rule), and the fuel tank must be no more than a quarter full.
What Determines the Cost?
- City/country of departure and delivery city in Turkey
- Open or enclosed carrier; vehicle size (extra space for SUVs and vans)
- Customs services: export in the country of departure, T1, Turkish declaration; ÖTV/VAT (on duty-free import, depending on the vehicle)
- Insurance cover
- Crane or forklift loading for a non-running vehicle
Common Mistakes
- Making your permanent return while the vehicle has been registered in your name for less than 6 months.
- Planning a duty-free import with a vehicle more than 3 years old.
- Bringing a car with a large engine without factoring in ÖTV/VAT.
- Trying to send a financed vehicle without export plates.
- Letting someone else drive a vehicle that entered under temporary entry, or overstaying the period — heavy fines apply.
- Bringing a right-hand-drive vehicle from the UK.
Example Scenario: A Permanent-Return Car from Frankfurt to Bursa
An engineer who has worked in Frankfurt for 10 years is making a permanent return to Bursa; his 1.5-year-old car with a 1.5-litre engine has been registered in his name for 14 months. The eligibility assessment confirms that the duty-free import conditions are met, and the estimated ÖTV/VAT is calculated. Export plates are obtained in Frankfurt, the car is handed over at our depot with a photographed condition report, and it sets off on a double-deck carrier in the same week as his household goods. On day six the declaration is lodged and the taxes paid at Bursa customs; on day eight the car is delivered, with the registration documents ready. The vehicle arrives outside his new home with no added mileage and no damage.
Why REG Transport?
- Regular double-deck car-carrier departures on the Europe–Turkey route, including the UK.
- Household goods and vehicle planned together; one file for all your permanent-return documents.
- Free eligibility and tax pre-assessment; transparent quotation; photographed condition report; fully comprehensive insurance option.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to transport a car from Germany to Turkey?
5-8 days on the carrier; 7-10 days including customs formalities. From the UK, 8-12 days.
Do I pay tax on my car when I make a permanent return?
Customs duty is exempt; ÖTV and VAT are payable according to engine size and value. Send us your registration details for a preliminary calculation.
I live abroad and want to use my car in Turkey over the summer.
This is possible under temporary entry for up to 730 days; you can send the car on a carrier and collect it yourself at customs.
Can I send belongings inside the car?
No; under customs rules the vehicle must be empty. Your belongings travel on the same departure under a separate declaration.
Do you transport motorcycles, caravans or boats?
Yes; motorcycles travel crated, and caravans and boats are moved with specialist equipment.
Let's Plan Your Vehicle Transport
Complete the quote form with your registration details and addresses, and we will send the eligibility assessment and a written quotation the same day. Learn more about our international vehicle transport, moving household goods from Germany to Turkey and permanent return from the UK.
