Istanbul car rental guide
Top 10 Car Rental Companies in Istanbul
The best car rental companies in Istanbul are Sixt, Enterprise, Europcar. Prices start from ₺950/day for an economy car, the minimum age is 21, and airport pickup adds about 12%.
✓ Free cancellation options✓ No booking fee✓ Full-to-full suppliers✓ You book direct
Ranked comparison
Top 10 rental companies in Istanbul
Ranked by customer rating, price transparency and pickup convenience. Each opens a pre-filled search.
#1
Sixt
Editor’s pickFull-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from ₺8000Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From₺980/day
all-in estimate
View Sixt deal
#2
Enterprise
Top ratedFull-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from ₺9000Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From₺1050/day
all-in estimate
View Enterprise deal
#3
Europcar
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from ₺9000Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From₺920/day
all-in estimate
View Europcar deal
#4
Hertz
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from ₺8000Min age 23Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From₺1080/day
all-in estimate
View Hertz deal
#5
Avis
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from ₺8000Min age 23Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From₺1020/day
all-in estimate
View Avis deal
#6
Budget
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from ₺8000Min age 23Free cancellationAirport
From₺900/day
all-in estimate
View Budget deal
#7
Alamo
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from ₺9000Min age 21Free cancellationAirport
From₺960/day
all-in estimate
View Alamo deal
#8
National
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from ₺9000Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From₺1120/day
all-in estimate
View National deal
#9
Thrifty
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from ₺8000Min age 23Free cancellationAirport
From₺880/day
base rate
View Thrifty deal
#10
Dollar
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from ₺8000Min age 23Free cancellationAirport
From₺880/day
base rate
View Dollar deal
Prices are indicative market estimates · Last checked 2026-07-01 · 2 public sources (DiscoverCars + market data)
Price guide
Prices by car type in Istanbul
| Car type | From / day | Example | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ₺900 | Hyundai i20 | 5 |
| Compact | ₺1050 | Fiat Egea | 5 |
| SUV | ₺1650 | Dacia Duster | 5 |
| Minivan (7-seat) | ₺2400 | Renault Trafic | 7 |
| Luxury | ₺3200 | Mercedes E-Class | 5 |
Pickup locations
Where to pick up a car in Istanbul
Airport — Istanbul Airport (IST)
Rental desks in the arrivals car-rental facility; some suppliers (e.g. Sixt) operate from the adjacent rental-car car park via shuttle.
Downtown — Central Istanbul (Taksim)
Desks around Taksim, Şişli and Kadıköy on the Asian side.
Fees
Fees at a glance
| Fee | Typical amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| HGS/OGS tolls (bridges + motorways) | TRY 49–77 per Bosphorus crossing | Deducted from deposit or billed at return |
| Young-driver fee (21–24) | TRY 300–600/day | Drivers under 25 |
| Additional driver | TRY 250–450/day | Per extra driver |
| One-way fee | TRY 1,500–4,500 | Different drop-off location |
| Traffic-fine handling | TRY 400–900 + fine | Speeding or parking ticket during rental |
| Security deposit | TRY 8,000–9,000 hold | Credit-card pre-authorisation at pickup |
Local intelligence
Things to know before renting in Istanbul
- Drive on the right; most rentals are manual — request automatic explicitly.
- Rental cars come with an HGS toll transponder on the windscreen; charges (OGS is the older system) are deducted from your deposit automatically.
- Istanbul traffic is among the heaviest in the world — allow generous time and expect congestion around bridge approaches.
- An International Driving Permit is recommended (and often asked for by suppliers), though tourists may drive up to six months on a Latin-alphabet home licence.
- Crossing the Bosphorus costs TRY 49 on the 1st/2nd bridges and TRY 77 on the electronic-only Yavuz Sultan Selim (3rd) bridge; the Eurasia Tunnel runs about TRY 280–330 for cars.
- Minimum rental age is typically 21 (23 for some categories), with a young-driver surcharge under 25 and the licence held at least one year.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about renting a car in Istanbul
What is the minimum age to rent a car in Istanbul?
Most companies rent from age 21, with some categories requiring 23 or 25. Drivers aged 21–24 usually pay a young-driver surcharge of TRY 300–600/day, and the licence must have been held for at least one year.
Do I need an International Driving Permit in Turkey?
It is not strictly mandatory — tourists may drive for up to six months on a valid home licence written in the Latin alphabet. However, an IDP is recommended and many suppliers ask for one at pickup, especially if your licence is not in the Latin alphabet.
How do the HGS and OGS tolls work?
Every rental car has an HGS transponder on the windscreen (OGS is the older, less-used system). Bridge and motorway tolls accumulate automatically and are deducted from your deposit or billed at the end of the rental — you never stop at a booth.
What deposit should I expect?
A credit-card pre-authorisation of roughly TRY 8,000–9,000 is standard. It is a hold, not a charge, and is released after you return the car undamaged and all tolls/fines are settled.
How much does it cost to cross the Bosphorus bridges?
The 1st and 2nd Bosphorus bridges cost around TRY 49 per car crossing, and the electronic-only Yavuz Sultan Selim (3rd) bridge about TRY 77. The Eurasia Tunnel is roughly TRY 280–330 for cars during the day.
Can I do a one-way rental (different drop-off)?
Yes, most suppliers allow one-way rentals within Turkey for a fee of roughly TRY 1,500–4,500 depending on distance. Cross-border rentals are heavily restricted and usually not permitted.
Where can I pick up a car — airport or city centre?
Both. Istanbul Airport (IST) has desks in the arrivals car-rental facility (Sixt uses the adjacent rental-car car park via shuttle), and there are central desks around Taksim, Şişli and Kadıköy on the Asian side.
What is the cheapest car type in Istanbul?
Economy cars (e.g. Hyundai i20 or Fiat Egea) start around TRY 900/day. For families, a 7-seat minivan such as the Renault Trafic starts around TRY 2,400/day.
