Foreign-plated vehicles can no longer leave Türkiye without paying fines

Cars drive on a highway near Halic Bridge in Istanbul, Türkiye, April, 28, 2021. (AA Photo)

Cars drive on a highway near Halic Bridge in Istanbul, Türkiye, April, 28, 2021. (AA Photo)

Foreign-plated vehicles in Türkiye will no longer be allowed to leave the country without paying their outstanding administrative fines. This includes unpaid highway tolls, bridge fees, and other related penalties.

What has changed—and how it used to be

According to the new regulation, Turkish customs officers will now check whether a foreign-plated car has any unpaid fines before allowing it to cross the border. If any debt is found, the vehicle will not be permitted to exit until all payments are made.

The rule is part of the updated Regulation on the Collection of Toll Fees and Administrative Fines for Foreign-Plated Vehicles. It connects highway and traffic penalties directly to border control systems. That means even if a driver hasn’t received formal notification (tebligat) of a fine, the unpaid amount will still appear in the system and can block their departure.

Authorities explain that the goal is to stop foreign vehicles from leaving Türkiye without settling what they owe. In the past, many cars from abroad would use Turkish toll roads or commit traffic violations, then exit the country before enforcement agencies could act. The new rule closes that gap.

To make payments, drivers must use the Interactive Tax Office or the General Directorate of Highways (KGM) website under the “Foreign Vehicle Payments” section. If a vehicle passes through a toll station without an HGS balance, the owner has 15 days to top up the account or pay the toll; otherwise, an administrative fine is automatically applied.

How it was before

Previously, foreign-plated vehicles could often leave Türkiye even if they had unpaid tolls or traffic fines. There were several reasons for this:

Weak coordination between customs, police, and highway systems meant unpaid fines were not always visible at border gates.
Paper-based notifications delayed enforcement, so many fines were still “in process” when vehicles exited.
Limited digital integration between different agencies made real-time data checks impossible.
Private toll operators sometimes lacked the legal authority to block foreign vehicles at exit points.

As a result, foreign drivers could use highways without paying and simply drive out of Türkiye before the system caught up.

What drivers should do now?

If you drive a foreign-plated vehicle in Türkiye, make sure to:

Check for unpaid fines on the KGM or Interactive Tax Office website before you plan to leave.
Pay any penalties in advance to avoid long delays at border crossings.
Keep proof of payment in case of system errors or disputes.
Stay aware of toll requirements on every route, especially on bridges and private highways.

The new rule has made border exits much stricter—and for drivers of foreign vehicles, it’s now essential to stay on top of all payments before heading home.

October 10, 2025 08:57 AM GMT+03:00