When a foreign-plated vehicle enters Türkiye, the person named in the registration certificate and the person bringing the vehicle do not have to be the same. However, a power of attorney, a rental agreement or a company's authorization letter does not by itself give a right to bring the vehicle in temporarily. Customs first examines whether the person and the vehicle qualify for the relevant customs regime, and then the scope of the representation document and the conditions of use in Türkiye. [1, 2, 3]
This article addresses the bringing in, by someone other than the owner, of foreign-plated vehicles for personal use under the tourist facilities. The permits for trucks engaged in commercial freight transport, permanent vehicle imports and the special temporary registration regime for foreigners are subject to different rules. If the vehicle will be shipped on a car carrier, the shipment must be planned separately.
What problem does a power of attorney solve?
A power of attorney shows that the vehicle owner has authorized another person to carry out certain acts. From a customs perspective, there are three separate questions: Who may bring the vehicle in, in whose name is the entry recorded, and who may use the vehicle in Türkiye? A favorable answer to the first question does not automatically resolve the other two.
For example, a person living in Germany may have a relative who also lives abroad bring in his or her vehicle. Customs examines the conditions of the owner and of the person bringing the vehicle together. By contrast, a person resident in Türkiye who obtains a notarized power of attorney from a friend abroad does not thereby satisfy the conditions of temporary tourist import. A power of attorney does not substitute for missing residency abroad. [2, 3]
Where the vehicle is owned by an individual, residency abroad is required of both the owner and the person bringing the vehicle under a power of attorney. The Ministry’s explanation sets out this examination together with the condition of having spent at least 185 days abroad within the 365 days counting back from the date of entry. Residency abroad must also be genuinely established; residency cannot be inferred merely from the number of days spent in a hotel. Special facilities for retirees are assessed separately. [2, 3]
Which powers of attorney and authorization documents are accepted?
Article 23 of the Customs General Communiqué on Temporarily Imported Land Vehicles accepts more than one type of document. It therefore cannot be said that a power of attorney issued by a Turkish notary is required in every case. [1]
| Method of bringing the vehicle | Basic authorization document | Additional points to check |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle owned by an individual | Power of attorney certified by an embassy, a consulate or a notary | Residency of the owner and of the person bringing the vehicle, vehicle details, validity of the authority |
| Owner and the person bringing the vehicle both present at the entry customs office | Power of attorney drawn up between them and approved by customs | Presence of both persons and the conditions of the procedure |
| Document approved by a foreign official authority | Approval by an authority of the relevant country such as customs, municipality, police or court | The document must identify the vehicle and the person authorized |
| Automobile organization document | Organization document accepted under AIT/FIA | Capacity of the issuer and validity of the document |
| Vehicle registered in a company’s name | Authorization bearing the signature and approval of the company owner or the board of directors | Link to the company, signing authority and the special period |
| Rental vehicle | Rental agreement | Permission to leave for Türkiye, drivers and rental period |
Having the chassis number as well as the plate, the details of the owner and of the authorized person, the scope of the transaction and the validity period clearly stated in the document reduces disputes. This does not mean that there is a single power of attorney template that is mandatory in every case in the same form; these details serve to check whether the document is sufficient for the specific transaction.
The need for translation and certification of a document prepared in a foreign language should be assessed in advance according to the country of issue, the type of document and the transaction for which it will be used. A general assumption that every document must carry an apostille, or that no translation is ever needed, is incorrect. The form of power of attorney accepted by customs and the usability of the foreign document in Türkiye should be examined together.
Documents that have expired, that are not valid in Türkiye or that carry alterations not properly corrected cause problems. Failure to present a valid document of ownership or authority is also an obstacle to entry. Rather than discovering a deficiency at the border, the person and vehicle details on the registration certificate and on the authorization document should be compared before the journey. [1]
Which period applies to entry with a rental vehicle?
For a rental vehicle, the rental agreement is the basic authorization document. However, whether the agreement permits the vehicle to be taken to Türkiye, which drivers it covers and the insurance terms for cross-border use must also be checked separately. The permission given by the rental company under private law does not replace the customs conditions.
For a personal vehicle brought in by rental, the period is determined taking into account the period the person may stay in Türkiye and the term of the rental agreement; the general maximum period cannot be exceeded. For example, a twenty-day rental agreement does not give a right to leave the vehicle in Türkiye for two years. If the agreement requires the vehicle to be returned in another country within the agreement term, that obligation is also taken into account, regardless of the period that could be recognized at customs. [1, 2, 3]
A later extension of the rental agreement does not mean that the customs record is automatically extended as well. The new agreement must be submitted to the relevant administration and the vehicle’s recorded permit period must be checked. It should not be forgotten that an e-mail exchange with the rental company is not the same document as a record that customs has extended the period.
Being named as a second driver in the agreement does not remove the customs limits on use in Türkiye. A driver permitted by the rental company must also be among the persons authorized to use the vehicle under the temporary import regime.
Authority and the 90-day period for company vehicles
Bringing in, under a power of attorney, a vehicle registered in the name of a legal entity resident abroad requires a special examination of documents and period. According to the Ministry’s explanations, passenger cars, off-road vehicles, pickups and motorcycles within this scope are given a period of up to 90 days. The general 730-day period that applies to an individual’s own vehicle is not applied automatically to a company vehicle. [2, 3]
A document showing that the person bringing the vehicle is a partner or employee of the company and the company’s authorization should be prepared together. Even if a person is the company’s sole partner, a vehicle whose registration certificate names the company is not the same as a vehicle registered in his or her own name. Signing authority and the link with the company are demonstrated through a trade registry document, an assignment letter or other documents appropriate to the case. [3]
A general permission letter on the company’s letterhead may not resolve every possibility. It should be examined whether the authorization covers entry into Türkiye, taking delivery of the vehicle, its use and its re-export. The authority of the person signing the letter to act on behalf of the company must also be shown.
Bringing in a company vehicle in this way does not grant permission to carry passengers or freight for payment in Türkiye. The Ministry also states that company vehicles under the tourist facilities cannot be used in the activities of a head office, branch or agency in Türkiye. The customs status of a company vehicle brought in for personal use differs from that of one used in commercial transport. The fact that the company has a branch in Türkiye does not by itself remove the conditions of temporary import. [3]
Who may use the vehicle after it enters Türkiye?
Where the entry is made in the name of someone other than the owner, what matters for use is who the permit holder is in the customs record. The registered owner, the attorney, the lessee and the actual driver may be different persons. During an inspection, merely carrying the vehicle key and the registration certificate does not amount to an adequate explanation of authority.
Following the amendment dated August 14, 2026, a vehicle brought in under the tourist facilities may be used by the permit holder’s spouse, ascendants and descendants who reside abroad. In addition, other persons residing abroad may also use the vehicle provided that the permit holder is in the vehicle. In the Ministry’s explanations, the condition that the permit holder be in Türkiye is retained for use by relatives. [1, 3, 4]
Accordingly, use by a friend who lives abroad and use by a friend resident in Türkiye are not subject to the same assessment. The new regulation did not grant general freedom of use to everyone resident in Türkiye. Special exceptions, such as use by a person resident in Türkiye in an emergency, are examined within their own narrow conditions. [2, 4]
If the permit holder will leave Türkiye and go abroad leaving the vehicle behind, the necessary notification or the delivery of the vehicle to customs must also be completed. It should not be assumed that use may continue while the vehicle is left in Türkiye and the permit holder is abroad. A special permission from the rental company or the owner does not remove this customs obligation. [1, 3]
Entry record, insurance and responsibility for exit
When the customs procedure is completed, it should be checked in whose name the vehicle has been recorded and on what date the permit period ends. In an entry under a power of attorney, information on the power of attorney document is also recorded. This record is the basis of the procedure the administration will follow, independently of any private arrangements that may later be made between the vehicle owner and the attorney. [1]
Compulsory liability insurance valid in Türkiye is also required. If Türkiye is excluded from the coverage of the international green card, or if the policy has expired, this may be an obstacle to entry. Comprehensive (casco) insurance, rental coverage or transport insurance does not provide the same protection as compulsory traffic insurance. The driver, country and use restrictions in the policy should be read separately. [1]
If another person will take the vehicle out of the country, handing over the key alone does not complete the procedure. Under Article 29 of the Communiqué, a power of attorney for exit and, where necessary, customs recording procedures are carried out. The residency abroad of the person who will take the vehicle out is also assessed. The approved power of attorney option for cases where the owner cannot be present should be kept distinct from the application route. [1]
If the vehicle is to be taken out by delivering it to a carrier, the shipment and record-closing checks in the article on bringing in and sending vehicles through a freight company should be applied. The permit holder’s plane ticket or the carrier’s delivery receipt does not by itself show that the vehicle’s exit from customs has been recorded.
How is an error in the residency calculation assessed?
In the decision of the 10th Chamber of the Council of State dated May 5, 2025, E.2021/999, K.2025/2353, a compensation action brought because a foreign-plated vehicle owned by a company was detained and liquidated was examined. Against the period abroad that was initially assessed in the file as 173 days, the Ministry’s later letter reported 203 days. The Chamber reversed the dismissal, which had been issued without investigating this contradiction and without evaluating the outcome of the criminal proceedings, for incomplete examination. [5]
This decision does not say that compensation must be paid to every vehicle owner. Its practical importance lies in investigating the records on which the residency calculation is based and the contradictions among different administrative letters. The legislation in force on the date of the event described in the decision also cannot be used in place of today’s company vehicle period.
In a dispute over an entry or a penalty, one should look not only at the last border crossing but at all entries and exits of persons by air, land and sea, at the separate movements of the vehicle, at the company’s residency and at the authority granted. If a sanction has been imposed, the time limit for applying must also be monitored; the details are explained in the article on customs penalty and recovery of the vehicle.
The file to prepare before the journey
The preparation file should contain together the identity and travel documents, records supporting actual residency abroad, the vehicle registration certificate, a valid authorization document and insurance covering Türkiye. For a rental vehicle, the agreement should be added; for a company vehicle, the documents on the link with the company and signing authority. Where applicable, the vehicle’s previous entries into Türkiye and the end of its permit should also be included in the file.
Documents should not be treated as sufficient merely because they exist. Names, plate, chassis number, dates, country coverage and signature details should corroborate one another. The duties of delivery, use and taking the vehicle out of the country should be set out in writing between the parties, and the actual plan should be made consistent with the record at customs.
Conclusion
In entering Türkiye with a vehicle under a power of attorney, a rental or a company vehicle, the right document does not replace the right person. Once residency and the vehicle’s status are determined, the authority of representation, the special period, insurance, the drivers in Türkiye and the exit plan should be checked together. The most important precaution is to verify these elements in the same file before the vehicle sets out, and to record the actual deadline given at entry.
Related articles: Bringing a Vehicle from Abroad: Conditions, Periods and Customs Procedures; Who Can Use a Foreign-Plated Vehicle in Türkiye? Spouse, Children, Power of Attorney and Third Parties; Retirees Living Abroad Bringing a Vehicle: Length of Stay, Extension of Period and Application Conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a person living in Türkiye bring in a foreign-plated vehicle with a notarized power of attorney?
In temporary tourist import, a notarized power of attorney alone is not sufficient. The condition of residency abroad of the person bringing the vehicle and any special exception applicable to the specific case are examined separately. [2, 3]
Must the vehicle owner also satisfy the 185-day condition?
Where a vehicle owned by an individual is brought in under a power of attorney, the Ministry looks for residency abroad and the relevant 185-day calculation for both the owner and the person bringing the vehicle. Special situations such as retirement are assessed separately. [3]
Must every power of attorney be obtained from a Turkish notary?
No. Article 23 of the Communiqué accepts, in addition to documents certified by a consulate or a notary, certain documents of foreign official authorities and the other listed forms of authorization. The suitability of the document for the specific transaction is still checked. [1]
Can the sole partner of a foreign company keep his or her company’s vehicle for two years?
Being the sole partner does not change the fact that the vehicle is registered in the name of a legal entity. For company vehicles brought in under a power of attorney, a period of up to 90 days applies in the relevant special category; an automatic acceptance of 730 days should not be assumed. [2, 3]
Does extending the rental agreement also extend the vehicle’s permit?
A change to the rental agreement does not automatically change the customs record. The relevant administration must be applied to with the new document, and the period recorded for the vehicle must be checked. [1, 3]
May the second driver named in the rental agreement use the vehicle?
In addition to the permission in the agreement, he or she must also satisfy the customs conditions of use. The driver’s residency, relationship to the permit holder and the presence of the permit holder in Türkiye or in the vehicle are important. [1, 4]
If the vehicle owner and the person bringing it are together at the border, is a separate power of attorney needed?
The Communiqué allows a power of attorney drawn up between the two persons and approved by customs where both are present at the entry customs office. This method does not remove the other entry conditions. [1]
Can a different person take the vehicle out of the country?
This is possible when the required power of attorney, residency and customs recording conditions are met. The procedure is not considered complete by leaving the vehicle’s key with another person. [1]
Sources and legal bases
- Customs General Communiqué on Temporarily Imported Land Vehicles (Geçici İthal Edilen Kara Taşıtlarına İlişkin Gümrük Genel Tebliği, Series No:1), especially Arts. 5–6, 17, 23–24, 26–27 and 29. Ministry legislation index; consolidated text copy reviewed.
- Decision No. 2009/15481, especially Arts. 3, 16–20. Text copy reviewed.
- Ministry of Trade, Vehicles Accompanying Passengers — Frequently Asked Questions, sections on residency, power of attorney, rental and legal-entity vehicles.
- Series No:9 amending Communiqué, Official Gazette dated 14.08.2026, No. 33340, especially the use provision amended by Art. 2. Accessible copy of the Official Gazette text.
- Council of State 10th Chamber (Danıştay 10. Daire), 05.05.2025, E.2021/999, K.2025/2353. Full decision record. Access to the decision may require a membership; the limit of the decision’s review is stated in the text.