How do HGS tolls work in an Istanbul rental car?

HGS (Hızlı Geçiş Sistemi) is Türkiye's electronic toll account. It is linked to a number plate and read electronically as you drive through the toll point. The toll is taken from the balance of whoever holds that plate's HGS, which for a rental car is the company. Rental contracts then pass the cost on:

  • Sixt Türkiye: you pay the HGS usage for motorways and bridges plus a 185 TL service fee per rental, billed separately from the hire charge (September 2026).
  • Budget Türkiye: the HGS fast-pass charges are calculated separately from the rental price. The terms name no fee, so ask at the desk. Traffic fines are charged to the renter with a service fee added.
Your situation What happens What to check at pickup
HGS fitted and funded by the company Tolls billed after return Service fee per rental or per pass
HGS fitted but the balance runs out Pass logged as unpaid; the company pays later Who pays any late penalty
No HGS in the car Every bridge and tunnel crossing becomes an unpaid pass Ask for a car with HGS before leaving

How much are Istanbul bridge and Eurasia Tunnel tolls in 2026?

These are passenger-car (class 1) prices from the General Directorate of Highways (KGM) and the Eurasia Tunnel operator, checked on 23 September 2026. All include VAT.

Crossing Car price Notes
Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge 59 TL Charged in both directions; tariff from 1 January 2026
15 July Martyrs Bridge 59 TL Same tariff as FSM
Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge 110 TL Charged in both directions; tariff from 1 July 2026
Eurasia Tunnel, 05:00–23:59 330 TL Each crossing
Eurasia Tunnel, 00:00–04:59 165 TL Night rate
Osmangazi Bridge (Gulf of İzmit) 1,170 TL Towards İzmir; from 1 July 2026

Class 1 covers two-axle vehicles with less than 3.20 m between the axles, which includes almost every rental car. A long-wheelbase minibus is class 2 and pays more, for example 75 TL on the FSM and 15 July bridges.

The Osmangazi Bridge is the big item. It carries the Gebze–Orhangazi–İzmir motorway over the Gulf of İzmit on the road to Bursa and İzmir, and the motorway sections beyond it are charged on top. KGM's tariff sheet also lists the return direction separately.

Worked example: a week in Istanbul with one trip to Bursa

A renter based on the European side who crosses the Bosphorus four times by bridge, uses the Eurasia Tunnel twice in the daytime and drives to Bursa and back via the Osmangazi Bridge:

  • Bridges: 4 × 59 TL = 236 TL
  • Eurasia Tunnel: 2 × 330 TL = 660 TL
  • Osmangazi Bridge towards Bursa: 1,170 TL, plus the return crossing and motorway sections at the rates on KGM's tariff sheet
  • Sixt's service fee: 185 TL once per rental

Before the return leg and the motorway sections, that is already 2,251 TL. The single Osmangazi crossing costs more than all six city crossings together, so it belongs in your budget before you decide to drive rather than take a coach.

What happens if you miss an HGS toll payment in Türkiye?

Article 30 of Law 6001 sets the penalties for passing a toll point without paying:

When the toll is paid Amount due
Within 15 days of the pass Toll only
From day 16 to day 45 Toll plus a penalty equal to one toll
After day 45 Toll plus a penalty of four times the toll

The Eurasia Tunnel applies the same scale. Unpaid tunnel passes show up in its online system within three business days, and anyone can check a plate there and pay by card.

The rule is written for the vehicle's registered keeper, which for a rental is the company. A well-run company settles within 15 days, but the contract lets it pass on any penalty, and possibly add its fine-handling fee. If you know a pass went unpaid, for example because the HGS reader beeped a warning, tell the company straight away. You can also pay the tunnel toll yourself online using the plate number.

Renting as a foreign visitor

The Road Traffic Regulation (Article 88) lets a foreign national drive on a licence issued abroad for up to six months from the date of entry into Türkiye. After that, the licence has to be exchanged for a Turkish one. Budget Türkiye's rental terms repeat the six-month limit and ask for your passport at the desk.

Rental age depends on the car group. In Budget Türkiye's table, economy cars need a driver aged at least 21 with a licence held for one year. Comfort cars need 23 and two years, and prestige cars 25 and two years. Younger drivers in the band just below each group can rent for an extra fee. The deposit must go on a personal credit card, and Budget does not accept cash or debit cards.

Speed limits and the 2026 fines

The regulation sets these car limits unless signs show otherwise:

  • 50 km/h in built-up areas
  • 90 km/h on two-way intercity roads
  • 110 km/h on divided highways
  • 120 km/h on motorways

Law 7574 took effect on 27 February 2026. It replaced the old percentage-based speeding fines with fixed bands:

Over the limit, in town Over the limit, outside towns Fine
6–10 km/h 11–15 km/h 2,000 TL
11–15 km/h 16–20 km/h 4,000 TL
16–20 km/h 21–25 km/h 6,000 TL
21–25 km/h 26–30 km/h 8,000 TL
26–35 km/h 31–40 km/h 12,000 TL
36–45 km/h 41–50 km/h 15,000 TL
46–55 km/h 51–60 km/h 20,000 TL
56–65 km/h 61–70 km/h 25,000 TL
66 km/h and more 71 km/h and more 30,000 TL

The top three bands also take the licence away: 30 days for the 20,000 TL band, 60 days for the 25,000 TL band and 90 days for the 30,000 TL band. Under the general Misdemeanours Law, an administrative fine paid within its payment period, which the notice states, is reduced by 25%.

What that means on an Istanbul motorway

At 135 km/h on a 120 km/h motorway you are 15 km/h over: 2,000 TL. At 145 km/h you are 25 km/h over: 6,000 TL. In a 50 km/h city street, 62 km/h is 12 km/h over and costs 4,000 TL. Radar detectors are banned under the same law.

Before you drive away

For getting into the city from the two airports without a car, see Istanbul's airports and transit card. The ferries in crossing between the continents are often quicker than the bridges at rush hour and need no HGS at all.