27.02.2026 11:14
New regulations made in the Highway Traffic Law have been published in the Official Gazette and have come into effect. According to the new regulation, drivers who exceed speed limits, follow others with the intent to attack, do not comply with police stop signals, fail to make way for emergency vehicles, weave in traffic, and drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs will have their licenses confiscated. Additionally, drivers using mobile phones while driving will also have their licenses confiscated for certain periods.
The proposal for the Law on Amendments to the Highway Traffic Law, which includes regulations aimed at increasing traffic fines, has been published in the Official Gazette and has come into effect. In the new regulation that has come into force, driving licenses will be confiscated for many violations.
From dangerous driving to fake license plates, from driving under the influence of alcohol to the obligation of using a tachograph, it raises fines in many categories and also toughens the conditions for confiscation and cancellation of driving licenses.
The fine for those who drive without a registration document and license plate has been increased to 46,000 TL. Those who deliberately make the license plate unreadable will face a fine of 140,000 TL, and in case of repetition within a year, a fine of 280,000 TL will be imposed each time, along with a traffic ban.
Those using a fake plate or a plate belonging to another vehicle will be fined 140,000 TL, their driving licenses will be confiscated for 30 days, and the vehicle will be banned from traffic for 30 days. In case of repetition, the fine will increase to 280,000 TL; additionally, this act will also constitute the crime of "forgery of official documents" under the Turkish Penal Code.
REGULATIONS ON CANCELLATION AND RETRIEVAL OF DRIVING LICENSES
The periods for confiscating driving licenses for many serious violations have been extended, and the path for license cancellation has been opened for repeated violations. In case of retrieval of the driving license, it will be mandatory to have paid all administrative fines for its return.
In some violations, the return of the driving license is conditional on a psychotechnical evaluation, while those whose licenses are revoked for serious violations for the second time within 5 years may have their documents canceled. A requirement to attend a course and pass an exam has been introduced for the canceled driving license.
HERE ARE THE CASES THAT WILL LEAD TO CONFISCATION OF DRIVING LICENSES
- Those who exceed the speed limit by 46-55 kilometers/hour within residential areas will have their driving licenses confiscated for 30 days each time, those exceeding by 56-65 kilometers/hour will have them confiscated for 60 days each time, and those exceeding by more than 66 kilometers/hour will have them confiscated for 90 days each time.
- Those who exceed the speed limit by 51-60 kilometers/hour outside residential areas will have their driving licenses confiscated for 30 days each time, those exceeding by 61-70 kilometers/hour will have them confiscated for 60 days each time, and those exceeding by more than 71 kilometers/hour will have them confiscated for 90 days each time.
- Drivers who persistently follow another vehicle with the intent to attack or get out of the vehicle for this purpose will face an administrative fine of 180,000 TL, and their driving licenses will be confiscated for 60 days.
- Those who flee despite police warnings and signals during fixed or moving inspections will face an administrative fine of 200,000 TL, their driving licenses will be confiscated for 60 days, and the vehicle will be banned from traffic for 60 days.
- Drivers who do not make way for ambulances, vehicles carrying injured or emergency patients, and vehicles fighting forest fires, and do not stop if necessary, will be fined 46,000 TL, and their driving licenses will be confiscated for 30 days.
- Those who perform "cutting" and "drifting" in traffic will be fined 90,000 TL. Additionally, these drivers will have their driving licenses confiscated for 60 days, and their vehicles will be banned from traffic for 30 days.
- Drivers of motorcycles and similar vehicles who perform acrobatic maneuvers that negatively affect driving safety, such as riding on one wheel, lying on the seat, standing on the seat, spinning around, or skidding the wheel, will face an administrative fine of 46,000 TL, their driving licenses will be confiscated for 60 days, and the vehicle will be banned from traffic for 60 days.
- Drivers found to be driving with an alcohol level above 0.50 promille will have their licenses confiscated for a period.
- Drivers found to have consumed drugs or stimulants will face an administrative fine of 150,000 TL, and their driving licenses will be canceled.
- Drivers who do not undergo testing to determine whether they have used drugs or stimulants or the amount of alcohol in their blood will be fined 150,000 TL, and their driving licenses will be confiscated for 5 years.
- Drivers using mobile phones or similar communication devices while driving will face an administrative fine of 20,000 TL for each violation of this rule if it occurs 3 or more times within a year, and their driving licenses will be confiscated for 30 days each time.
PSYCHOTECHNICAL TECHNICAL CONDITION FOR RETRIEVED LICENSES IN SOME CASES
Retrieved driving licenses will be returned after the expiration of the period for certain violations, provided that it is understood that there is no obstacle to obtaining a driving license after the driver has undergone a psychotechnical evaluation and that all administrative fines have been collected.
LICENSES OF THOSE WHO LOSE THEIR LICENSES TWICE WITHIN 5 YEARS WILL BE CANCELED
Driving licenses of those whose licenses are revoked for the second time within 5 years from the date of the last violation will be canceled. Those whose driving licenses are canceled will need to attend driving courses and successfully obtain a motor vehicle driver certificate in the exams to be able to obtain a driving license again.