Shipping Classic Cars to Turkey: Taxes, Permissions & Logistics

Vehicle imports to Turkey can involve multiple taxes—such as customs duty, Special Consumption Tax (ÖTV), and VAT (KDV)—and customs review of tariff classification and documentation, so planning the paperwork and heading for a classic car shipment is essential.

This guide explains how Turkey tends to treat classic and collector cars at import, how to prepare your vehicle for export, how Turkey’s cost profile compares with Europe in high‑level terms, and how to choose the right shipping method and protection options with West Coast Shipping when shipping to Turkey.

How Turkey treats classic imports

Do not assume age alone determines eligibility or tax outcome; age is only one factor within Turkey’s permission‑based import system and overall import rules.

Turkey’s Ministry of Trade explains in its import‑regime guidance that imports of old, used, renovated, or faulty goods require permission under Article 7 of the Import Regime Decree. Separately, the Ministry’s Import Regime FAQ on trade.gov.tr notes that used motor‑vehicle imports are subject to permission, so the competent authority and current conditions should always be confirmed with a licensed customs broker (gümrük müşaviri) before purchase or shipment.

Eligibility can differ sharply depending on the importer’s status and whether the vehicle is being permanently imported or temporarily admitted under accompanied‑vehicle or residence‑linked regimes, so it is important to confirm which regime applies to your situation before committing to a purchase.

For classic and collector cars, importers sometimes ask how classification and tax treatment might apply. Tariff classification is determined under Turkey’s customs tariff and the information and evidence submitted with the import declaration; descriptive labels such as “classic” or “antique” are not, by themselves, determinative of the HS position that will be applied.

Even if a vehicle is described as a “collector” car, whether any different tariff treatment applies is fact‑specific and should be confirmed in writing by a Turkish customs broker under current rules, including whether any different heading is realistically accepted in practice and how it would affect taxes. Many classic imports are still taxed as ordinary passenger vehicles under standard headings unless a specific exemption or special regime clearly applies and has been pre‑cleared with the authorities.

Evidence, documentation, and “classic” status

Importers may assemble documentation to support the declared value and provenance of a classic, such as factory documentation showing build date and originality, restoration records with invoices and photos, and appraisals or history files.

A gümrük müşaviri can advise which documents are actually useful in practice for supporting the declaration and for responding to any valuation or classification questions that Turkish customs may raise during clearance.

In some cases, importers ask their broker how classification questions (including which heading or subheading applies) should be treated under Turkey’s customs tariff, and the broker will review the vehicle’s specifications, documentation, and intended use to give a written view based on current tariff and import‑regime rules.

Turkish authorities note that customs can examine import declarations, verify compliance, and require additional information or clarification, so a well‑organized file and realistic expectations are essential.

Export prep and loading for Turkey‑bound classics

Classic cars often have irreplaceable parts, original finishes, and mechanical quirks, so export preparation should focus on both mechanical safety and detailed condition evidence before the vehicle enters the international logistics chain.

Before the car reaches the export warehouse, it is sensible to confirm fluids, cooling, brakes, steering, and tires, address obvious leaks, and document any special starting or operating procedures to reduce handling risk during loading.

Thorough cosmetic documentation—panel photos, close‑ups of existing defects, and interior detail shots—helps create a baseline for any later condition discussion and pairs well with the inbound warehouse photo sets West Coast Shipping describes in its classic overseas shipping guide.

In addition to standard export documents (title, bill of sale, identity/registration documents, and power of attorney for filings), a “collector pack” of restoration records, appraisals, and history documents can support valuation and narrative but does not override Turkish classification or permission rules.

For Turkey‑bound classics, container loading often uses soft straps, wheel chocks, padding on contact points, careful ramp angles for low‑clearance cars, and boxed loose parts, with fuel and battery settings adjusted according to the specific carrier and port instructions.

For higher‑value classics, asking the export warehouse to record VIN, odometer, arrival condition, and loading‑in‑container photos provides a strong before‑and‑after trail that supports both insurance and any Cargo Damage Protection claim workflow.

Want to learn more about how to get your vehicle ready before it ever reaches the port? Check out our article on preparing your classic car for export to Turkey.

Container, RoRo, and air: choosing a method

From the USA, containerized logistics to Turkey and to major European ports follow a similar structure—domestic trucking, export port handling, ocean freight, and destination port costs—while transit times and routing vary by carrier and season.

For Turkey, West Coast Shipping’s explain that shared and dedicated container options are commonly used from US ports, with pricing influenced by origin, destination, and freight-market conditions.

For most classic cars and motorcycles, container shipping is generally the preferred option, as an enclosed steel container reduces external exposure and accommodates both running and non-running vehicles. Proper preparation remains important to manage humidity and condensation risks inside the container.

Containers are sealed after loading but may be opened for inspection or security checks, including at transshipment ports, making photo documentation of loading, lashing, and sealing a key best practice.

RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) services typically require vehicles to drive on and off the vessel and are most often used for oversized vehicles and heavy machinery rather than standard passenger cars or motorcycles. While RoRo is sometimes assumed to be cheaper, pricing varies by route and market conditions and is not inherently lower or higher than container service.

Air freight offers the fastest transit times but at significantly higher cost and handling complexity, so it is usually reserved for time-critical or special-event vehicles.

Overall, West Coast Shipping positions container shipping to Turkey as the most suitable solution for the majority of classic vehicles, with RoRo remaining a specialized option for oversized or heavy profiles.

Understanding Cargo Damage Protection for Classic Car Shipments

Turkey’s vehicle import framework involves customs duty, ÖTV, VAT/KDV, and permission-based controls, with final tax outcomes depending on tariff classification, vehicle characteristics, and the import regime applied. Because permission, classification, and tax treatment are intertwined, importers should confirm case-specific landed costs with a licensed Turkish customs broker rather than relying on generic examples.

Beyond taxes and permissions, physical-damage risk during international transport is a separate and often underestimated consideration for classic cars. Carrier liability for ocean shipments is typically governed by the bill of lading and the carrier or forwarder’s terms, which commonly cap compensation at levels far below a classic vehicle’s market value unless additional protection is arranged.

West Coast Shipping’s Cargo Damage Protection Terms explain that under WCS’s own Shipping Terms, liability is limited to $500 per vehicle unless optional Cargo Damage Protection is purchased. This protection is designed to address handling-related damage above that limit, subject to its stated deductibles, conditions, and documentation requirements.

WCS’s Cargo Damage Protection program relies on detailed pre- and post-shipment photo documentation and defined claim criteria to evaluate cosmetic and structural damage for high-value vehicles such as classics, providing a clearer framework than relying solely on standard carrier liability.

Want to understand how far basic marine protection really goes and when WCS Cargo Damage Protection makes sense for your classic? Check out our article on marine protection vs WCS damage protection for classic cars.

Is Turkey the right market for your classic?

Anecdotally, based on practitioner and market reports rather than official statistics, Turkey’s classic and collector scene can be more localized than in some major EU collector hubs, so it is important to validate parts availability, specialist workshop support, and potential buyer interest for your specific make and model before committing to import.

There is an enthusiast community and specialist service presence in major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, but the depth of experience with particular marques and the ease of sourcing parts can vary, affecting both enjoyment and cost of ownership for a classic.

Beyond initial taxes and permissions, classic owners should consider long‑term total cost of ownership in Turkey, including registration costs, maintenance and repair pricing, and potential resale timelines compared with major European collector markets where classic frameworks and buyer pools may be deeper.

Want to see how Turkey stacks up against Europe on price and taxes before you commit? Check out our article on the cost comparison of importing a classic to Turkey vs Europe.

In many cases, importers compare a “Turkey scenario” against maintaining or placing the car in an EU market with established classic regimes, using landed‑cost estimates and resale expectations to decide whether Turkey is a long‑term home or a special‑purpose destination.

Importing a classic to Turkey may still make strategic sense for owners relocating to Turkey, for showrooms or automotive businesses that use iconic vehicles as centerpieces, or for pre‑arranged buyers in Turkey who have already priced in permission, tax, and compliance costs.

In all cases, decisions should be underpinned by VIN‑specific landed‑cost calculations from a gümrük müşaviri and scenario comparisons using West Coast Shipping’s Turkey and global import‑tax resources, which are explanatory tools and do not replace official Turkish law or professional advice.

Want to sanity‑check whether Turkey is really the best destination for your specific vehicle and budget? Check out our article on whether Turkey is the right market for your classic car.

How West Coast Shipping fits in

Because Turkey combines permission‑based controls on used motor vehicle imports with a multi‑layered tax structure and strict technical and registration rules, working with both a Turkish gümrük müşaviri and a specialist international car shipper gives owners a clearer, more realistic planning picture.

West Coast Shipping ships classic and high‑value vehicles internationally, including to Turkey, coordinates with destination brokers under Turkey’s import‑regime framework, and uses detailed photo documentation and optional Cargo Damage Protection to help manage physical‑damage risk on top of Turkish tax and permission risks.

Plan Your Classic Car Shipment to Turkey

The dedicated Turkey pages and blog guides on West Coast Shipping’s site explain routes, timelines, tax structures, logistics costs, and documentation expectations for Turkey‑bound cars, allowing classic owners to see how Turkey compares with other destinations in WCS’s network, while recognizing that these guides are explanatory and do not replace official Turkish sources or local professional advice.

To decide whether shipping a classic to Turkey makes sense, owners can share vehicle details with West Coast Shipping, compare container, RoRo, and air options, discuss marine cargo and damage‑protection layers, and align shipping plans with a Turkish broker’s permission and tax guidance before committing to a purchase or shipment.