Turkey introduces new regulations for car rental sector

The Turkish Ministry of Trade has issued a new regulation to restructure the car rental sector, aiming to increase service quality and protect consumers. The regulation, published in the Official Gazette, introduces mandatory authorization certificates for commercial rental businesses. To obtain these, companies must be registered with a professional chamber, be tax-compliant, and ensure business managers hold specific vocational qualifications.

New technical standards for rental fleets include a six-year age limit for vehicles (excluding classic cars) and mileage caps: 180,000 kilometers for internal combustion engines and 300,000 kilometers for electric vehicles. Additionally, vehicles with severe damage records or overdue maintenance are prohibited from being rented. In metropolitan districts with populations over 30,000, companies must maintain a minimum fleet of 10 vehicles, including at least two hybrid or electric models.

To protect consumers, the regulation imposes limits on security deposits. For rentals of up to six days, the deposit cannot exceed three days' rent, while for rentals between seven and 29 days, it is capped at seven days' rent. Deposits must be refunded within seven days of vehicle return. The regulation will take effect on January 1, 2027, with a transition period for existing operators to secure authorization by July 1, 2027.