The Regulation on the Rental of Motor Vehicles, prepared by the Ministry of Trade, was published in the Official Gazette. The regulation aims to establish a corporate structure for motor vehicle rental activities, strengthen consumer rights and create fair competition conditions in the sector.
New requirements for authorization certificates
Businesses that rent motor vehicles for commercial purposes will be required to obtain an authorization certificate. Applications and other procedures related to the certificate will be handled through the Motor Vehicle Rental Information System, which will be established.
Businesses applying for an authorization certificate must be registered with a professional chamber, have tax liability and use their premises in accordance with the purposes specified in the regulation. Business managers must have at least a primary education, must not have been convicted of certain crimes and must hold a Level 4 vocational qualification certificate approved by the Vocational Qualifications Authority.
The Motor Vehicle Rental Information System is planned to be established by January 1, 2027. The regulation will enter into force on the same date. Existing businesses will be given until July 1, 2027, to obtain an authorization certificate.
Age and mileage limits for rental vehicles
Except for classic vehicles, vehicles more than 6 years old may not be rented out. Vehicles with more than 180,000 kilometers, as well as electric vehicles exceeding 300,000 kilometers, will also be prohibited from being rented out.
Vehicles that have not undergone periodic maintenance on time or that have a record of severe damage may not be rented out. Businesses will have to meet the age, mileage and other qualification requirements for their vehicle fleets by January 1, 2028.
Businesses operating in districts with populations exceeding 30,000 in provinces with metropolitan municipalities will be required to have at least 10 vehicles, at least 5 of which must be registered in the name of the business. In districts with populations of 30,000 or less and in provinces without metropolitan municipalities, businesses will be required to have at least 5 vehicles, at least 2 of which must be registered in the name of the business.
Businesses operating in these districts will be required to have at least 2 hybrid or exclusively electric vehicles in their fleets, at least one of which must be manufactured in Türkiye.
Deposit and reservation procedures regulated
The deposit will be limited to a maximum of 3 days' rental fee for rentals lasting 1 to 6 days, and to a maximum of 7 days' rental fee for rentals lasting 7 to 29 days or weekly rentals. The deposit must be returned no later than 7 days after the vehicle is returned by the consumer.
For prepaid reservations, consumers will be granted the right to make changes or cancel the reservation without giving any reason and without any deduction on the reservation date, provided that less than 24 hours remain before the vehicle's delivery.
Consumers may not be charged for wear and tear resulting from ordinary use, and no deduction may be made from the deposit on these grounds.
Insurance and winter tire obligations
Businesses will be required to provide winter tires when required by seasonal conditions, traffic safety or renter safety. Insurance coverage will be included in the rental fee, and the renter's use of the insurance may not be made subject to an additional fee or any other condition.
Except where an agreement has been reached between the business and the renter, the renter may not be charged for loss of value without an insurance arbitration decision or another enforceable decision with the force of a court judgment.
Rules also introduced for online listings
Rental businesses will establish a continuous and accessible communication infrastructure that renters can reach at any time in cases of damage or malfunction. Intermediary and listing platforms will also fall within the scope of the regulation.
These platforms will be required to check whether the businesses posting listings hold authorization certificates. Businesses without authorization certificates will be prevented from registering with the platforms and posting listings.
Contracts signed between intermediary and listing platforms and rental businesses before the regulation enters into force must be brought into compliance with the regulation by July 1, 2027.
Regulation aims to strengthen consumer rights
The regulation aims to clarify contract terms, raise the technical qualification standards of rental vehicles and prevent unregistered activities and unfair competition. The Ministry expects the regulation to contribute to the sector's sustainable growth and to a more transparent market.
