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Car rental at Istanbul Airport

Hire a car at Istanbul Airport (IST) from local companies. Each car lists the week’s total, the deposit and the card it needs.

Cheap car hire at Istanbul Airport

Each card is the full seven days with pickup and return at the airport, any delivery charge included. Most of these cars are handed over at Sabiha Gökçen too, for the same price.

Which car suits Istanbul traffic?

Class prices start at the cheapest car in the deals week. Half of what is listed costs over €132 a day, as most cars come from other cities with a delivery charge.

A compact car is the easiest to park in the old city; an automatic saves effort in stop-start traffic.

Planning to rent again elsewhere in Turkey? The same conditions apply across the country.

Where is the handover at Istanbul Airport?

At the meeting point written in your voucher, which also lists the company’s phone number. The airport’s own rental counters belong to other firms.

Meeting details

The voucher says where the company meets you and how. Save it to your phone before you board.

A reachable number

Book with a mobile in full international format, and keep it on from the day before pickup to the return.

Time to clear the airport

Passport control and bags can take a while in a large terminal. Message the company if you will be late.

Some companies bring the car to the airport from elsewhere, and that can carry a charge. It is part of the total before you book.

Istanbul Airport guide: car park, services and the drive out

One very large terminal, a colour-coded car park and plenty of services on both floors.

Parking and drop-off

  • BlueZone
  • RedZone
  • PurpleZone
  • TurquoiseZone
  • YellowZone

The multi-storey car park is split into five colour zones. You drive in on level P1 and out on level P2.

Without a subscription, parking is charged by the day.

  • In the outdoor car park the first 15 minutes are free.
  • Paid already? Leave within 30 minutes or overtime is charged.
  • Pay by cash or card at the machines, or by HGS at the exit barriers.

Services in the terminal

  • Banks and ATMs are found throughout the airport.
  • Medical clinic Medicana Clinic, open 24 hours a day.
  • One hour of free Wi-Fi by SMS or with your passport number.
  • iGA Lounge on the international departures floor.
  • Three pharmacies two by check-in on departures, one on arrivals.

Driving away from Istanbul Airport

  1. Inside the car park keep to 20 km/h, and 10 on the ramps.
  2. To the Asian side Routes across the Bosphorus can include tolled bridges.
  3. From a side road give way to traffic on the main road, unless signs or lights say otherwise.
Allow for traffic The drive times on this page leave Istanbul traffic out entirely, so give yourself far longer at busy hours.

Collecting and returning your car

  1. One terminal Domestic and international flights share a single building.
  2. Find the company at the meeting point in your voucher, not at a branded counter.
  3. Hand the car back where the voucher says, then go up to departures.
Need assistance? Book it with your airline at least 48 hours ahead. On arrival, use the assistance phones near the entrance.

Deposit and card rules at Istanbul Airport

Some cars here hold no deposit and many need no credit card. They are two separate conditions, and each car shows both.

Where a credit card is required, bring the main driver’s physical embossed card. A debit card only works if the voucher allows it. For alternatives, see cars in Turkey that need no credit card.

You pay 15 to 20% of the rent online. The rest of the rent, plus any delivery charge, is paid at the handover.

Even with no deposit you pay for fuel, fines and tolls. Browse car hire in Turkey with no deposit for the wider choice.

Which Istanbul airport is closer to your hotel?

Times are for empty roads and leave out Istanbul traffic, which can add a great deal. Sabiha Gökçen is shown below for comparison.

From Istanbul Airport

The Taksim Mosque and the Republic Monument on Taksim Square, under a blue sky with white clouds
Istanbul Airport→Taksim Square
1 h 15 min · 45.6 km
The domes and minarets of the Blue Mosque behind gardens, palm trees and a fountain, under a blue sky
Istanbul Airport→Sultanahmet
1 h 15 min · 48.6 km
The historic Kadıköy ferry pier building with ferries moored alongside, under a blue sky
Istanbul Airport→Kadıköy
1 h 15 min · 56.5 km

From Sabiha Gökçen Airport

The historic Kadıköy ferry pier building with ferries moored alongside, under a blue sky
Sabiha Gökçen→Kadıköy
35 min · 32.9 km
The domes and minarets of the Blue Mosque behind gardens, palm trees and a fountain, under a blue sky
Sabiha Gökçen→Sultanahmet
45 min · 40.6 km
The Taksim Mosque and the Republic Monument on Taksim Square, under a blue sky with white clouds
Sabiha Gökçen→Taksim Square
50 min · 43.4 km

By distance, Taksim in central Istanbul is much the same from either airport, while Kadıköy is far nearer Sabiha Gökçen.

Times end at the square or district named, not at your door, so add the last streets yourself.

Driving out of Istanbul Airport

Traffic drives on the right. Motorway limits for cars are 120 to 140 km/h as signed, and towns are 50.

Tolls by HGS

Motorways and the Bosphorus bridges are tolled electronically. Passes recorded on your car are taken from the deposit, with an admin charge.

No phone in hand

Using a phone while moving is banned unless it is hands-free. Set the destination before you leave the car park.

Belts and children

Every seat needs its belt fastened, and children ride in a suitable restraint system.

Who to call

Dial 112 in an emergency. After damage, inform the company at once and get a police report unless it waives one.

Paved public roads only

The car may not leave paved public roads at any point, so forest tracks and unsurfaced lanes are out, wherever the sat nav points.

No border crossings

A car hired in Turkey cannot be driven to Bulgaria, Greece or any other country, whichever cover or extras you choose.

Can you return the car at Sabiha Gökçen or Ankara?

Some cars collected here can be handed back at Sabiha Gökçen Airport or Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport. Choose that airport as the return to see the one-way charge.

Pick the airport

Set the other airport itself as the drop-off. The charge for the one-way is included in each total.

Ask for directions

Get the meeting point at the far airport from the company before your last day, with its phone number.

Changes need a yes

Agree any change of return place with the company. A car cannot be abandoned at another airport.

Istanbul Airport to Sabiha Gökçen Airport is 91.4 km, about 1 h 45 min before traffic.

Driving on to the capital? Some cars can be returned at Ankara Airport.

Istanbul Airport rates by month

Lowest day rate for a week from the 15th of each month, picked up and returned at the airport. Compare months with it, then search your dates.

N/A: no cars are listed yet for that month.

A day is 24 hours, so even a short overrun on the return time adds a full day.

Room for passengers and extra drivers

Count seats and suitcases together before you book, then add drivers and child seats.

More than one driver

Put each extra driver on the contract, as an extra where the car offers it. The car shows the fee.

Child seats

Where offered, book baby seats, child seats or boosters, and check each one is fitted properly.

Nine-seat vans

Vans with up to nine seats can be collected here. Count bags as well as people.

Pets

A small pet can come if it stays inside its carrier for the entire rental.

Car hire excess and cover at Istanbul Airport

The cover levels, and what you still pay after damage, depend on the car.

Minimum coverageIncluded as standard
  • Damage to other vehicles (TPL) (included)
  • Damage to your hire car (not included)
Basic coverage
  • Limited collision cover (CDW) (included)
  • Damage to other vehicles (TPL) (included)
  • Glass and tyre damage (not included)
Full Coverage
  • Limited driver liability (Super CDW) (included)
  • Damage to other vehicles (TPL) (included)
Full Coverage Plus
  • Full damage cover (included)
  • No driver liability for accident damage (included)

Four possible levels. Minimum, Basic, Full Coverage and Full Coverage Plus; some cars offer only part of the range.

Deposit and top cover. Where Full Coverage Plus exists, the deposit can drop to zero. Compare the figures per level.

Standard exclusions. Wheels, underside, windscreen and interior are not covered as standard.

Theft protection. It comes included on some cars and as a paid option on others.

The insurance guide explains the car hire excess and each level. Neglect or deliberate damage voids the cover.

Documents the company will ask for

Your original national licence, in Latin letters and valid until the return date. Photocopies and digital licences are turned away.

International permit

If your licence is only valid at home, an International Driving Permit is strongly recommended. Show it on request.

Age and licence years

Each car sets its own minimum age and driving experience, which can differ between similar models.

Bringing the car back

Allow for traffic, fuel and the inspection on the way to your flight.

Fuel

  • Bring back the same fuel level. Any gap is charged at the company’s rate, and extra is not refunded.

Condition

  • If the car is too dirty to check, you pay for washing.

Parking and fines during the hire are yours to settle.

Changes and cancellations

A booking cannot be edited; cancel it and book the new dates or car.

Cancelling in time

Seven days before pickup for most cars, thirty for luxury cars and convertibles, or 24 hours on bookings with the cancellation option.

The refund

Email the voucher to support. The advance is paid back within fourteen days, less a 6% payment fee.

Cancel late or miss the pickup and the advance is lost.

Istanbul Airport car rental questions

Is Istanbul Airport the same as Atatürk Airport?

No, they are separate places. This page covers Istanbul Airport only, so choose it if that is where your flight lands.

Can I get an automatic at Istanbul Airport?

Yes, automatics are offered. Check the gearbox listed on the car itself rather than the photo.

Do I get the model in the picture?

Only on a guaranteed-model offer. “Or similar” means a car of the same class may be supplied.

Do Istanbul Airport rental cars have unlimited mileage?

It depends on the car. Some carry a daily kilometre limit, and unlimited mileage can be a paid extra.

Can I extend my rental in Istanbul?

Tell the company in advance, before your booking ends; the rental terms require it.

Elsewhere in Turkey

Book car hire at Istanbul Airport

Enter your landing time, compare the weekly totals and pick a car with the deposit and cover you want.

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