Ashgabat enforces white‑only car rule, violations lead to seizure

In Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat, authorities require that private and government vehicles be white, silver or ivory. Any car painted a different colour can be seized and its owner subject to heavy fines. The rule, described as an unwritten norm, aligns with the city’s extensive use of white marble in its architecture and is said to help reflect intense desert sunlight.

The practice has been highlighted in recent reports, noting that the uniform colour scheme is enforced by traffic officials and reflects both aesthetic preferences and practical considerations for heat mitigation in the Karakum desert region.