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Buying a car in Türkiye has become 38% more expensive than in Germany, while renting remains 47% cheaper, a comparative study by Turkish rent-a-car firm LenaCars showed.
According to the study, the gap reflects a growing divide between car ownership and rental affordability, driven by currency depreciation and high taxation in Türkiye’s automotive market.
The Türkiye–Germany analysis examined eight popular vehicle models, using Germany as the baseline (100) for price comparison. It found that while purchasing a new car in Türkiye has become a major financial burden, renting—particularly in the economy class—continues to offer a cost-effective alternative.
"Owning a car has turned into a luxury; renting has become rational, especially in the economy segment," LenaCars General Manager Selcuk Nazik said, stressing that the data points to a fundamental behavioral shift.
Among the models compared, the Dacia Sandero Stepway was 82% more expensive in Türkiye than in Germany, followed by the Skoda Superb at 75%, and the Mercedes EQB at 51%. Even Türkiye’s locally produced TOGG T10X costs 13% more than its German market price.
Nazik attributed these differences mainly to Türkiye’s Special Consumption Tax (SCT) and Value Added Tax (VAT), along with currency fluctuations, supply chain expenses, and distributor margins. He said these structural factors have made vehicle ownership in Türkiye "a costly privilege rather than a mobility right," leading consumers to increasingly prefer rentals over purchases.
Despite higher ownership costs, Istanbul remains competitive in short-term car rentals. The study found that renting an economy-class car in Istanbul for seven days is 47% cheaper than in Berlin. B-SUV rentals were 37% cheaper, C-SUVs 23%, and minivans or vans 10% cheaper.
Nazik explained that the lower rental prices result from intense market competition, high fleet turnover, local production advantages, and aggressive digital pricing strategies. “In Istanbul’s economy segment, companies play for occupancy, not profit margins—they win with volume,” he said.
The report noted that renting premium vehicles in Istanbul is 50% to 159% more expensive than in Berlin, largely due to limited supply and higher insurance and deposit risks. Nazik explained that “because premium cars are scarce, there’s no price competition, and insurance and damage costs are reflected directly in rental prices.”
LenaCars emphasized that global mobility trends are shifting from ownership to access, and Türkiye is experiencing this change more rapidly due to economic pressures. Nazik said: “Buying a car has become a heavy financial burden for individuals and companies, while rentals offer more predictable and manageable costs.”
He summarized the findings by stating that purchasing cars in Türkiye has become a luxury, premium rentals remain costly, and economy rentals continue to offer real financial advantages. These dynamics, he added, suggest that renting over owning may soon become the new norm for Turkish consumers.
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