Turkey has a fascinating culture and a rich history, and as such, it can be a fantastic place to take a vacation. You will find countless sites to visit and explore. Some of the most popular include the Blue Mosque, the Pamukkale Thermal Pools, the Goreme National Park, the Hagia Sophia Museum and Church, and the Ruins of Ephesus. Having a rental car can make it easier to visit all of the destinations you want to experience.
Renting a vehicle in Turkey
Even though the driving age in Turkey is 18, you will need to be at least 21 years old to rent a vehicle in the country. In addition, if you are under 25 years old, you should be prepared to pay a young driver’s fee. It’s also important to note that the rental companies may not rent certain types of vehicles, such as large trucks, to those who are over 70 years old. Drivers are required to carry a valid license, as well as the insurance and registration documents, or the rental papers.
When you rent a vehicle in Turkey, make sure that you have insurance, and also be sure to get the contact numbers for the rental agency in case you need to call them for any reason.
Road conditions and safety
The road conditions in the major cities of Turkey are quite good. They don’t have many potholes or cracks in the road. However, once you get outside of the urban areas, you will find that some of the roads are in poor condition, particularly in the rural areas. Take more caution when driving in those locations.
When you are driving in Turkey, you will be on the right side of the road. It is essential that you always wear your seatbelts when driving, and keep in mind that you are not allowed to use a cell phone while driving unless you have a hands free device. You need to use dimmed headlights during poor daytime visibility, as well as at night when you are in built up areas.
The other drivers in Turkey do not always follow the guidelines of safe driving, and that means you need to drive defensively. In addition, you should avoid driving at night.
The speed limits
You always need to follow the posted speed limits while you are driving in Turkey. You will see signs that say Dikkat Radar, which means there is a police control point in the area. If you do not follow the speed limits, they will pull you over and fine you.
The typical speed limits for the roads in Turkey are as follows.
- In Town and Residential Areas – 50 km/h
- Outside of Residential Areas – 90 km/h
- Highways – 120 km/h
Toll roads
All of the toll roads in the country have converted to the High-Speed Toll System, which helps to increase the speed of traffic. You cannot pay the tolls with cash or with a credit card. Instead, the rental car that you choose needs to have an electronic toll payment device equipped.
Having a rental car can help to make it much easier to reach all of the interesting places you want to visit. Just make sure you obey the traffic laws.
