Turkey to Raise Highway and Bridge Tolls in 2026: What Drivers Need to Know

Turkey is preparing for a significant update to its transportation pricing as part of broader fiscal adjustments for the new year. Starting 1 January 2026, toll fees for highways and bridges across the country will increase by 25.49%, directly affecting millions of drivers, logistics companies, and transit operators.

The official announcement came from Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Turkey’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, who shared the details in a statement to NTV. According to the minister, the adjustment aligns with Turkey’s revaluation rate, a standard economic mechanism used to update public fees annually in line with inflation and cost pressures.

Revaluation Rate Sets the Pace

The 25.49% increase will apply uniformly to tolls managed by the General Directorate of Highways as well as to infrastructure projects operated under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. This means both state-run and privately operated bridges and highways will adopt the same updated pricing structure from the first day of 2026.

Minister Uraloğlu emphasized that such adjustments are not discretionary but formula-based, noting that toll fees are recalculated in parallel with the revaluation rate to maintain operational balance. Rising maintenance, repair, and operational costs—especially for large-scale infrastructure—have made periodic updates unavoidable.

Which Roads and Bridges Will Be Affected?

The toll increase will cover some of Turkey’s most strategically important transport corridors, many of which form the backbone of domestic mobility and international trade routes.

Key crossings and highways included in the update are:

The 15 July Martyrs Bridge and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, which carry a major share of Istanbul’s daily commuter traffic
The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, a critical link for heavy vehicles and international transit
The Osmangazi Bridge, connecting Istanbul to the Aegean region
The 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, a landmark project linking Europe and Anatolia
Major highways such as the Anatolian Motorway, the Istanbul–Izmir Motorway, and the Northern Marmara Motorway

These routes are central not only to private vehicle use but also to freight transport, making the adjustment particularly relevant for the logistics and supply chain sectors.

“Necessary for Sustainability”

Officials from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure underlined that toll revisions are essential to ensure the long-term sustainability of transport services. Regular maintenance, safety upgrades, and operational continuity depend heavily on toll revenues, especially for mega-projects with high financing and servicing costs.

Minister Uraloğlu framed the increase as a structural necessity rather than a policy choice, stressing that without periodic updates, the quality and reliability of Turkey’s road infrastructure could be compromised. The ministry also confirmed that the revised tariffs will be fully integrated into electronic toll systems as of 1 January 2026, ensuring a smooth transition without disruptions for users.

Impact on Drivers and the Economy

As in previous years, toll fees will continue to vary based on vehicle class and axle count, meaning passenger cars, buses, and heavy trucks will face different rates. Detailed, vehicle-specific pricing tables will be published on the official website of the General Directorate of Highways on the morning the new tariffs take effect.

Economists and industry observers are closely watching the broader implications. For the logistics and transit sectors, higher tolls translate directly into increased operating costs, which may eventually feed into consumer prices. While the impact on inflation is expected to be indirect, transportation remains a key cost component across multiple industries.

For individual drivers, especially those who commute daily across bridges or rely on toll highways, the increase represents a noticeable rise in monthly travel expenses. However, authorities argue that predictable, formula-based adjustments provide greater transparency and planning certainty than ad hoc price changes.

As Turkey enters 2026, the toll hike underscores the growing financial demands of maintaining one of the region’s most extensive and modern road networks—balancing user costs with infrastructure sustainability.