General. If you are bringing a vehicle with you, you should note that you will have to bear the cost of importing and registering your car. You will also have to arrange compulsory local third party vehicle insurance (in addition to any other insurance you may elect to take out). The UK NSE will help you with local insurance. See below for more information on insurance. You can expect to pay approx £280 for your Initial Registration fees and Road Worthiness tests. Road Tax is Free to NATO Personnel. You must also pay about £100 for the minimum compulsory Third Party insurance premium (Dec 08 prices). You may import one car per family free of duty during your tour in Turkey. If you wish to reclaim the cost of driving your car to Turkey, the Treasury insists that this must occur within 3 months of your arrival. You are strongly advised to purchase a 4x4 vehicle but check whether parts are common for RHD/LHD versions. For instance Land Rover parts are generally universal, but the starter motor in a LHD Nissan is different to that of a RHD. RHD parts are very difficult to get in Turkey and may take weeks to arrive. Bring a spares pack if you identify differences in the vehicle you wish to bring.

Driving License. Your UK/EU Driving Licence is valid in Turkey. Both serviceman and spouse must present a photocopy of both parts of their driving licence to the NSE Assistant on arrival so he can produce a Turkish translation, which will be required if stopped by the traffic police or in the event of an accident.

Maintenance. Most service stations can handle routine maintenance cheaply and efficiently, and there are many garages that carry out the less technical labour intensive work (i.e. panel work, preparation and painting). Many of the more common makes of car are supported by dealerships that can handle most problems. Rover Group, Volvo and Peugeot cars are less common, but do not be put off, as many supposedly peculiar spares can be traced through part numbers to more common lines. Imported spares are expensive and, if your car is unusual or particularly sophisticated, it may be wise to bring with you a workshop manual and any ‘first-line’ spares you may need over a period of 2 to 3 years. The more common items (eg: spark plugs and batteries) are manufactured locally. New parts are expensive but almost anything can be repaired on the local economy. The standard of local workmanship is generally excellent and cheaper than Europe.

Fuel. Petrol stations are plentiful in Turkey and unleaded fuel and diesel are freely available, as is LPG. ‘Turkish Super’ is about 97 octane. If you have a high compression engine you should consider having the ignition retarded to compensate for the lower octane rating. Lubricating oils are readily available on the local economy. At the time of writing, the cost of fuel is even a little greater than that in the UK!

Roads and Parking. Road surfaces are generally well below the standard you will have come to expect in Europe. Surfaces are uneven, with little, no (or even adverse!) camber and most roads have potholes in places. Most main roads are tarmac surfaced (but very slippery when wet); secondary and minor roads are frequently surfaced with dirt or loose stones. Heavy-duty springs/shock absorbers and sump guards are useful if you intend to go off-road. Only some of the houses in Zekeriyaköy have garages. Street parking in Istanbul is very difficult and the choice is generally between one of the few Multi Storey car parks or hotels, often a long way from where you want to be, or parking in one of the many car lots (Otopark) in which your car is shuffled about whilst you are away (you leave the keys with the attendants). You risk accidental scratches and knocks virtually wherever you park.

Choice of Car. When considering suitable cars and the procurement, it is worth bearing the following in mind:

• Turkish driving standards are appalling and accidents common (it is interesting to note that, in most accidents involving UK personnel, it is almost always the fault of the Turkish driver!). It is a fine judgement as to whether it is best to take advantage of tax concessions and buy a new car or, to play it safe and bring a second hand car or buy one locally. An air-conditioned car is an advantage in July and August. In Zekeriyaköy you can expect snow bad enough to prevent all but 4WD vehicles safely climbing or descending the hill into the village for up to 4 days at a time, at least 2 or 3 times each winter (though there was no snow to speak of in the 2006/7 winter, 2007/8 saw heavier falls.) In the last bad spell (2005/6) the Jandarma (local Police) only allowed 4WDs and cars with the correct snow chains to even attempt the hill!
• There are cars available from foreign ex pat personnel but the supply is not great (seeming often to consist of expensive luxury cars, and old ‘bangers’ with little between). In addition, the bureaucracy involved in purchasing such a car can seem daunting; it can take approximately a month to sort everything out, but it is certainly feasible. There is a web site (http://www.blueplatecars.com/) through which such cars can be bought and this will give you a ‘feel’ for what is available.
• Reliability is the most important asset of any car you bring to Turkey, but Turkish mechanics are adept at fixing almost anything quickly and effectively; labour charges are cheap and vehicle recovery is also cheaper than in the UK, although there seems to be no equivalent of the AA or RAC.

Registration. If you do bring a new car, be sure to register it in the UK before leaving. Otherwise, you will have problems at the end of your tour returning with an unlicensed vehicle - the Turkish authorities issue an export plate on departure but retain the original TU plates on your final departure. If you buy a new car tax free, remember that Turkey is currently a non-EU country and you will have to keep the car in the UK for a year after your return there before you may sell it free of tax. If you come from Germany you can drive here on your BFG Plates, but need to apply for an extension to BFG. It would be wise to ensure that your BFG test is valid for at least 3 months after arrival so that you can remain legal whilst your car is imported and registered. The BFG Office in Rheindahlen is very helpful and you can contact them on 02161 472 4660. The Import and Registration of your car is a long and time-consuming experience. It could take you up to a month. The UK NSE will guide you through the process. The following information will be required to import and register your car in Turkey:

• Car Make, Model and Year.
• Clearly visible engine and chassis numbers (the engine number must be on the engine block. The plate with engine and chassis number attached to the bodywork is not always recognised or accepted by the Turkish MOT and registration inspectors). If in any doubt at all, get a UK garage to find the engine number on the block and show you where it is. If you car does not have an engine number on the block, then arrange to have it put on before you get here. You should also ensure that the numbers recorded in your documentation correspond with those on the vehicle.
• Details and serial numbers of fitted radio/cassette players if they are fancy and new.
• Gross and axle weights of car in Kilograms (likely to be on a plate in the engine compartment).
• Receipt showing the cost of the car.
• Manufacturer’s certificate of origin.
• List of all special options like heated rear window, power brakes, electric windows, electric sunroof and overdrive. This list is required so that it can be entered on your Beyaname after you arrive.

Insurance. Third party Turkish insurance is mandatory but costs very little (about £100). In addition, you may wish to take out fully comprehensive insurance. Turkish insurance can be cheaper but is dependent entirely on the value of the car. The advantage of using a local company is that you have local representation. The disadvantage is that in the event of a write-off they will pay out in Turkish Lira, which makes it difficult to finance a replacement vehicle from the UK. Insuring a car through the UK can be an advantage and you can opt for fully comprehensive cover. Currently, most personnel use International Vehicle Risk Management, part of Lockton Companies International, which seems to be the only UK underwriter willing to cover Turkey. Premiums charged by the UK based companies are considerably higher than in UK or Europe, (eg £750 fully comprehensive for a new Land Rover Discovery with a 47 year old who has full no claims bonus; £1000 for a Volvo XC70 for a similar driver), but that is commensurate with the additional risk. Of course, the LOA takes into account these increased premiums. The Company can be reached on:

Email livrm@uk.lockton.com
Telephone 020 7933 0021
Direct Fax 020 7933 0944
Website www.LIVRM.com
TAX

Road Tax. There is no road tax for foreigners in Turkey. Police-approved number plates have to be purchased on first registration and a simple low-cost functional test (including an emission test every year) is carried out. This test is valid for 2 years for normal saloon-type vehicles (3 years if new) and for one year for 4x4 vehicles, Minibuses and campers.

Caravans, Trailer Tents & Boats. Mobile/transportable accommodation can be an advantage. The choice between a caravan, a trailer tent or a frame tent will depend upon personal inclinations. Camping sites are plentiful in season in the coastal areas; standards vary and are inferior to those in Central Europe, but the weather is much more reliable and more suited to outdoor living. Camping equipment is available on the local economy. Disposable camping-gas canisters are available in Turkey, but the Turks themselves use refillable cylinders available everywhere. A boat may be fun in Istanbul, but we have seen no Launch Ramps for dinghies. There are marinas mostly on the Asian side.

Mandatory Motoring Accessories. Under Turkish traffic law all private motor vehicles must always carry the following:

• Complete jack and wheel-brace.
• First aid kit.
• Two triangle reflectors.
• Torch.
• Spare bulbs, for each type of light.
• Screwdrivers (Philips and regular).
• Pliers.
• Tow rope.
• Snow chains (not applicable in Izmir).
• Fire extinguisher.
• Wheel chock.
• Seat belts.

Note also that the vehicle exhaust pipe must not exceed the length of the vehicle and must be of the "straight- through" type. Exhaust pipe defects are not permitted.

Shipment of Vehicle. The shipment of your car is at private expense. You should check with your present unit to establish the prevailing regulations. One such company is Imorex which is based in Ipswich, their details are as follows: Imorex Shipping Services Ltd., 32 St Peters Street, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 1XB. Tel: 01473 213411. Email jeff@imorex.co.uk. Alternatively, contact M&S Shipping who will move your car under private contract.