AUTHOR Cherie Carter

Driving in Turkey in Winter: A Comprehensive Guide

When people think of visiting Turkey, the immediate thought is of warm summers and sailing the sea; and we don’t blame you! But to say you’re missing out on some equally worthwhile experience is an understatement. Whilst the intensity of snow can vary massively across the country, those same snowy areas are where some of the real magic of driving in Turkey in winter can be experienced.

That’s not to mention the off-peak travel costs you’ll be saving in an already comparatively cheap destination spot. If you’re up for it why not travel through Greece as well and see both Asia and Europe? You may also be interested in reading up on our ultimate winter car hire guide.

Even if it’s domestic travel you’re concerned about, with a low deposit car hire of only 50 EUR for most of our vehicles, now is your time to get a taste of Turkey.

What you’ll need for driving in Turkey in winter

The least exciting but nonetheless most important step in any trip is the preparation. It’s no secret that travelling abroad requires extensive planning and a general understanding of what you can expect – both positives and negatives.

What you’ll initially need to rent a car in Turkey is quite basic, being a valid EU or EEA license, proof of ID and vehicle documentation/insurance. You will also need a green card for the European and Asian parts of Turkey. The vehicle documentation however you will not need to worry about – our car hire in Turkey comes with all the documentation required.

What makes Turkey different from other countries is the equipment required in vehicles, being:

• Two warning triangles
• First-aid kit
• Fire extinguisher

What to expect when driving in Turkey 

The Anatolian region of Turkey is mostly mountainous terrain and high altitudes. This isn’t to say road travel is obsolete, in fact just about any of the cities can be travelled to directly via road. More so, the practical effect that mountains have is that the central parts of Turkey are much colder than the coastal regions.

Even in cities like Istanbul, it is not entirely uncommon to see snowfall during the harsher winter months. This is why if you’re driving during this time and in some of the icier regions, we recommend winter tyres. Whilst not a requirement for non-commercial vehicles, the government still requires vehicles like taxis to be equipped with winter tyres from December 1st to April 1st. If you are unsure of whether you need a winter tyre car hire – feel free to send us an enquiry and we’ll provide support.

What car to choose

Relatively speaking, most cars are quite suitable for Turkey. You may think the mountainous terrain is rough and unwieldy, however, the road infrastructure is quite well maintained. Even on roads around mountains are large and often free from large numbers of drivers. The winter season of course can complicate things, though there is no need to worry. For the majority of cars, you can’t go wrong with adding winter tyres onto them for those harsher conditions. However, if you’re looking for something more environmentally friendly, an electric car hire is perfect now that Turkey has implemented over 4,200 charging stations across the country.

What to do when driving in Turkey in winter

For most travellers, regardless of experience, driving through a foreign country can be daunting (never mind in the snow). Still, no matter how stressful it may sound, as long as you keep to the rules and maintain basic common sense. By following just a few basic pointers, you’ll be adequately informed and aware:

• Ensure visibility – high altitudes and coastal regions are most frequent and severe in their fog, keeping a safe speed and clear view can protect not just you but other drivers.
• Maintain appropriate speeds – Similar to visibility, ensuring you are not going needlessly fast, particularly in snowy conditions.
• Expect road signs – The road signs of Turkey are relatively identical to conventional European designs. The only difference is that the language is in Turkish.

How to start driving in Turkey in winter

With the hard part done, if you’ve read this far you understandably so, have an interest in what Austria can offer. We of course are more than willing to do our part in proving how worthwhile the trip is with the services we offer:

• Turkey Car hire
• Dalaman Airport car hire

And for any other rental needs, we also provide:

• Debit Card Car Hire
• Low Deposit Car Hire
• Young Driver Car Hire
• Senior Driver Car Hire

Continue Reading for More Turkey Driving Tips

If you’re looking for additional inspiration on all things driving in Turkey, why not check out some of the below articles:

•  Terrific Turkey Road Trip!
• Things to do in Turkey
• Top 10 Winter Sun Locations In The World
• Top 10 Winter Sun Locations In Europe

For any questions on what you are eligible for or even any questions about what we can do to specifically help you or some of our other satisfied customers – feel free to contact us or send us an email at sales@indigo.ecomfixers.com and call us at +44 (0)113 880 0748.

Having working solely in the car hire industry since leaving school, car hire/travel is a huge part of my life and something that gives me great satisfaction and enjoyment.  I love coming across new products/locations and sharing these details with our customers via our online platforms.

Cherie Carter

Traveller