Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Information and Services in Turkey Section => Cars, Bikes, Scooters, MOTs, Speeding... => Topic started by: mikem on February 09, 2011, 10:41:26 AM
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Hi All, I have an idea to drive to some place cooler in Europe to avoid the hottest extreme of summer here. My (new-ish) car has MA plates and only the basic traffic insurance. Can anyone please tell me what exactly is required to do so in terms of insurance, carnet, etc...
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All you need is a green card from your insurers. You do not need a Carnet.
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Thanks Eric, That sounds too simple - I heard it was a major hassle (?)
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Nope, we did it last year. Got to the border at Ipsala, all they asked for was the car documents. He entered those onto his computer, stamped Fi's passport with a little car stamp (the car is in Fi's name) and off we went. Coming back in they just checked the computer, overstamped the passport and we were back. There are several people that we know have traveled in and out without needing a carnet. One person we know even asked the Customs Police in Fethiye if he needed a Carnet, the reply was "why? it is your car you can take it anywhere you like" Friends went through Edirne at the same time as we went through Ipsala last year, they had a couple of hours hassle with the Turkish Customs Officer until they complained to the boss. He showed the official a paragraph in an official book, the Customs Officer read it and then said OK and stamped their passport and off they went.
Our take on it is that as a Turkish citizen needs a permit to leave the country it stands to reason that if they want to leave in their own car it needs a permit too, which is the Carnet (a temp export license) We foreigners can come and go as we please so therefore our Turkish car can go with us. As usual the officials who need to carry out laws or regulations don't know them.
So, no problems last year either for us or for friends and we will be doing the same this year.
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Okey dokey. The officials not knowing the rules sounds about right. Haha. So, I'll just get the Green Card and off I go then. Thanks a lot Eric.
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Just be aware that you might confuse some of the border guards when crossing into certain countries.
When I entered Hungary in my Turkish registered car I went into the EU queue and as soon as the guard saw the Turkish plates he went for his gun. I showed my UK passport and he immediately calmed-down and waved me through.
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He must have had a holiday in Hisaronu
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ok, just to throw a spanner in the works.. so to speak...
I am a dual national (British and Turkish citizen), because of this my car is registered with Turkish plates (no ME, MA etc). So if I was to leave Turkey to travel to the UK and back in my car, would I need any other documents? (I don't need a visa (personally) to enter the UK).
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No, you just need the normal vehicle-related documents that you'd take on any foreign trip. It might be worthwhile taking some photocopies of the documents and also a couple of passport sized photos too.
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We were thinking of driving our car through Europe but was told that we needed to have a Residency Permit to do this. Is this true? or can you drive the car in and out of Turkey on a Tourist Visa? So many conflicting stories regarding this.
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Is your car registered with a British or Turkish number plate?That would probably make a difference.I should imagine the address on the papers would affect this as well,if you are a Turkish or British resident the rules would not be the same would they?
I believe for a foreigner to purchase a Turkish car now they have to have residency. As they say in Turkey though,"This is the law but this is what we do!" :)
Lots of people must drive in and out of Turkey from Europe,they cannot all have residency if they are only visiting for a holiday surely.
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You do not need residence to buy or sell a car you just need to see the correct Notar (no 2) who knows the rules.
You do not need anything apart from your passport, car documents and green card insurance to take a MA/MB/ME etc registered car and yes you can do it on a Tourist visa (we and many others have done it).
If you drive a Turkish Registered car (not ME etc plates) then you probably need the carnet(car visa) to get it out of the country but you would have to do your own homework on that.
If it's an English registered car you can bring it in on a tourist visa for 6 months.
Everyone we know who has taken cars out as described have used Ipsala border crossing and have had no problems. Edirne border crossing was where friends had problems but eventually were allowed to take the car out without a carnet.
I personally think that the border staff at Edirne do not know the rules and the fact that a Turk trying to take a vehicle out must have a carnet is therefore applied to everyone.
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quote:
Originally posted by Firo
I personally think that the border staff at Edirne do not know the rules
Or, they've cottoned-on to another very good bonus scheme. ;)
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Apologies, should have explained before our car is registered here in Turkey ME plate, we did not renew our residency permit, so are not sure whether we can drive it through Europe without residency.
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I wonder if starman on the forum would know the answer to that one?
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Good grief!!!! We have just given you the answers!!!
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ex Cheltenham lady
Try reading the replies above and you'll find the answer....:( ;)