Driving license in Turkey

I did not need an international license when I rented a car for a week last spring.

The roads were excellent around Antalya, Denizle and Burdur last year. Even the road to Sagalassos, which is pretty remote, was in very good condition. My recollection from previous trips to Turkey is that the roads were excellent around Dalaman, too.

I was a little nervous because I had never rented a car outside the US, but my worries were unfounded. Driving in downtown Burdur was a little chaotic but manageable. Everywhere else was easy peasy --- good roads, good signage, and the drivers weren't crazy.

Thank you!

That’s International Driving Permit - not a license. It’s simply an official translation of your state/provincial license (which must be valid and goes along with the IDP). Seems to me like a reasonable minor courtesy one can provide to the local police - imagine a cop in your town pulls over a foreigner who just violated some traffic law, who then hands them a license from, say, Japan or Kazakstan….how is that interaction going to go?

The IDP has nothing to do with one’s ability to RENT a car. It’s typically needed if you get stopped by a police officer or worse (if you get in an accident). The rental agency doesn’t really care if you spend some time in jail (they’ll be walking free) or even if you crash their car (they’ll charge it to your credit card).

The IDP Is cheap insurance to me. Others here will howl at the moon and protest that it’s nothing more than a way to squeeze 25-30 bucks from you (in your case Canuck bucks, check with the CAA).

I’ve driven around a good bit of Western Turkey (and plenty of other countries). Never without my valid US state drivers license AND an IDP, and I never will in any country where English isn’t the official language. (In fact, I’m currently in Colombia and will be renting a car tomorrow - and have my IDP ready to go - but the IDP is for me, not for the rental guys.)

Personally, skipping the IDP seems to me like a bad way to save the cost of a few drinks. I’d rather pay for the peace of mind, but some will disagree. I know I’ve been glad I had one when I’ve been stopped by a cop or two. YMMV.

FYI, this question comes up all the time here. Opinions are, let’s just say, divided…

IME, driving in Turkey - outside of the major cities - is a breeze. In Istanbul and other big cities, no thank you.

Thanks, you make a good point and I think I will go with that and err on the side of caution. Go Canucks go!

Rented a car at İstanbul International Airport this past November and didn't need an IDP (although I had one with me). We only used the car for a couple of days in the Kilyos area near the airport and the driving was easy.

We always have gotten the IDP when renting a car in Europe. Cheap insurance!