Countries
Driving in Türkiye with a US license
Türkiye accepts the US license for half a year. What catches visitors out is the accident form.
Do you need an International Driving Permit there?
Driving in Türkiye on a US license
US license accepted for visitors
| US license counts | 180 days of a stay |
| IDP | Not required by the rule we read, but rental desks and insurers may still ask for one. |
| Conventions | Party to both the 1949 Geneva and the 1968 Vienna conventions (1949: 1956) (1968: 2013) |
| Rule | State Department For stays of up to 180 days, a valid US license, or an IDP with a US license, is accepted. Longer stays need a Turkish license. |
Source: U.S. Department of State, Türkiye country information (updated June 11, 2026). Not legal advice; the country's own authorities decide.
Driving in Türkiye: the full rulesFor stays of up to 180 days, a valid US driver's license, or an international driving permit together with a US license, is acceptable in Türkiye, according to the State Department's page, updated on June 11, 2026. For longer stays, a Turkish license must be obtained from the traffic department of the Turkish Security Directorate. Türkiye has been a party to the 1949 convention since 1956 and to the 1968 convention since 2013. The page describes roads that range from single-lane country roads to modern motorways, in good condition in the western and coastal tourist regions and variable elsewhere, and warns that drivers routinely run red lights and stop signs. Night driving in rural areas is risky because of livestock and unlit roads. After an accident with damage only, drivers exchange insurance information and photos, but Turkish law requires a Turkish-only form; the page advises non-Turkish speakers to call the police and wait.
Until when does your US license count?
Last day on the US license in Türkiye
June 2, 2027
| Rule | 180 days of a stay |
| Days counted | 180 |
| Also needed | nothing else by the rule read |
Leaving and coming back may restart the count in some countries, not all: check the text cited on the country page.
Rules read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
The 180 days
The limit is tied to the length of the stay. The mini-tool on this page gives the last day for an arrival date. Residents and long-term visitors must obtain a Turkish license before the 180 days run out, under procedures this site does not cover. A permit is optional within the limit, but it makes communication easier at a stop.
Drunk driving penalties
At or above 0.05 percent blood alcohol, penalties include a fine and confiscation of the license for six months, the State Department notes. For a foreign driver, losing the license means losing the right to drive for the rest of the trip, since the permit is valid only with it. The rental guide covers insurance cover after an accident.
Türkiye at a glance
| What a US license holder needs | US license accepted for visitors |
| How long the US license counts | 180 days of a stay |
| Side of the road | right, as in the United States |
| 1949 Geneva convention | party since January 17, 1956 |
| 1968 Vienna convention | party since January 22, 2013 |
| Rule read in | U.S. Department of State, Türkiye country information (updated June 11, 2026) |
What the State Department page says
| Passage on driver's licenses, as published |
|---|
| Driver’s license requirements include: |
| For stays up to 180 days : A valid U.S. driver’s license or an International Driving Permit and a U.S. driver’s license is acceptable. |
| For stays longer than 180 days : Obtain a Turkish driver’s license from the Turkish Security Directorate, Traffic Department (Emniyet Müdürlüğü, Trafik Hizmetleri Başkanlığı). |