Job Discussion Forums

howmucharefags · Joined: 30 Nov 2004 Posts: 299 Location: Eskisehir

Does anybody know the legal process re. buying a car here. Would I be able to take it back to Glasgow to run over some Celtic supporters? 2 points per fenian.

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411

could you not have put all of that in one post ?

queenfrog · Joined: 28 Nov 2004 Posts: 29

If you are not Turkish you can buy a car from a non-Turkish citizen. You would then have what is known as a blue plate car. But then that car has to leave Turkey every 6 months or so. You can also bring a car over and get a blue plate for that one. If you have a blue plate car, you can only sell it to another non-Turkish citizen. This can create problem for you. Also no Turkish citizen can drive a blue plate car.

What are the advantages? You can get a good car cheap and there is a place in Istanbul that specializes in selling blue plate cars.

Faustino · Joined: 10 Sep 2004 Posts: 601

It should be noted that by doing this you'll be able to buy a car for US 3000 that would normally cost you US 10000 (approximate figures) so you have to weigh up the benefits.

richard ame · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 319 Location: Republic of Turkey

Hi

I have a car bought from a Turk ,very straight forward ,I can sell it back to A Turk with little or no formality.
I would steer clear of blue plate cars they are just not worth the hassle.You may end up with a decent car for small money but basically you are stuck with it ,I wouldn't have one gift wrapped with a years free supply of petrol . Buy ALA Turk . A basic sahin will do just about anything and the running costs are low ,a decent car gets scratched ,dented and generally messed about with ,its just not worth having something like a beemer or similar .

vre · Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 371

I agree with Richard. Buy from a Turk easily, second hand and you can get a good deal. Sell it back much much easier. You are also not recognised as a foreigner either because the plate number on foreign cars shows it. And if it's Istanbul? again, I agree with Richard, you wouldn't wear your Sunday best to go and play with the kids in the street would you? Get a little run around that you don't mind being dinted. You may be a good driver but hello!

gelin · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 144 Location: Istanbul, Turkey

I have had a "Turkish" car before and the license plate is different, be it a blue plate or not, and only foreigners can drive that car. The plate is an MA, MB, MC or MD plate. You will be paying the road taxes, just like the Turks (or not, just like the Turks). I opted for this instead of the blue plates because I didn't want the hassle. My school would have done all the paperwork, however. Someone also needs to be or put up a bond or something for the car. I think, in Istanbul, especially, the market for blue plate buying and selling is quite good and you wouldn't be "stuck."

dervish · Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 46

Wouldn�t driving a car with a marked plate be great? You could drive like a madman and never get pulled over. You know they're not going to (pull over) because they're "too shy". Unless, of course, you're absolutely as gorgeous as I am and they'll quickly overcome their shyness just to simply say hello. Rolling Eyes

This is the polis. Pull over seksi!

gelin · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 144 Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Oh, no, you get pulled over. While there are probably some police who would pull you over just to talk to a beautiful foreigner, most are probably scared to think of possible repercussions. Friends of mine who were pulled over suggest that they were singled out because of the stereotype of the "rich foreigner." I wanted a car without the incriminating brand since I paid the same taxes and same prices as a Turk, but it was not to be.

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

I've done the car buying thing and I would advise just buying a 2nd hand Turkish car and not bothering with the yabanci plaka ones (the actually blue ones are for the diplomatic corps). Unless you are buying a newer car, it is not worth the hassle. I used an agent when I bought my car and did not use one when I sold it-- so spent 4 days running from pillar to post taking care of the bureaucratic details. it is very well worth it to use an agent if you do buy a foreign plate car. However, it is my understanding that you have to have legal status to buy one. I was out of status for the last year and a half that I owned the car, so the car was too-- no road tax, expired plates, expired insurance, and a Turkish friend was driving it. The money I got for it mostly went to pay those things and the associated fines. And, the guy who bought my car did not take care of the letter of guarantee or whatever it is called and the car has been in customs since last spring-- at $5-7/day.

As for getting stopped, a friend with a BMW was picked up recently for DUI and had his license taken for 6 months and the car was impounded in customs. He is not sure if he can get it back. So, dikkat!

Another option is finding out when customs sells the cars from their lot near the airport. There are thousands of them in various conditions. If you have a mafia friend, that would be helpful...

Drive carefully, whatever you do!