How do you sell and transfer a vehicle at a notary?
Selling a car at a Turkish notary: from debt and lien checks to the new registration document in the buyer's name, all in one session.
Short answer
Check the vehicle's liens, seizures and unpaid debts on e-Devlet, and make sure the inspection and compulsory traffic insurance are valid. Book a "Vehicle Sale and Transfer" appointment through e-Devlet or the Notaries Union system. Buyer and seller sign at the notary with ID cards; the transfer is registered the same session and the new registration document goes to the buyer.
What you need
Step by step
Query the registration and debts
Log in to e-Devlet, search for "Araç Bilgilerim" (My Vehicle Details) and open the registration record. Then check the traffic fine and motor vehicle tax debt enquiry services. If the record shows a lien, seizure or processing restriction, the transfer cannot go through, so spotting it before the appointment saves a wasted trip.
Renew the inspection and insurance
A transfer requires a valid inspection and an active compulsory traffic insurance policy. If the inspection has expired, book a slot through the TÜVTÜRK appointment system and visit a station. If there is no policy, take one out with an insurer; the notary's screen pulls both records from the system.
Book the notary appointment
Open the notary appointment service on e-Devlet or the Turkish Notaries Union appointment page. Pick "Vehicle Sale and Transfer" from the transaction list, choose the province, district and notary office, then confirm the booking. Buyer and seller attend the same appointment, and any absent party needs a power of attorney.
Route the payment safely
Instead of handing over cash, ask about the bank transfer option run through the notary office. Many notaries use a system where the money is held on the bank side and released to the seller once the transfer completes. That way payment and transfer happen together and neither side is left exposed.
Sign the contract at the notary
Arrive at your appointment time with the ID documents. The clerk enters the plate to run the debt, lien and restriction checks on screen. The sale and transfer contract is read on screen, the sale price is entered, and both parties sign. The notary records the transfer in the registration system in the same session.
Collect the new registration document
Once the transfer is done, a new vehicle registration document is issued in the buyer's name; the notary either hands it over or registers it for postal delivery. No extra step is needed if the plate stays the same. For a transfer to another province or a plate change, apply to a traffic registration office.
Move insurance, toll tag and records to the buyer
The buyer takes out compulsory traffic insurance in their own name and contacts the insurer to transfer or replace any comprehensive cover. The motorway toll tag and its account also pass to the new owner. The seller should confirm on the e-Devlet vehicle details screen that the car has dropped off their list.
Tips
Watch out
Do not hand over the car, the keys or the money before the transfer is complete. Taking cash and leaving the notary step for later is the most common way people lose out: while the car is still registered to the seller, fines, tax and accident liability stay with them. On the buyer's side, paying and driving off without a signed contract is just as risky.
Frequently asked questions
+Do I need to visit a traffic registration office for the transfer?
No. The sale and transfer are completed at the notary, and the new registration document is issued to the buyer in the same transaction. Extra requests such as a plate change or a move to another province go through a traffic registration office.
+Do the buyer and seller have to be at the same notary?
As a rule both parties attend the same appointment. A party who cannot attend may be represented with a notarised power of attorney that includes specific authority for the vehicle sale.
+Can a vehicle with unpaid fines or tax be transferred?
The notary's screen runs the debt and restriction checks automatically, and the transaction stops if a debt, lien or seizure appears. Once the payments are made and the record is clear, the transfer can proceed.
+Can a car with an expired inspection be sold at a notary?
A valid inspection is one of the conditions for the transfer. If it has expired, renew it at an inspection station first, then go to your notary appointment.
+Does the traffic insurance pass to the buyer automatically?
Do not assume the policy transfers. The buyer should take out a policy in their own name, and the seller should contact the insurer to settle the endorsement or cancellation.
Sources and verification
Last verified: 13 Eylül 2026. tell us. Steps reflect vehicle sale and transfer practice in Turkey, where notaries complete the registration transfer directly.
This content is for information only; for official procedures the relevant institution’s current announcements take precedence. Details: disclaimer.