Mileage limits on rental cars: what does 400 km a day mean and how is excess charged?

Short answer: at Otofilorent daily rentals include 400 km per day, and rentals of 15 days or more include 3,800 km per contract. Excess mileage is charged at 4 TL per km including VAT, calculated at return, and may vary by vehicle group. From 1 January 2027 a new regulation makes it mandatory to state the mileage limit and the excess charge in the rental contract.

What is a mileage limit and why does it exist?

A mileage limit is the maximum distance you can drive during the rental period. Rental companies set it to keep maintenance intervals, wear and resale value predictable. In Turkey daily rentals usually come with 300 to 500 km a day; longer rentals get a pooled allowance per contract.

Mileage allowance at Otofilorent

The allowance follows the rental length: a 3-day rental gives you 1,200 km, a 10-day rental 4,000 km; from day 15 the contract allowance of 3,800 km applies. The current figures are always on the extras page.

How is mileage counted?

The odometer reading is written on the contract when you collect the car and again when you return it; the difference is compared with the allowance for your rental period. Taking a photo of the odometer at handover and checking it against the contract is a good habit. The same applies to delivery to your address: the reading is recorded when we hand the car to you.

How is the excess charge calculated?

Every kilometre over the allowance is charged at 4 TL including VAT. Example: on a 3-day rental you drove 1,500 km; your allowance is 3 × 400 = 1,200 km, the excess is 300 km, the charge is 300 × 4 = 1,200 TL. It is calculated at return and charged to the card on the contract. The rate can vary by vehicle group, so confirm it when booking.

Is there unlimited mileage?

All Otofilorent rentals come with a mileage allowance. If you plan long distances you have two options: extend the rental to 15 days or more for the 3,800 km contract allowance, or switch to a monthly rental. If you are leaving the city, just mention it when booking; if you want to return the car at a different point, the one-way conditions apply. For regular long-distance company use, the allowance in a long term rental quote is set to your needs.

Do weekend trips from Istanbul fit into 400 km?

Most do. Leaving from the Asian side, the approximate distances are: Sapanca 130 km one way, 260 km round trip; Kartepe 150 km, 300 km round trip; Şile 70 km, 140 km round trip. Abant is about 260 km one way, so the round trip exceeds a single day's allowance; on a 2-day rental the 800 km allowance covers it comfortably. When planning, add the round trip and your driving in the city.

What changes in 2027? The new car rental regulation

The Regulation on the Rental of Motor Vehicles prepared by the Ministry of Trade was published in the Official Gazette on 15 August 2026 and enters into force on 1 January 2027. It covers short-term rentals (under one month) and places new obligations on rental companies; the points that concern renters are:

• Vehicle age and mileage: cars in a rental fleet may not be older than 6 years by model year (classic cars excepted); petrol and diesel cars over 180,000 km and electric cars over 300,000 km may not be rented out. Cars with a heavy-damage record are not allowed in the fleet.
• Contract transparency: the car's mileage, the mileage limits, service fees, the deposit amount and the renter's liability for damage must be written in the contract.
• Deposit cap: for rentals of 6 days or less the deposit may not exceed 3 days' rent, for 7 to 29 days no more than 7 days' rent; the deposit must be refunded within 7 days of the return.
• Return and cancellation: no charge for a return delay of up to one hour; prepaid bookings can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before pick-up.
• Normal wear: no charge may be made for wear resulting from ordinary use.

Existing companies have until 1 July 2027 to obtain their licence and until 1 January 2028 to meet the fleet requirements. Long-term rentals are outside the scope. Otofilorent's current conditions already include a 60-minute grace period on return and a mileage allowance written into the contract; for the conditions after 2027 follow the rental conditions page.

Frequently asked questions

Mileage and fee details are from Otofilorent's extras and rental conditions pages; regulation details are from the Official Gazette of 15 August 2026, no. 33341. For the full set of requirements see our car rental requirements article.