Expired Driver’s Licenses Could Cost Turkish Drivers Thousands

As of October 31, 2025, the grace period for renewing old-format driver’s licenses in Turkey has officially ended. Any driver caught behind the wheel with an expired permit now faces not only hefty fines but also the risk of losing all insurance coverage. This situation could financially devastate thousands of motorists.

According to Turkey’s Road Traffic Law (Article 39/3), drivers who continue to use vehicles with outdated licenses will be treated as operating without a valid permit. The penalty for this violation is set at up to ₺12,978, a fine that will be strictly enforced as part of nationwide traffic inspections beginning this month. However, the monetary fine might be the least of the drivers’ worries.

Insurance Companies: “No Valid License, No Payout”

While the traffic fine is a clear deterrent, the insurance industry has sounded a more alarming warning. Representatives from major Turkish insurance companies emphasized that a driver’s license is a fundamental requirement for coverage eligibility. Once the old-format licenses lost legal validity, their holders effectively became “unlicensed” drivers in the eyes of insurers.

This classification could have severe consequences. If a motorist with an expired license causes an accident, insurance providers have the right to deny compensation for vehicle damage or third-party losses.

Attorney Ahmet Yavuzer explained, “With the expiration of the old licenses, insurance companies are legally exempt from fulfilling policy obligations. Your comprehensive coverage will not pay for your own vehicle’s damage, and the real danger lies in the mandatory traffic insurance.”

The Hidden Financial Trap: Recourse Claims

The issue extends beyond simple denial of coverage. In cases where an at-fault driver with an invalid license causes an accident, the compulsory traffic insurance—which usually covers the other party’s damages—may initially pay the injured party. However, after doing so, insurers are legally entitled to reclaim the entire amount from the responsible driver through what is known as a recourse (rücu) claim.

This means that the driver could end up paying both their own repair costs and the other party’s damages out of pocket. Depending on the severity of the accident, that figure could reach hundreds of thousands of lira, potentially resulting in years of financial hardship.

As Yavuzer stressed, “Once the insurance company compensates the other party, they can pursue the driver in court to recover every lira, arguing that the driver was operating a vehicle without a valid license. This isn’t just theoretical—it’s standard legal practice.”

Thousands at Risk Nationwide

The Ministry of Interior previously announced multiple extensions for renewing driver’s licenses issued before 2016, citing high application volumes and logistical delays. However, that final window closed on October 31, 2025, leaving an estimated tens of thousands of drivers still holding invalid cards.

Although renewal procedures remain available through the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri), anyone driving without updated credentials is now in violation of the law. The process involves an application fee of approximately ₺7438, a health report, and a biometric photo submission. Renewed cards are valid for 10 years.

Authorities and insurance experts alike are urging drivers to check the issue date on their licenses and complete the renewal process promptly to avoid potential legal and financial consequences.

A Costly Oversight in the Making

Failing to renew an old-format license may seem like a bureaucratic slip, but the real-world repercussions are far more serious. A driver who assumes their expired license “still works” could face:

• ₺12,978 in administrative fines

• Loss of insurance coverage

• Legal liability for all damages in an accident

• Potential court proceedings initiated by insurance firms

In an environment where motor insurance premiums and repair costs are already expected to soar in 2025, this oversight could be catastrophic. Experts recommend drivers treat this as a legal emergency, not a mere formality.

In short, Turkey’s outdated driver’s licenses are no longer just obsolete—they’re a financial ticking time bomb. For anyone still holding one, the message is clear: renew now, or risk paying the price later.