"DON'T DRIVE IN TURKEY, IT'S NOT SAFE. THEY ARE ALL NUTTERS."
Now that is an easy line to find if you look up information on Turkey on the internet.
But, take that advice and you're immediately cutting off about 90% of the things you can do and see!
I'm just back from two weeks in Side. We collected our car at Antalya airport and did our own transfer to the hotel using our Sat Nav (very easy). And then spent two weeks clocking up over 1000 miles seeing the sights that every one we spoke to had missed (or been shown on the fleeting stops on tours between the 15th and 16th carpet shop).
The standard of driving is average and a little more car is needed. But it's easy to relax and take in the scenary after a short period of adjustment. Even getting used to cutting the odd red light and using the horn like a local after a while.
Anyway, I also want to strongly recommend a local company, Cizgi Car Hire. We always book a car on holiday but Turkey shocked us for cost.
The brokers (Holiday Autos etc) were all quoting £300 plus for two weeks!!! Ouch!! A little search or two and I found Cizgi Car Hire. I took a risk and booked a car despite not finding anything about their service. The price was 230 euro (haggled down from 260 euro) and the service was excellent. They take payment in cash on delivery and don't need a credit card.
So I thought it would be worth spreading the word given that I wanted to find out about them and couldn't!!
I do totally agree!
Local companies doing great work (rentacarturkey) and driving in turkey is quite save as the roads are strongly improved
Jeroen
Local companies doing great work (rentacarturkey) and driving in turkey is quite save as the roads are strongly improved
Jeroen
I hired a jeep in Icmeler last week via Folo Travel, all very simple and driving was a pleasure, esp once out of town 
No Dave I just had both bits of my UK license that was all that was needed
Well I must say you are all very brave 
I lived in turkey for a few years and I was never brave enough to drive there! I have to admit that was mainly my daughter was just a tiny baby, I would have probably been nervous driving in England at the time too...
I lived in turkey for a few years and I was never brave enough to drive there! I have to admit that was mainly my daughter was just a tiny baby, I would have probably been nervous driving in England at the time too...
Absolutely, driving in Turkey is great. Of course you need to concentrate a bit more than at home, and get used to the different meanings of the horn tooting and flashing of lights, but you do get to see loads more and visit areas that aren't accessible without one.
We have just come back from Turunc and hired a car from http://www.propercar.com which we picked up at Dalaman airport and dropped off there. We have used them 3 times and found them very efficient and reasonably priced, and also all three cars have been almost new. They give a 10% discount for property owners hiring for a minimum of a week which is good for us!
As for driving in Turkey at this time of year the roads are so empty that driving is quite a pleasure. The driving standards have improved enormously over the years. The police are also very much in evidence - in fact we got stopped by them on our first day - but all they asked to see were passports. I would say you are much more likely to be stopped there by police than here, which has perhaps helped in pushing up driving standards.
As for driving in Turkey at this time of year the roads are so empty that driving is quite a pleasure. The driving standards have improved enormously over the years. The police are also very much in evidence - in fact we got stopped by them on our first day - but all they asked to see were passports. I would say you are much more likely to be stopped there by police than here, which has perhaps helped in pushing up driving standards.
-
Edited by
Alfie
2008-10-22 13:37:10
Good to see other adventurous souls.
One downside of driving is the price of petrol. Although the man from Cizgi told me they will have LPG cars from next year (LPG is available at every petrol station).
Of course, Turkey is one of the few places in the world you get back from your hols and enjoy a reduction in the cost of driving!
One downside of driving is the price of petrol. Although the man from Cizgi told me they will have LPG cars from next year (LPG is available at every petrol station).
Of course, Turkey is one of the few places in the world you get back from your hols and enjoy a reduction in the cost of driving!
Yes locals do jump red lights and disobey basic rules of the road.
I strongly suggest that you do obey the rules of the road and treat amber the same as you do in the UK. Bear in mind if you are jumping the lights then perhaps the other driver is doing the same.
The police are getting tougher on traffic violations and documents must be produced on demand. There is a discount for paying traffic fines on the spot.
Before you drive the car away from the rental company make sure that all documents are upto date
Insurance, exhaust emission test, and the equivalent of the MOT. You will also need to carry your passport. Not only for the police but for the Jandarma who carry out ID checks.
Drive safely and have fun.
I strongly suggest that you do obey the rules of the road and treat amber the same as you do in the UK. Bear in mind if you are jumping the lights then perhaps the other driver is doing the same.
The police are getting tougher on traffic violations and documents must be produced on demand. There is a discount for paying traffic fines on the spot.Before you drive the car away from the rental company make sure that all documents are upto date
Insurance, exhaust emission test, and the equivalent of the MOT. You will also need to carry your passport. Not only for the police but for the Jandarma who carry out ID checks.
Drive safely and have fun.
I love driving here and my longest drives from Kusadasi have been to Ankara, Bursa and Gocek. Would be lost without my car. 
[I'm just back from two weeks in Side. We collected our car at Antalya airport and did our own transfer to the hotel using our Sat Nav (very easy). And then spent two weeks clocking up over 1000 miles seeing the sights that every one we spoke to had missed ]
Can you tell me where you got your Turkey map on your sat nav ??
We to hire a jeep for our 2 week stay every year and as yet have not found a tom tom map of the area,
Can any one help with this map from Dalaman to Hissuranu ??
Can you tell me where you got your Turkey map on your sat nav ??
We to hire a jeep for our 2 week stay every year and as yet have not found a tom tom map of the area,
Can any one help with this map from Dalaman to Hissuranu ??
Can you tell me where you got your Turkey map on your sat nav ??
It was on a very elderly version of TomTom Eastern Europe maps (TomTom version 5 on a PDA). All of turkey is included although the maps seemed to be off in certain areas (Antalya was useless).
Hi. I am just back from Turkey, Dalaman to be precise.For the last 4 years I have rented a car from the same company. I highly recommend this company to anyone because the price, service, and care that they give to you is second to none. The name of the company is PandoraCar Rental and you can contact them on the following website. http://www.dalamancarrental.com. Ask for Mehmet, he is the owner. Should you require a Sat Nav, just ask for one and it is included free of charge. The car can be delivered to the Airport, where you pay on acceptance of the car, in any currency you choose. Alternatively the car can be delivered anywhere within reason that you suggest. All in all a fantastic company to deal with.The price that he quotes to you includes everything, so dont worry about any hidden extras that other companies try to charge you for. Try them. You will not be disappointed, I promise you. Cheers, and heres looking forward to my next visit to Dalaman. Cheers.
Good reply but the sat nav is £2 per day but very good prices thou...
Good to see postings on this subject, I just noticed this thread and thought I'd share pur experiences. We hired a car from cizgi and found them very reasonably priced and good to deal with, we would certainly use them again. Driving in any foreign country is always going to be a challenge and you certainly need your wits about you and a good deal of patience, a lot of people suggest driving defensively and I think this is the best advice I can pass on, also the roads are obviously extremely hot and extra stopping distance is needed to avoid the smell of hot burning rubber! We travelled from Antalya to Finike and Demre around the headland and the scenery is absolutely spectacular! Although this ia a winding road there are safety barriers and the condition of the road is very good, we saw so much more and were spared the delights of being pestered by forceful staff at rip-off factory outlets! Highly recommended!
Lara
Lara
Havnt been on for a while
Kedii
Its Peli
A lass of your character, Im surprised I thought you would have been in the thick of it.
"Traffic", no problem !!!
"Go for it Girl",
Obviously without the young uns in the car.
Regards
Peli
Kedii
Its PeliA lass of your character, Im surprised I thought you would have been in the thick of it.
"Traffic", no problem !!!
"Go for it Girl",
Obviously without the young uns in the car.
Regards
Peli
Hi Peli, I thought I hadn't seen you around here for a while
I probably would have had a go if it was just me but I was happier jumping on and off the dolmus or walking. People are a bit mad sometimes - have you seen the mopeds with the whole family, including baby on board! That really scares me
I probably would have had a go if it was just me but I was happier jumping on and off the dolmus or walking. People are a bit mad sometimes - have you seen the mopeds with the whole family, including baby on board! That really scares me
driving in turkey is just different to the uk in the way use of the horn is not aggresive as in the uk and overtaking rules seem not to apply
i have driven in turkey for a good number of years and if youi are carful you will have no problems, you will also open up another side of turkey with traditional little road side eating houses and the major difference in costs not forgetting the wonderful places you would not have seen if you had stayed local
so if you have the courage go for it and enjoy real turkey
i have driven in turkey for a good number of years and if youi are carful you will have no problems, you will also open up another side of turkey with traditional little road side eating houses and the major difference in costs not forgetting the wonderful places you would not have seen if you had stayed local
so if you have the courage go for it and enjoy real turkey
Post a Reply
Please sign in or register an account to reply to this post.
Similar Topics
-
Car hire and driving in Turkey
Posted by browners in Turkey Discussion Forum
-
Driving A Hire vehicle to france
Posted by edward williams in General Holiday Enquiries, Hints and Tips
-
US Car Hire/Orlando driving tips.
Posted by shelley&girls in America/Canada Discussion Forum
-
AIRPORT TRANSFERS/ DRIVING/CAR HIRE-Q&As
Posted by michael ridley in Bulgaria Discussion Forum
-
Car Hire abroad - and the UK Driving licence change- Beware!
Posted by ukbill in General Holiday Enquiries, Hints and Tips