What you can and can’t do on the road varies country by country, and it’s important to know what is is allowed and what’s not before getting behind the wheel.
To drive in Turkey you must be at least 18 years old and hold either a Turkish or foreign driving license, which must be kept with you along with ID, insurance papers, and all documents pertaining to the vehicle.
If you do not present your license, you could face a fine of ₺238 (€69.92), or of ₺115 (€33.88) for each of the other missing documents.
The first thing to note is that in Turkey you drive on the right-hand side of the road. Of equal importance, there are various laws making certain things compulsory or forbidden.
Compulsory
It is also required that you keep two warning triangles, a fire extinguisher and a first-aid kit in the car at all times.
Forbidden
The law on drink driving is tough in Turkey, with 0.05% being the legal alcohol limit. And that only applies if you are driving alone - if you have a passenger, your system must be completely free of alcohol.
If you are caught exceeding the level, you will be fined depending on whether it is your first, second or third offence, starting at ₺480 (€141) plus the suspension of your license. Allegedly, there is also the chance of being taken 20 miles out of town and being forced to walk home under police escort as a punishment .
The first thing to be aware of regarding speed limits in Turkey is that they are measured in kilometres per hour, so make sure you don’t break the speed limit accidently by reading signs in miles.
There are three typical limits around Turkey, which are 50kph in built-up areas; 90kph on open roads (the equivalent of a dual carriageway in the UK); and 120kph on the motorway.
The fine for breaking the speed limit depends on by how much you have exceeded it. A 10% leeway is granted, but if you exceed this by up to 30% you will face a fine of ₺115 (€34). Anything above that and the fine is ₺238 (€69.92).