Short answer: the Regulation on the Rental of Motor Vehicles was published in Turkey's Official Gazette on 15 August 2026 and enters into force on 1 January 2027. For short-term rentals it caps the deposit, requires it to be refunded within 7 days, guarantees at least 150 km a day on daily rentals, includes insurance in the rental price, and allows damage to be charged only with an independent expert report.
The regulation governs short-term rentals, defined as rentals of at most 29 days. The scope article explicitly excludes four cases: long-term rentals, short-term rentals whose renter is not a consumer, shared rentals and camper rentals. So long term rental of a month or more and corporate rentals made in a company's name fall outside it, and their contract terms remain decisive.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 15 August 2026 | Published in the Official Gazette (no. 33341) |
| 1 January 2027 | The regulation enters into force — every rule that concerns renters starts on this date |
| 1 July 2027 | Deadline for existing companies to obtain their licence |
| 1 January 2028 | End of the transition for vehicle age/mileage and minimum fleet requirements and for intermediary/listing platform obligations (transitional art. 1) |
Today the deposit is entirely up to the company. From 1 January 2027 there is a ceiling: for rentals of 6 days or less the deposit may not exceed 3 days' rent, and for 7 to 29 days no more than 7 days' rent (art. 14/1). Cheques, promissory notes, bank guarantees or surety bonds may not be taken as a deposit (art. 14/3). After the car is returned the deposit must be refunded within 7 days (art. 14/4).
The regulation also lists what the deposit may be used for (art. 14/2): unpaid rent, excess mileage and late return charges, refuelling or recharging costs, toll and traffic violation charges from the rental period, and damage caused by the renter's fault that falls outside the own-damage cover or the operator's guarantee. On the other hand, no deduction may be made for faults, scratches or dents that could not easily be detected at handover, or for wear within acceptable limits from ordinary use (art. 14/5). At Otofilorent the deposit is refunded today to the same card within 3 to 5 business days after items not included in the booking are deducted; the detail is on the rental conditions page.
The regulation does not ban mileage limits; it sets a floor below which an allowance cannot go (art. 13/2):
| Rental period | Regulation floor (1 January 2027) |
|---|---|
| Hourly (under a day) | at least 20 km |
| 1–6 days | at least 150 km per day |
| 7–29 days / weekly | at least 100 km per day |
Charging for excess mileage remains possible; what is new is that the excess rate must be written in the contract. The mileage terms of your rental are stated at booking and in your contract; call 0850 305 00 45 with any questions.
This is one of the biggest changes for renters: the renter and the additional driver named in the contract will benefit from the car's own damage cover, the operator's guarantee and compulsory third-party insurance by paying the rental price alone. Access to them may not be tied to any further condition or fee (art. 13/5). Any own-damage excess and the cases in which the renter is liable must be stated in the contract; liability remains for damage caused by the renter's fault that falls outside the cover.
To charge for damage at return, the damage and its cost must be documented with an authorised and independent expert report (art. 16/5). In addition, no charge may be made for diminished value unless the parties agree, or there is an insurance arbitration decision or a decision with the force of a judgment (art. 16/9). These two articles put the two most disputed items after a return on paper.
Late return: no charge may be claimed for delays of up to one hour (art. 12/8). Otofilorent already applies a 60-minute grace period on return.
Cancellation: on prepaid bookings the renter may change or cancel without giving any reason up to 24 hours before pick-up. For cancellations inside the last 24 hours, at most one day's rent may be charged (art. 11/7).
Tolls and fuel: for items such as tolls from the rental period or refuelling and recharging, nothing may be charged beyond their actual amount plus the additional costs stated in the contract and documented by the company (art. 13/7). On request the toll transponder must be provided free of charge, with the tolls used charged to the renter (art. 13/6). When an additional driver is added to the contract, a service fee may be charged according to the risk they represent (art. 13/4).
The contract will be made in writing or electronically and a copy given to the renter before the car is handed over. The mandatory items include: the company's licence, MERSİS and tax number and address; the identity details of the renter and the additional driver; the car's make, category, type, model year, transmission and mileage; the deposit amount and the cases in which it may be used; the insurance and guarantee cover and any own-damage excess; the cases in which the renter is liable for damage; the excess mileage rate and late return charges (art. 10/3). A car may not be rented to anyone who does not present a valid driving licence of the appropriate class — for today's age and licence thresholds see our car rental requirements article.
There are thresholds on the fleet side too: cars offered for rent may not be more than 6 years old by model year (classic cars excepted), and petrol and diesel cars over 180,000 km or electric cars over 300,000 km may not be rented out. Cars with a heavy-damage record may not be in the fleet, and a car without a valid inspection and compulsory insurance may not be rented. Existing companies have until 1 January 2028 to meet these conditions.
For short-term rentals made from 1 January 2027. Until then the current contract terms apply.
No. The scope article excludes long-term rentals and short-term rentals whose renter is not a consumer.
Under the regulation, within 7 days of the end of the rental contract. At Otofilorent it is refunded to the same card within 3 to 5 business days today.
No. Limits remain possible; the regulation only adds a floor they cannot go below: at least 150 km a day on daily rentals.
No deduction may be made for scratches, dents or faults that could not easily be detected at handover and were not recorded, or for wear from ordinary use. Damage caused by the renter's fault that falls outside the cover may be deducted only when documented by an independent expert report.
On prepaid bookings, without giving a reason up to 24 hours before pick-up. For cancellations in the last 24 hours at most one day's rent may be charged.
The regulation details come from the Regulation on the Rental of Motor Vehicles published in Turkey's Official Gazette of 15 August 2026, no. 33341; this article is for information and is not legal advice. For Otofilorent's current terms see the rental conditions, extras and FAQ pages.
