Electric Vehicle SCT Rates and Tax Brackets in Turkey (Current)

Current Electric Vehicle SCT Rates and Tax Bases

The system runs on two variables: the vehicle's motor power (kW) and its pre-tax sale price (the tax base). Where these two intersect determines the bracket.

The 1,650,000 TL figure is not the sticker price but the bare, pre-tax factory price. The showroom price is built on top of it by adding SCT first, then 20% VAT.

For context, SCT on internal combustion passenger cars starts from considerably higher rates. So while the 25% entry bracket is less generous than the old 10%, it preserves the electric advantage — but that advantage is no longer automatic. It is earned by staying in the right bracket.

The 1,650,000 TL Threshold: The Cliff Created by One Lira

The harshest feature of this system is that the transition between brackets is a cliff, not a slope. A vehicle whose pre-tax price exceeds the limit by a single lira drops into the next band.

Take a concrete calculation for a vehicle under 160 kW:

• Tax base of 1,650,000 TL: stays in the 25% bracket. The maths runs 1,650,000 × 1.25 × 1.20 → roughly 2,475,000 TL on the road.
• Tax base of 1,650,001 TL: moves into the 55% bracket. The maths runs 1,650,001 × 1.55 × 1.20 → roughly 3,069,000 TL.

One lira of difference in the pre-tax price produces a gap of roughly 594,000 TL in what you actually pay. This is not a calculation error; it is how the system works.

💡 What this means in practice: be careful when choosing an equipment package. Moving up a trim level can cost far more than the trim difference itself if it pushes the car into a higher bracket. The right question at the dealership is not "how much is this package" but "what does the pre-tax base become with this package".

Which Vehicles Fall into Which Bracket? 🚗

We deliberately avoid publishing a model list here. A model's bracket can shift with the equipment package, a campaign, the exchange rate or the manufacturer's pricing at that moment. Two versions of the same model can sit in different brackets, and a price list update can move a model from one to another.

Instead, here is how to determine your own vehicle's bracket with certainty:

1. Find the motor power (kW) on the registration document or technical sheet. This tells you which side of the 160 kW threshold you are on. The kW figure matters, not horsepower.
2. Ask the dealership for the pre-tax base in writing. Do not work backwards from the sticker price; the SCT base on the invoice is what counts.
3. Cross the two in the table above.

As a general pattern: manufacturers deliberately position their models just under the 160 kW threshold and close to the tax-base limit. Entry and mid-segment single-motor versions, rear- or front-wheel drive, therefore tend to target the most favourable bracket. Dual-motor (AWD) performance versions, by virtue of their output, fall into the upper bands.

The Extra Import Levy on Chinese and Other Imported EVs 🇨🇳

SCT is not the only tax line on an imported car. Following decision no. 10436 of 22 September 2025, an additional financial obligation applies to passenger car imports from countries outside the EU and outside Turkey's free trade agreements.

• Purely electric passenger cars: on top of customs duty, whichever is higher of 30% or a minimum of USD 8,500 per vehicle.
• Plug-in hybrids charged from an external source: whichever is higher of 30% or a minimum of USD 7,000 per vehicle.

The critical feature here is that the tax chain is cumulative. Customs duty and the additional levy raise the cost base first; SCT is then calculated on that increased figure; VAT comes last. The levy therefore lands on the final price with more force than its own nominal amount.

For an imported electric car, "pre-tax price" alone is not a sufficient indicator. Origin, customs tariff code, whether EU or FTA treatment applies, and whether the additional levy is triggered all need to be assessed together.

After Purchase: The MTV Advantage

Even with the heavier SCT burden, electric vehicles remain advantaged during ownership. Under the Revenue Administration's application, vehicles powered solely by an electric motor are taxed at 25% of the amounts referenced by motor power in the relevant MTV tariff.

That is a permanent difference in annual fixed costs. For drivers covering high mileage, with regular charging at home or at work, and holding the car for a long period, part of the higher purchase-stage tax can be recovered over time.

One caveat: hybrids are not part of this regime. For vehicles running on both electricity and fuel, MTV is calculated on the internal combustion basis, not the 25% rule specific to electric cars.

FAQ: Electric Vehicle SCT and Financing

Does the 10% SCT bracket still exist?

No. The 24 July 2025 decision raised the entry rate to 25%. Tables still circulating online that show 10% are out of date.

What is the tax base threshold?

1,650,000 TL. It applies to the pre-tax sale price, not the on-the-road figure. The earlier 1,450,000 TL limit no longer applies.

Where do I find the motor power?

On the registration document and the vehicle's technical specification sheet, stated in kW. The kW value is what counts, not horsepower; 160 kW is roughly 218 HP.

Is there a VAT reduction on electric cars?

No. The general VAT rate for passenger cars applies to electric vehicles as well; there is no EV-specific VAT advantage.

Are domestically produced EVs on a different regime?

For SCT, MTV and VAT the general rules apply equally to domestic vehicles. The advantage of local production comes not from the tax regime but from not being subject to the additional import levy.

Can these rates change?

Yes. Recent legislation extended the President's authority to set rates and tax bases using criteria such as range and battery capacity alongside motor power and price. For more on this, see our guide to the minimum lump-sum SCT regulation.

Does renting protect me from this risk?

Partly. In long-term rental the purchasing party carries the tax risk and your rate stays fixed for the contract term. If you buy, you carry both the tax burden at purchase and the effect any future bracket change has on resale value.

Related Reading 🔗

• Minimum lump-sum SCT: what the 100,000 TL floor means
• Cost of owning a car: vehicle tax, bridges and inspection
• SCT exemption guide for disabled citizens and retirees