Planning to ship cars from the UK to Turkey? You’re far from alone. Every year, thousands of expats, traders, and UK residents face the same challenges: unexpected costs, missing paperwork, incorrect shipping choices, and frustrating customs delays.
The best way to ship a car to Turkey is not just about finding a vessel. It’s about choosing the right method, preparing documents correctly, and understanding how Turkish customs really work. With over 15 years of real-world experience, Ascope Shipping has helped simplify this process for thousands of customers.
As a leading UK shipping company, Ascope Shipping transports almost 14000+ vehicles from the UK to worldwide destinations. We will guide you on how to avoid costly mistakes, save money without compromise, and ensure your vehicle reaches Turkey safely, smoothly, and without unnecessary stress or delays.
What Is the Best Way to Ship a Car to Turkey from the UK?
RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) shipping is the best way for most people shipping a standard car from the UK to Turkey. It’s fast, affordable, and reliable with weekly sailings from multiple UK ports to Istanbul Autoport, Izmir, and Mersin.
If you’re shipping a high-value, classic, or non-running vehicle, container shipping is the safer and smarter option, even though it costs more.
RoRo vs Container Shipping UK to Turkey
RoRo Shipping — The Cheapest Way to Ship a Car to Turkey
RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) shipping is exactly what it sounds like. Your car is driven directly onto a purpose-built vessel, secured to the car deck with straps and chocks, and sailed to Turkey.
Why most people choose RoRo:
- Lowest cost: starting from around £650 for a saloon car
- Weekly sailings from major UK ports
- Ideal for standard, drivable cars, vans, and 4x4s
Important to know: Personal belongings cannot be left inside your vehicle with most RoRo carriers. The car must be drivable, and the fuel tank should be no more than a quarter full.
Container Shipping — The Safest Way to Ship a Car to Turkey
Container shipping means your vehicle is loaded inside a sealed steel shipping container, either a 20ft (one car) or 40ft (two cars). It’s fully enclosed, locked, and protected from the elements and the sea air throughout the entire voyage.
Container shipping is the better choice when:
- You’re shipping a luxury, classic, or high-value car
- Your vehicle is non-running or a restoration project
- You want to include personal effects or household goods alongside the car
- You need maximum protection and security
Container shipping costs more than RoRo, but for the right vehicle, it’s absolutely worth it. At Ascope Shipping, we offer both 20ft and 40ft containers, loaded at our Essex warehouse or collected from your address.
RoRo vs Container Shipping Comparison
| RoRo Shipping | Container Shipping | |
| Cost | Lower — from £650 | Higher — custom quote |
| Security | Good | Maximum |
| Personal items | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Best for | Standard running cars | Luxury, classic, non-running |
| Transit time | 14–21 days | 14–21 days |
| Weather exposure | Minimal (enclosed vessel) | None (sealed container) |
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car from the UK to Turkey?
Car shipping costs to Turkey vary depending on several factors. Here’s what affects the final price:
- Vehicle size and type: A saloon costs less than an SUV or van
- Shipping method: RoRo is cheaper than container
- UK departure port: Some ports have lower handling fees
- Turkish destination ports: Istanbul, Izmir, and Mersin have different port charges
- Door-to-port vs port-to-port: Collection from your address adds convenience but increases cost
- Marine insurance: Highly recommended and added separately
As a guide, RoRo car shipping to Turkey from the UK starts at around £650 for a standard saloon. Container shipping is quoted individually based on container size, route, and any additional services required.
Which UK Ports Can You Ship From?
Ascope Shipping operates regular vehicle shipping services to Turkey from multiple UK ports, giving you flexibility depending on where you’re located.
Main UK departure ports for car shipping to Turkey:
- Tilbury (London Gateway)
- Southampton
- Sheerness
- Liverpool
- Immingham
If you’d prefer not to drive to a port, Ascope Shipping also offers a door-to-port collection service, so we pick up your vehicle from your home or business address anywhere in the UK.
Which Turkish Port Should Your Car Arrive At?
Turkey has three main vehicle receiving ports. Each one suits different needs:
Istanbul Autoport (Izmit/Kumport): The most popular for most customers. Well-connected to the rest of Turkey, efficient customs processing, and straightforward collection.
Izmir Autoport: A great choice if your final destination is in western or central Turkey. Generally smooth customs process.
Mersin Port: Located in southern Turkey. Some customers report additional handling charges when collecting from Mersin, so it’s worth factoring that into your budget if this is your chosen port.
Not sure which port to use? Our team at Ascope Shipping will advise you on the best option based on where your car is heading.
Documents You Need to Ship a Car from the UK to Turkey
Getting your paperwork right is critical. Missing or incorrect documents can cause serious delays at Turkish customs and potentially result in storage fees or fines.
UK export documents required:
- V5C logbook (vehicle registration document)
- Valid UK passport or photo ID
- Proof of ownership/purchase invoice
- Proof of insurance
- Driver’s license
- Bill of Lading
For Turkish customs:
- Customs declaration form
- Carnet de Passages en Douanes (CPD)
- YTGGK (Temporary Entry Permit for Foreign Vehicles)
DVLA considerations: Before exporting your vehicle from the UK, you should notify the DVLA that the car is being permanently exported if it won’t be returning. You’ll need to complete a V5C/4 notification and return the relevant section of the logbook. If the vehicle is returning to the UK, standard documentation applies.
Ascope Shipping’s experienced team handles all UK export documentation on your behalf, so you don’t need to navigate this alone.
Turkish Customs Rules and Import Taxes
Turkish customs rules for imported vehicles are among the most complex in the region. Here’s what you need to understand before you ship.
Temporary Import — For Visitors and Expats
If you’re not a Turkish resident and you’re bringing your car into Turkey temporarily (for tourism or a short-term stay), you can import the vehicle without paying customs duties provided you take it back out of Turkey before your permitted period ends.
Under Turkish customs law, foreign-registered vehicles can stay in Turkey for up to six months in 12 months under standard tourist rules. Extensions may be possible under specific circumstances.
The 185-Day Rule
To qualify for a temporary vehicle import, Turkish customs requires proof that you’ve physically been outside Turkey for at least 185 days in the preceding 12 months. This is checked against passport stamps and border entry records, so make sure you can evidence this clearly.
The Blue Card (Mavi Karne / YTGGK)
If you’re working or residing in Turkey and want to use your UK-registered car, you’ll need to apply for a YTGGK, the Temporary Entry Permit for Foreign Vehicles, commonly called the Blue Card. This is issued through the Turkish Touring and Automobile Union (Turing) and requires a significant customs bond deposit based on your vehicle’s value.
Permanent Import — Taxes and Duties
Permanently importing a car into Turkey is expensive. The tax structure includes:
- Customs Duty: Typically 10% of the vehicle’s customs value
- Special Consumption Tax (ÖTV): This is the big one. Rates range from 45% for small-engine petrol cars up to 220% for large-engine vehicles (over 2.0L), calculated on the customs value
- VAT (KDV): 20%, applied to the combined customs value plus ÖTV
For example, a mid-size petrol car with a customs value of £20,000 could attract total import taxes well in excess of the car’s purchase price once ÖTV and VAT are applied. It’s essential to calculate this before committing to a permanent import.
The UK-Turkey Free Trade Agreement (in force since Brexit) does provide some tariff benefits on goods of UK origin, so it’s worth checking whether your specific vehicle qualifies for reduced customs duty.
Marine Insurance
Marine insurance is not optional if you want to ship your car safely. Standard carrier liability is limited and won’t cover the full value of your vehicle in the event of damage or loss at sea.
A proper marine insurance policy for vehicle shipping typically covers:
- Total loss (fire, sinking, catastrophic damage)
- Theft
- Water ingress damage
- Loading/unloading damage
We offer fully insured vehicle shipping UK to Turkey as part of our service. We strongly recommend taking out marine insurance for every shipment, regardless of vehicle value. It’s a small cost compared to the risk.
Step-by-Step: How to Ship Your Car from the UK to Turkey
Here’s the full process, made simple:
Step 1: Choose your shipping method. Decide between RoRo (cost-effective) or container shipping (maximum security) based on your vehicle type and budget.
Step 2: Get a quote. Contact Ascope Shipping for a fast, accurate quote with no hidden fees. You’ll know exactly what you’re paying upfront.
Step 3: Book your shipment. Once you’re happy with the quote, we schedule your vehicle’s sailing date and handle all UK export documentation.
Step 4: Prepare your car. Clean the car, remove personal belongings (for RoRo), reduce fuel to a quarter tank, and photograph the vehicle thoroughly for insurance records.
Step 5: Deliver to port or arrange collection. Drop your car at your nearest UK departure port, or let us collect it from your door.
Step 6: Export clearance. Ascope Shipping handles UK customs export clearance, issues your Bill of Lading, and provides all required shipping documents.
Step 7: Your car sets sail. Weekly RoRo sailings mean you won’t be waiting long. Typical transit time from the UK to Turkey is 14 to 21 days.
Step 8: Collect at the Turkish port. Upon arrival, your car enters the Turkish customs process. Have all your documents ready. Ascope Shipping can guide you through what to expect at the destination port.
Tips to Save Money on Car Shipping to Turkey
- Choose RoRo over container if your car is standard and running, it’s the cheapest way to ship a car from the UK to Turkey by a significant margin
- Use port-to-port shipping rather than door-to-door if you can deliver the car yourself, as it reduces costs
- Book in advance: last-minute bookings can cost more and may miss sailings
- Avoid Mersin port if possible, customer feedback suggests additional port charges when collecting there
- Don’t leave items in the car on RoRo: undeclared goods can lead to delays and fines at customs
- Get your documentation right first time: errors in paperwork cause costly storage delays in Turkey
Why Ship with Ascope Shipping?
Ascope Shipping is a UK-based, specialist vehicle shipping company with 15 years of experience in international car transport. We’re not a general freight company that handles cars on the side, vehicles are our specialty.
We offer:
- Weekly RoRo sailings from UK ports to Istanbul Autoport, Izmir, and Mersin
- 20ft and 40ft container shipping for high-value and non-running vehicles
- Door-to-port collection service across the UK
- Full UK export documentation and customs clearance support
- Fully insured vehicle shipping
- Transparent, competitive pricing with no hidden extras
- Verified customer reviews on Trustpilot and Google
Whether you’re an expat relocating, a trader exporting vehicles, or an individual sending a car to family in Turkey, we’ll handle it safely, on time, and at a price that makes sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What factors affect the car shipping cost to Turkey?
The main factors are vehicle size, shipping method (RoRo or container), your UK departure port, the destination Turkish port, whether you choose door-to-port or port-to-port service, and marine insurance. RoRo from UK ports starts at around £650 for a standard saloon.
Which UK ports are best for shipping a car to Turkey?
Tilbury, Southampton, and Sheerness are the most popular departure ports for Turkey. Liverpool and Immingham are ideal for northern customers. Your best port depends on where you are in the UK and which has the next available sailing.
What happens when my car arrives at the Turkish port?
Your vehicle enters a bonded customs area at Istanbul Autoport, Izmir, or Mersin. Turkish customs officers inspect the car and check your documents. Once duties (if applicable) are paid and clearance is granted, you or your appointed agent can collect the vehicle. The process typically takes several days.
What is the Blue Card (Mavi Karne) in Turkey?
The Blue Card (officially the YTGGK. Temporary Entry Permit for Foreign Vehicles) allows foreign nationals living or working in Turkey to use their overseas-registered car legally. It’s issued by the Turkish Touring and Automobile Union (Turing) and requires a customs bond deposit. It’s different from standard tourist temporary imports.
What happens if my car is damaged during shipping?
If you have marine insurance in place, which Ascope Shipping strongly recommends, you can make a claim for damage caused during transit. Always photograph your vehicle thoroughly before shipping and retain your Bill of Lading. Without insurance, carrier liability is limited and may not cover the full value of your car.
