Vehicle Import & Regulatory Compliance
GlobalB Law guides importers and distributors through vehicle type-approval, customs, Special Consumption Tax and technical conformity for vehicles entering the Turkish market.
Bringing vehicles into Türkiye means clearing four gates at once, technical approval, customs, tax, and consumer obligations, and a gap in any one of them can hold a shipment at the border. GlobalB Law advises manufacturers, official importers and distributors on building a compliant, predictable import route from the first model onward.
The technical gate is type-approval (tip onayı / homologation) administered by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, harmonised with EU Regulation 2018/858 and the UNECE regulations, together with the AİTM rules on the manufacture, modification and assembly of vehicles and the relevant conformity and standards requirements, which matter especially for new categories such as EVs and light electric vehicles.
The fiscal and trade gate is customs and tax: Special Consumption Tax (ÖTV) and VAT, customs duties, and origin treatment under the Türkiye, EU Customs Union, where vehicles in free circulation in the EU can enter with an A.TR movement certificate. We also cover the importer's warranty and distance-sales obligations to consumers, and advise on parallel and individual imports.
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What is type-approval and when is it required?
Type-approval (tip onayı) certifies that a vehicle type meets the technical and safety requirements set by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, harmonised with EU Regulation 2018/858 and the UNECE regulations. It must be in place before a vehicle type can be registered and sold in Türkiye. We manage the approval and the supporting documentation with the manufacturer.
How is Special Consumption Tax (ÖTV) calculated on imported vehicles?
ÖTV on motor vehicles is levied at rates that vary by engine capacity, value and powertrain, with distinct brackets for electric vehicles, on top of the customs value, and is then followed by VAT. Because the brackets and rates change frequently by regulation, we assess the current position and the total landed-cost exposure at the structuring stage rather than after import.
Are vehicles imported from the EU subject to customs duty?
Under the Türkiye, EU Customs Union, vehicles in free circulation in the EU can generally enter Türkiye without customs duty when accompanied by a valid A.TR movement certificate, although ÖTV and VAT still apply. Vehicles from third countries follow the common customs tariff and any applicable free-trade agreement. We verify origin and the documentation before shipment.
Can an individual import a single vehicle?
It is possible but constrained. Individual imports remain subject to type-approval or individual approval, customs, ÖTV and VAT, and registration, and are heavily restricted for used vehicles. We advise on whether an individual or a commercial import route is realistic for a given model and use case.
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