How to Buy a Car in Turkey as a Foreigner?

Foreigners living or visiting Turkey can benefit from many opportunities that locals do. In this regard, one of the most asked topics is whether foreigners can buy a car in Turkey. The good news is that there are no limitations or restrictions about car acquisition in Turkey for foreigners.

However, there are some details that you might want to know. With these details, you can avoid paying taxes that are implemented on the purchase of cars in Turkey. In this way, you can significantly save money while purchasing your dream car. This is why we wanted to compile this comprehensive guide for you.

Can You Buy a Car in Turkey as a Foreigner?

As we already answered the details of this question, we will not put too much emphasis on it. Foreigners can purchase a car in Turkey without any limitations. However, if you do not want to pay additional taxes, you can purchase blue plate cars in Turkey as well.

These cars are known as tax-free cars and any foreigner that meets the requirements can buy them without any challenge. If you would like to learn more about these requirements, car taxes, and all other details, then keep reading! We have covered everything you need to know!

Is Your Driver’s License Valid in Turkey?

If you have a driver’s license issued by your own country, then you can use it in Turkey. In addition to this, you have to provide your passport together with your driver’s license. In case you are going to purchase insurance for your car in Turkey, some policies may not offer coverage for a foreign driver’s license.

In addition to this, you need to leave Turkey every six months to get the stamp on your passport to make your driver’s license valid in Turkey. If you are planning to drive your car in Turkey for many years or you started to live in Turkey, you may want to consider converting your driver’s license or getting a new one in Turkey.

How to Buy a Car in Turkey As a Foreigner?

You can simply visit any car dealer or use second-hand car market websites to find your dream car. As a foreigner, you can purchase any car in Turkey without any restrictions or limitations. However, we recommend working with an attorney since the transfer or acquisition may be complicated.

As a foreigner, you may not be aware of the documents that you need to submit, and you can be a victim of a scam. Thus, working with professionals may have extra costs but it will definitely help you to prevent unwanted scenarios.

What Are Special Consumption Tax and Motor Vehicles Tax?

If you are going to buy a car in Turkey, then you will be charged with three taxes by the government. The first one is the value-added tax, which is the common tax in Turkey and is implemented in all products and services. The second one is called a special consumption tax. The ratio of this tax varies depending on the price, model, age, and category of your vehicle.

Additionally, the Turkish government charges car buyers with motor vehicle tax. The ratio of this tax depends on car emissions, age, engine cylinder capacity, and so on. All these taxes can be calculated by any dealer and in Turkey, car prices are displayed with all the taxes included in them.

Can You Exempt from Tax as a Foreigner?

The good news is that you can be exempt from tax. You can avoid paying both special consumption tax and motor vehicles tax by meeting the requirements. If you would like to enjoy this benefit, you need to be a foreigner with a valid work permit in Turkey.

This covers all kinds of transactions. In this way, foreign buyers will not have to worry about buying a brand new car from a car dealer, buying a second-hand tax-free car from another foreigner, or importing your car from your hometown.

How to Purchase Blue Plate (Tax-Free) Cars in Turkey?

These tax-free cars are known as blue plate cars. Any foreigner who meets the requirements can buy blue plate cars. One thing you need to pay attention to is your blue plate duration will be limited to the duration of your work permit.

If you renew your work permit in time, you have to renew your blue plate duration as well. In case your work permit ends, and you will not renew it, then you will face a fine that will be equal to the customs tax rate.

Besides having a valid work permit, you can also buy blue plate cars without any permit requirement. In the following sections, we are going to discuss the requirements and documents you are going to need during the acquisition or transfer processes.

Who Can Buy Blue Plate Cars in Turkey?

In this section, you can learn about the foreigners who are eligible to buy blue plate cars. Here are the details you need to know:

• If you are a retired foreigner
• Having a valid work permit in Turkey
• Foreign students and lecturers, however, language course students will not be accepted
• Employees of NATO or EU institutions in Turkey
• Employees of foreign press institutions who are living in Turkey without any residence permit
• Foreigners with any Ministry of Foreign Affairs ID

What Are the Required Documents to Buy Blue Plate Cars?

If you are eligible to buy blue plate cars in Turkey, then you can enjoy tax exemptions. However, you still need to provide certain documents to buy your car. For this purpose, you will need to submit the following documents:

• Valid passport
• Residence or work permit
• Notary certificate
• Tax receipts
• All kinds of documents pertaining to the vehicle you buy

As you can see, foreigners can buy a car in Turkey without any limitations or restrictions. In fact, when buying a car in Turkey is in question, foreigners have more advantages compared to the locals. If you do not meet the above-mentioned requirements, you can still buy a car in Turkey as a foreigner but this time, you will have to pay the taxes.