Driving Abroad in a Rental, Leased or Company Car: Green Card and the Documents You Need

The first document most drivers think of before a trip abroad is the green card: it replaces compulsory traffic insurance in the country you visit and is valid in countries that are members of the Green Card system. But if your name is not on the vehicle registration document (the ruhsat), you need to be more careful. Many expats in Maslak and Levent drive company cars or leased vehicles, and at the border you are expected to show that you are allowed to drive the car and take it out of the country. This guide looks at three situations.

The basic rule: the owner’s permission

If the car belongs to someone else, you will usually be asked for a written document showing that the owner allows you to take it abroad. In practice this is a notarised power of attorney (vekaletname) or a letter of consent (muvafakatname). It should clearly state the plate and registration details, the identity details of the driver and the permission to leave the country.

Which type of document is accepted, with what content and what approval, can change. Confirm current requirements with official sources and your agency, and tell the notary that the purpose is travel abroad. If you are a foreign resident, bring your passport and residence permit to the notary; ask in advance whether a sworn translator is required.

Rental cars

With short-term rentals, the first question is whether the rental company allows the car to leave Türkiye at all. Many rental contracts restrict use to Türkiye only. Companies that do allow it usually manage the following through their own process:

• Written permission or a power of attorney for the trip abroad
• Providing the green card, or asking you to arrange it
• Listing the countries you will visit in the rental contract
• How to handle damage and breakdowns abroad

Who arranges the green card and whether the car’s kasko (comprehensive motor insurance) applies abroad depends on the contract. Ask for both in writing when you book. If the company does not allow travel abroad, do not try to work around it; renting a car in your destination country may be a better option.

Leased cars

With a leased car, the registered owner is usually the leasing company, and you or your employer are the user. You therefore need the leasing company’s approval. The process usually runs like this:

1. You tell the leasing company about the trip, the countries and the dates.
2. If it approves, it issues the power of attorney or permission letter.
3. The green card is arranged through the leasing company or your own agency, depending on how the policy is set up.
4. You check whether the kasko policy includes cover abroad.

Approvals can take time, so start well before your departure and read your leasing contract for any clause on use abroad.

Company cars

This is common for people working in Maslak’s business district: the car is registered to the company, and the employee wants to take it abroad for work or on holiday. A power of attorney from the company’s authorised signatory is required. The company should:

• Document that the signatory is authorised to represent the company
• Name every employee who will drive the car
• Arrange the green card for the vehicle and keep a copy in the car
• Check whether the kasko covers the countries on the route

Whose name is on the green card?

The green card is issued for the vehicle and the policyholder; it shows the plate and the insured’s details. If you drive but someone else is the insured, this is usually not a problem. What matters is that the card is valid for that vehicle and your travel dates. Still, confirm the conditions with your agency.

For green card cover and trip preparation, see our Maslak green card insurance page. To protect the car itself abroad, look at comprehensive car insurance options.

Document checklist

• Original vehicle registration document (ruhsat)
• Driver’s passport or ID, and driving licence
• Notarised power of attorney or letter of consent from the owner
• A green card covering your dates and countries
• Rental contract for a rental car, or the leasing company’s permission for a leased car
• An accident report form and emergency contact details

Make sure the plate on the power of attorney matches the ruhsat and the green card, and that names are spelled the same as in your passport. If you are planning to drive a car that is not in your name, we can review the documents with you in English. Call +90 530 375 89 61 or message us on WhatsApp.