- Car rental in Turkey is fairly cheap, but toll roads, which can quickly push up your daily costs, are common. To avoid paying penalties, you’ll need to have an HGS sticker fitted to the windscreen of your car to automatically pay the tolls throughout your trip.
- Police checkpoints are common, so don’t be worried or put out if you see one. Just remember to have a valid passport and driving licence handy. The chances are they'll just wave you through.
- If a driver comes up close behind you and flashes their lights, they want you to let them past. There's nothing to be gained from racing – find a safe spot to pull over and leave them to it.
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Search for the best car hire deals in Turkey
From the minarets and markets of Istanbul to the surreal rock formations of Cappadocia and the glittering waters of the Aegean coast, Turkey is a country that rewards exploration. Navigating it by car is one of the best ways to experience the sheer diversity of its history, culture and geography.
Travel Information
Language: Turkish | Currency: Turkish Lira (₺) | Local time: (UTC+3:00) | Average flight time: 4.00hrs
Fast facts about hiring a car in Turkey
Arranging car rental in Turkey is easy, with plenty of choice at main airports like Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST), Antalya Airport (AYT) and Dalaman Airport (DLM). From Dalaman – the gateway to the resorts of the eastern Turquoise Coast – you can drive to Fethiye in around 45 minutes, and Ölüdeniz in just over an hour.
The major car rental companies, including Avis, Budget, Hertz and Europcar, are present in most of Turkey's large cities, as well as in popular coastal resorts – Budget has an office in Ölüdeniz, for example, and Avis and Europcar are both in Fethiye.
You'll also encounter a wide range of independent firms, particularly in resorts – they often have cheap deals, but don't always operate to the same standard as international brands. Compare prices and do your research in advance, so you know you're getting the best deal and are protected in case of any accidents.
Driving in Turkey
Driving a hire car in Turkey demands a reasonable level of confidence. Locals drive on the right hand side, and Turkey’s roads are generally in good condition, although they can become choked with traffic around the densely populated cities – our tips on driving in central Istanbul are: don't.
Turkish drivers aren’t renowned for obeying road rules, so you'll need your wits about you, and you can expect to hear a lot of horns as you head through the cities. Once you’re out on the open road, traffic becomes much less congested and the wide highways are a pleasure to drive on.
Street signs in Turkey are extensive, but take care at night when driving through rural areas, as street lighting can be patchy. Toll roads are fairly widespread, so make sure your hire car comes with an HGS sticker, which records fees automatically.
Recommended road trips in Turkey
Pamukkale
These natural thermal pools in the west of Turkey are both one of the most remarkable landscapes you'll ever see, and a really nice place to relax. The name translates to 'the cotton castle', and it fits: clamber around a series of white stepped terraces and petrified waterfalls, dipping into pools fed by hot springs. It is utterly surreal and completely wonderful. The Roman spa city of Hierapolis, with its well-preserved ruins, is a short drive away.
Cappadocia
Turkey isn't short of jaw-dropping landscapes, but few rival the 'fairy chimneys' of Cappadocia. This central region has a terrain of soft stone that has been worked into spectacular shapes over the centuries, both by nature and human intervention. There are amazing sights below ground too, from simple cave dwellings to ethereal underground cities like Derinkuyu. For obvious reasons, balloon flights are hugely popular here – look for operators in gateway towns like Göreme, Avanos, Urgup and Nevsehir.
The western Turquoise Coast
Head south from the city of Antalya for an hour or so and you'll find one of the very best resorts in the region: Cirali, a largely undeveloped beach town with a seasonal population of loggerhead turtles. Just a stone's throw away is Olympos, a rather different proposition – it's a lively backpacker resort in a deep valley scattered with the ruins of an ancient Lycian city. Continue round the coast to reach Kekova, a spectacular rocky island in the clearest water you can imagine.