How to sell and transfer a used car in Turkey

Selling or buying a car in Turkey is not a handshake and a set of keys. Every sale or transfer of a registered vehicle is carried out by a notary office, and any sale or transfer not carried out by a notary is legally void. Before the transaction the notary checks the vehicle's motor vehicle tax and unpaid administrative monetary debts, whether any record blocks the sale, whether the roadworthiness inspection is valid, and whether compulsory motor third-party liability (traffic) insurance is in force in the buyer's name as of the sale date.

This guide walks you through what to prepare before the sale, how to book the notary appointment online, what happens at the notary office, what becomes of the licence plate and the insurance policies, and how to verify afterwards that the vehicle really has left your name. It applies to both the seller and the buyer.

1. Check the vehicle's record before the sale Log in to e-Devlet and open the "Araçlarım" (My Vehicles) service, which shows insurance, inspection, toll, tax and debt information for your vehicles on one screen. Also use the Union of Turkish Notaries service "Adıma Tescilli Araç Sorgulama" (Vehicles Registered in My Name) to confirm the vehicle is registered to you and that no record blocks its sale. Compare the details on your paper registration certificate against the electronic record. If they differ, the notary relies on the electronic record, so the record has to be corrected first.
2. Clear the debts and make the inspection valid A notary will not complete the sale without establishing that the vehicle carries no motor vehicle tax, late-payment interest or surcharge, unpaid administrative monetary debt or toll debt. Use the Revenue Administration services on e-Devlet to query and pay tax debts recorded against the vehicle. If the inspection period has lapsed, book an inspection and have it done; a valid inspection is required except for vehicles to be withdrawn from traffic. Re-check a day before the appointment that every payment has landed in the system.
3. Have the compulsory traffic insurance issued in the buyer's name The notary requires compulsory motor third-party liability insurance to be in force <strong>in the buyer's name</strong> as of the sale and transfer date; without it the transaction cannot begin. According to the Insurance Information and Monitoring Centre (SBM), a traffic policy does not pass to the new owner on sale: the seller cancels the existing policy and receives a pro-rata premium refund, while the buyer takes out a new policy in their own name. So the buyer must start the policy before the notary appointment. Confirm on the policy document that its start date covers the day of sale.
4. Book the notary e-appointment Open the Union of Turkish Notaries e-Appointment / Application system at tnb.org.tr, or the "e-Randevu / Başvuru" service on e-Devlet. Enter the details of the transaction and pick the notary office you want; the system generates an application number and emails it to the address you gave. The chosen notary office does the preparatory work and tells you the appointment time. Membership is optional and can be set up once, free of charge, at the nearest notary office; without membership you simply enter your identity details each time. The system offers three forms: an appointment where you sign in wet ink, an appointment where you sign with an electronic signature, and an application without attending the notary in person.
5. Complete the sale at the notary office at the appointed time Buyer and seller - or their representatives holding a notarised power of attorney - attend the notary office at the appointment time. Hand over the registration certificate and identity documents; the notary runs the debt, blocking-record, inspection and buyer-name insurance checks and carries out the sale and transfer electronically. Rather than handing over cash, transfer the purchase price by bank or through the secure payment option offered at the notary office, ideally at the same moment the transaction is completed. No sale or transfer performed outside a notary office is valid; a privately signed paper does not transfer the vehicle.
6. Collect the new registration certificate and settle the plate question Once the sale or transfer is complete, the notary office issues, prints and signs the vehicle registration certificate in the buyer's name and hands it over in person. Check it on the spot: name, surname, national ID number, plate, make, model and chassis details must all be correct. For registered vehicles the existing plate passes to the new owner after a sale or transfer, so the plate does not change by itself. If the buyer's place of residence is outside the province that issued the plate, a plate change can be made at the notary office on request; in that case the old plates are taken back and cancelled.
7. Deal with the comprehensive (kasko) and optional policies Comprehensive motor insurance is not compulsory, so the notary does not ask about it - but the seller's policy should not be left hanging. Under the General Conditions for Land Vehicles Comprehensive Insurance, if the holder of the insured interest changes during the policy term the insurance contract is automatically terminated at the moment of that change; the premium for the elapsed period is calculated on a daily basis and the excess is refunded to the policyholder. If the policy contains a clause allowing it to continue with the new owner, it continues. After the sale, call the insurer and get the policy status and the refund confirmed in writing. A buyer who wants comprehensive cover takes out a new policy in their own name.
8. As the seller, verify the vehicle has left your name Do not stop at the notary counter. Within a few days log in to e-Devlet and open both "Adıma Tescilli Araç Sorgulama" and "Araçlarım". If the vehicle no longer appears, the transfer has been recorded. If it still appears, go back to the notary office with your application number. The notary reports the sale or transfer electronically to the Revenue Administration, so the motor vehicle tax liability should also drop out of your record with the transfer. Keep copies of the sale documents and of your former policy.
9. As the buyer, finish the handover and move the subscriptions to your name Keep the new registration certificate where it belongs with the vehicle and note down its details. Open "Araçlarım" on e-Devlet and confirm the vehicle shows under your name and that insurance and inspection data are listed correctly. Register the electronic toll tag (HGS/OGS) in your own name or buy a new one; if the seller's tag stays on the car, toll charges are billed to the seller. Put the next inspection date in your calendar and take out whatever optional policies suit how you will use the vehicle.

⚠ This guide is general information. Yudum cannot be held responsible for the outcome of following it; for official procedures always rely on the institution's own statement. Steps and fees change over time.

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