Drink-Driving Penalties in Türkiye: 2026 Fines and Terms
The Turkish Traffic Directorate’s 2026 guide treats drink-driving and refusal of testing as separate offences. The figures below follow Article 48 of that guide rather than estimated penalties.
The Turkish Traffic Directorate’s 2026 guide treats drink-driving and refusal of testing as separate offences. The figures below follow Article 48 of that guide rather than estimated penalties.
Article 48/5: escalating drink-driving penalties
The guide specifies above 0.50 per mille for private passenger cars and above 0.20 per mille for other vehicles. Company ownership alone should not be used to assign every vehicle to the same category. Special rules for novice drivers or regulated transport need separate assessment.
These are not safe drinking quantities. Blood alcohol cannot be reliably inferred from one or two drinks. If alcohol has been consumed, do not drive; use a sober driver or another form of transport.
- First offence: TRY 25,000 and six months’ licence withdrawal.
- Second offence within five years counted back from the latest offence: TRY 50,000 and two years’ withdrawal.
- Third and subsequent offences within that five-year framework: TRY 150,000 and five years’ withdrawal.
Article 48/9: refusal of measurement is separate
The guide lists TRY 150,000 and five years’ licence withdrawal for refusing law-enforcement measurement of alcohol or narcotic/stimulant use. This is not a standard two-year measure and should not be confused with a third drink-driving offence.
Challenging a measurement or procedure does not make refusal penalty-free. The record and legal review route govern a particular case; no method of evading a test is recommended here.
Licence return and criminal proceedings
Expiry of the withdrawal period is not sufficient by itself. The guide requires collection of all administrative fines imposed under Law 2918 and compliance with additional conditions. It lists driver-behaviour improvement training for two-year withdrawals and psychotechnical and psychiatric assessment for five-year withdrawals.
The guide also describes proceedings under Criminal Code Article 179 for readings above 1.00 per mille or causing a crash while above the legal limit. Criminal outcome, imprisonment, records and visa decisions are not automatic identical consequences in every case.
Rental does not remove liability
Driving a rental does not remove the driver’s traffic or criminal responsibilities. A rental contract or KABİS record does not provide immunity from the consequences of drink-driving.
Comprehensive insurance, compulsory third-party insurance, recovery claims and liability for damage are distinct. Policy exclusions, causation, fault and contractual terms need to be assessed together. Neither automatic cancellation of every policy nor absence of all renter-company liability should be promised.