Car rental in Istanbul

• Driving in Istanbul is on the right-hand side of the road, but be aware that Turkish drivers often ignore lane discipline and drive in the middle of the road.
• It is forbidden to talk on a hand-held mobile phone while driving. You may only talk on the phone if you are using a wireless headset.
• All passengers must wear seat belts, both those in the front seat and those in the rear. The driver is also required to use a seat belt.
• Dipped headlights need to be switched on only at night, and during the day if visibility is reduced due to the weather.
• Children may not travel in the front seat if they are under 12 years old or shorter than 1.50 m. Children are allowed in the rear seat.
• The rules require drivers to give way to police cars, ambulances, fire service vehicles, civil defence and security vehicles.
• The car must be equipped with 2 reflective warning triangles and a first aid kit.
• The city has traffic lights that regulate traffic. Sometimes, especially when traffic is heavy, traffic police officers are on duty at junctions.

There are several types of parking in the city.

1. You can park the car anywhere where there are no prohibition signs. However, this is difficult because of the heavy traffic. In addition, free spaces may be reserved for guests or locals: in the first case a security guard may not allow you to leave the car, and in the second you may encounter a conflict for trying to take a citizen's "legitimate" space.
2. Municipal parking. These services are paid. The price per hour decreases the longer you stay. These car parks can be open-air or multi-storey underground. In municipal car parks a special attendant or a machine may issue a ticket.
3. Private parking. There are both legal and illegal ones. Spaces are usually available, but this is mainly due to relatively high prices, which increase during holidays and weekends and vary depending on the area and time of day.

Do not leave the rented car overnight in an unguarded car park.

• Within the city you must not drive at a speed exceeding 50 km/h.
• Outside the city limits the speed should not be greater than 90 km/h.
• On main roads it is permitted to accelerate to 110 km/h.
• On motorways you may drive at speeds up to 120 km/h.

You can fill the car with different types of fuel at different prices:

The legally permitted blood alcohol content for a driver is up to 0.5 ppm.

If this value is exceeded, the offender faces a fine of more than TL500.

When observing the rules of the road in Istanbul, keep in mind that many Turkish drivers are extremely inattentive and like to drive fast. In addition, they often violate various requirements: they do not use brake lights or indicators, and sometimes drive at night without switching on their lights. You must be careful not only for yourself but also for other road users, so that your trip to this beautiful city does not turn into trouble. You should not try to bribe police officers when they stop the car for a violation, as this is fraught with an even greater penalty. Drive carefully and cautiously, follow the rules, and your stay in Istanbul will leave many pleasant memories.