You are here:
Car rental »
Turkey »
Driving Tips and Hints
Language:
Driving in Turkey – Recommendations, Tips and Tricks
22. Despite the fact that local drivers do not like to stop at a traffic light, foreign drivers should not follow their example. If you stop at the red light and hear that other drivers behind you start honking, this should not be considered a request to break the rules. This way, local drivers simply remind you that you should be attentive and move as soon as the green light appears.
23. The passion for "cutting" in front of other cars is also considered a distinguishing feature of local drivers. As a rule, drivers of old cars are particularly prone to this kind of traffic violation. While driving, they often move from one lane to another, and this maneuver is usually not accompanied by any additional signal.
24. When entering the territory of a settlement, you will surely see the sign with its name. There is often the “nufus” mark with a corresponding numerical value at the bottom of the sign. This figure is the number of residents living in the settlement.
25. Almost all highways in Turkey are paid. However, drivers always have the choice as it is possible to reach absolutely any settlement on free roads. If you prefer free roads, you should not forget that it usually takes a little longer to get to the city by free roads comparing to toll highways.
26. Large four-lane roads often have quite unusual “median strips”. These are quite wide grooves that can be filled with gravel or sand. Sometimes the width of such median strips is up to several meters.
27. In some roads, symmetrical rows of palm trees replace traditional median strips. Such “median strips” as rows of beautiful cacti and pine bushes are also not rare.
Hints on Car Hire in Turkey
When choosing a car for your Turkey trip, don’t forget to check and compare the franchise amount (indicated in the rental conditions) for all cars considered in your selection. The franchise may vary from 200 to 2000 euro/dollars even for cars of the same class. A thorough comparison will allow you to choose the option with the lowest franchise.
During your booking, we will offer you to take a full coverage of the franchise ('No Risk' or 'No Excess' package). If you book a car without full coverage, it is recommended to take it at the pick-up time - this will substantially reduce your financial liability in Turkey for the whole rental period.
During your car pick-up in Turkey, do not forget to check what to do in breakdown-, accident- or theft-cases. Most of our offers include 'Breakdown Assistance' package. Besides this, every rental office would be happy to assist you with this package.
Prior to the car return, please check your voucher for the fuel conditions. If it is indicated that a driver shall return the car with a full tank, do not forget to refuel it on the way back, this will save you from additional charges at the rental office.
If you are looking for a car hire in Turkey, we advise you to check OrangeSmile.com actual rental offers. Just use the orange search form at the top. We guarantee that you would not be able to find better rates anywhere else!
29. Experienced drivers mention another important feature of roads in Turkey – there are no signs installed without a particular reason. For example, if the sign warns of a dangerous turn, this means that you should really slow down and be careful to overcome the turn safely. Prohibitory signs should be treated with extra attention.
30. There are also rather unusual signs on the roads in Turkey. Some of them can leave speechless even experienced motorists. For example, the sign that indicates the “forward” type of direction is made as an arrow that points down (not up, as in many other countries). Many drivers consider that sign as an order to turn around and go back, even though its meaning is much easier - you need to keep moving forward.
31. Tourists, who plan make rides on coastal roads, will also see some really unusual signs. These signs warn drivers of turtles that are likely to appear on the road. Given that the size of some species of turtles is quite impressive, they can become a real danger to motorists.
32. Mountain roads in Turkey are not distinguished by a good quality of asphalt. They are quite winding and narrow, so it may be quite dangerous for inexperienced drivers to travel on them. Tourists, who cannot tolerate traveling on mountain winding roads, are recommended to stock up on motion sickness bracelets and pills.
33. Local people have already become accustomed to the peculiarities of mountain roads. They know about all dangerous turns, and so they can pass other cars easily at high speed even on narrow roads. Drivers, who are not confident in their skills, are recommended to slow down before the turn and give way to cars moving in the opposite direction.
34. Despite peculiarities of mountain roads, they are well designed and made. Quite often, you will see wide roadsides with good asphalt near turns. In some turns, the road can be prudently bent in the opposite direction. If you drive carefully on such roads, you will experience no difficulties.
35. Without a doubt, autobahns are roads where drivers ride with the highest speed possible. Even if you drive on the autobahn at a speed of 170 km/h, there will still be cars behind that will wink with their beams and ask to give way. The typical speed on four-lane roads is 110 - 120 km/h.
36. In small towns, there are mostly very narrow streets, and so two cars can hardly move on them. Quite often, the main street is a road, the width of which is a little more than three meters. In addition to cars, there are pedestrians and local traders, the tents of which are located along roads.
38. You shouldn’t be surprised if you see how one car blocks the traffic on the whole street in order to turn around, or how one of local merchants decides to unload the goods from the car, blocking the traffic in both directions. Here, such things are treated with understanding, so drivers should not honk or complain. You just need to wait patiently until the road is free again.
39. In major cities, traffic jams are not uncommon. However, even here drivers are very polite and patient. Even if there is a traffic jam on the road, it is still not allowed to occupy the extreme left lane. It must always remain free for road service vehicles and other privileged vehicles.
40. Drivers always notify each other of the police patrol. They do it in a standard way – they “wink” with headlights to the cars moving in the opposite direction. As already mentioned above, you should not be scared if the patrol asks you to stop. In most cases, this is just a standard document check.
41. There are also large-scale document checks on the road, when absolutely all cars are stopped. In this case, only one lane of highway is left for driving, and all other lanes are closed. Such police inspections should also be treated with patience and understanding. The good thing is that they do not happen often.
42. Autobahns have a special payment system. The entrances to all toll roads are equipped with turnstiles, where drivers must present a special card. The card costs approximately 20 liras and is suitable for driving on all toll roads of the country.
Popular cities in Turkey with OrangeSmile.com rental points
AVIS
ALAMO
BUDGET
DOLLAR
RENT-A-CAR
EUROPCAR
NATIONAL
PAYLESS
SIXT
THRIFTY
OrangeSmile.com travel services
BEST PRICE GUARANTEE
100.000+ SATISFIED CLIENTS
WIDE CHOICE: 25.000 HIRE POINTS
BOOKING IN 3 SIMPLE STEPS
INSTANT CONFIRMATION
FAQ: Common questions
Rental conditionsPayment
Changing your booking
Cancelling your booking
Confirmation voucher
Crossing borders
Fuel conditions
Age restrictions
Extra services
Insurance types
Driving license
What does the price include
HELPDESK
+31 4040 15044
support@orangesmile.com
We accept
Top destinations
Barbados
7 rental points
7 rental points
Bremen
9 rental points
9 rental points
Dubai
37 rental points
37 rental points
Honolulu
5 rental points
5 rental points
Los Angeles
6 rental points
6 rental points
Mexico
13 rental points
13 rental points
Ottawa
9 rental points
9 rental points
Samos
9 rental points
9 rental points
Stuttgart
15 rental points
15 rental points
Turin
15 rental points
15 rental points
Cars to rent in Turkey
