Vehicles with Foreign License Plates are Now Permitted for Relatives
Official titleCommuniqué Amending the Customs General Communiqué on Temporarily Imported Land Vehicles (Serial No: 1) (Serial No: 9)
Significant amendments have been made regarding the rights of use of temporarily imported land vehicles and the definition of the retirement certificate.
Details of the Regulation
With this communiqué published by the Ministry of Trade, the procedures regarding vehicles brought temporarily to Turkey from abroad (within the scope of tourist facilities) have been updated. First, by clarifying the definition of the 'retirement certificate' that must be submitted by persons retired from abroad, it was emphasized that this certificate must have been earned based on employment and that a certified Turkish translation is required.
The second and most significant amendment relates to the authorization to use the vehicles. With the new regulation, the spouse, children, grandchildren, mother, and father of the permit right holder may use the vehicle, provided that they are resident abroad. In addition, if the vehicle owner is personally present inside the vehicle, any person who is also resident abroad is permitted to drive the vehicle. This regulation aims to prevent penal proceedings arising from vehicle use authorization during customs inspections.
Questions You Might Have
- Can my sibling or friend living in Turkey use this vehicle?
- No. The person who will use the vehicle must strictly have their residence outside Turkey. Third parties may only drive if the vehicle owner is inside the vehicle.
- Is a mere declaration sufficient for the foreign retirement certificate?
- No. A document obtained from the relevant country's social security institution showing that it was earned based on employment and its certified Turkish translation are mandatory.
- To whom may the vehicle owner hand over the wheel while in the vehicle?
- Provided that the vehicle owner is inside, anyone whose residence is likewise abroad may drive the vehicle.
Key Terms
- Geçici İthalat
- Permitting vehicles with foreign license plates to remain in Turkey for a specified period without the payment of customs duties.
- Usul ve Füru
- A legal term meaning a person's lineal ascendants (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather) and lineal descendants (children, grandchildren).
- Türkiye Gümrük Bölgesi Dışında Yerleşik Kişi
- A person who spends at least 185 days of the year abroad and whose residence is located there.
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REGAS Commentary
A great convenience has been provided, especially for our expatriate citizens. Previously, the issue of 'who can drive' could lead to severe customs penalties. The explicit addition of the concept of 'ascendants and descendants' (lineal ascendants and lineal descendants) has eliminated the uncertainty regarding the use of the vehicle by family members. However, there is a critical detail here: It is mandatory that the relative who will use the vehicle also has their residence abroad. It remains prohibited for a relative living in Turkey to use this vehicle alone.