Short answer: to rent a car in Turkey you must be at least 21 years old, hold a category B licence for at least 1 year and present a credit card in your own name. Mid-size cars require 23 years of age and 2 years of licence, upper-class cars 25 years and 3 years. Visitors from abroad also need a passport and an international driving permit.
The requirement is not a single number; it rises with the class of car you rent. These are the conditions Otofilorent applies:
| Car class | Minimum age | Minimum licence period |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 21 | 1 year |
| Mid-size | 23 | 2 years |
| Upper class | 25 | 3 years |
Age and licence period are checked together: a 24-year-old driver with a 1-year licence cannot rent a mid-size car but can rent an economy car. The licence period is counted from the issue date on the document.
Yes. If you are 21 or older and your licence was issued at least 1 year ago, you can rent an economy car. With a licence younger than 1 year no class is available. Two years of licence is the threshold for mid-size cars, not for economy.
At the contract our staff record the following:
Bring the documents to the pick-up point; if you chose delivery to your address, the contract is signed where we bring the car.
The card covers items that may arise during the rental: traffic fines, motorway tolls, extensions and damage. That is why it must be in the renter's own name; renting with someone else's credit card is not possible. Cash, virtual cards, supplementary cards and promissory notes are not accepted.
The deposit is charged at the start of the rental and refunded to the same card at the end, less any item not included in the booking such as missing fuel, damage or a fine. Depending on the bank, the refund appears within 3 to 5 working days.
If another person will drive the car, they are added to the contract as an additional driver. The additional driver must meet the same age and licence conditions and their licence is recorded on the contract. The additional driver service costs 140 TL per day; it can be added during the rental as well, but since the contract changes you need to contact the pick-up point or 0850 305 00 45.
The minimum period is 24 hours for daily rentals and 30 days for monthly rentals; even if you return the car the same day, one day is charged. There is a 60-minute grace period on return. Daily rentals include 400 km a day and rentals of 15 days or more 3,800 km per contract; excess mileage is charged at 4 TL per km including VAT and can vary by vehicle group. Details are on the extras page.
Your documents are entered on the contract, the deposit is charged to your card and the car is handed over with a full tank; if it is not returned at the same level, a fuel charge and a service fee apply. Every car has an HGS toll tag; toll charges are billed to the card on the contract after the rental. Always ask for a copy of your contract.
No. Age, licence and credit card rules are the same for a single day; the only difference is the 24-hour minimum.
Yes, in economy class a 1-year licence is enough. Two years is required for mid-size cars.
No. The card must belong to the person who signs the contract and rents the car.
Passport, international driving permit and an entry stamp into Turkey within the last 6 months in the passport.
No; the licence must be at least 1 year old on the rental date. You can book once the date has passed.
At one of our 18 pick-up points in Istanbul, or free of charge at your address on rentals of 3 days or more. See the current fleet on our rental cars page.
The conditions in this article are taken from Otofilorent's rental conditions and FAQ pages; age and licence thresholds may differ at other companies.
