Diplomatic plate, with a different discourse, is a green plate type used for embassy and consulate vehicles operating in Turkey or for diplomats, administrative and technical personnel vehicles operating in relevant embassies and consulates. The letter group in the middle of the plates of the vehicles in the embassy and consular service is arranged according to the article 55 / b of the Highways Regulation. In the said regulation, it is mandatory to have these letters: CC, CD, CG, and CM. Diplomatic officials do not have to use a green plate. However, diplomatic officials who do not want to use a green plate should use the distinguishing mark on the right side of the plate. Distinctive phrases are the letters CD, CG, CM, and CC, indicating that he was assigned to the diplomatic mission. The letters CC, CD, CG and CM on the green plate indicate the person within the embassy and consulate in the vehicle.

Plates to be used in vehicles belonging to persons who work in embassies and have diplomatic exemption, the background should be white and the colours of letters and numbers should be green. The license plates to be used in vehicles belonging to persons who work in consulates should be green and the colours of letters and numbers should be white. In the 58 / d article of the highway traffic regulation, it is stated that it is possible to rent a car from within Turkey with the phrase: “For the persons within the scope of diplomatic exemption, the vehicles of diplomatic status personnel who work in missions, which will be leased by private or legal persons or by financial leasing method, together with the lease agreement drawn up by the notaries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offer in writing, and with the approval of the Ministry of Interior, can be issued from CC 0001 to CC 9999, CD 0001 to CD 9999, CG 0001 to CG 9999 and CM 0001 to CM 9999. At the end of the period, the given plates are returned to the traffic organizations by the relevant persons without any notification. “

Diplomatic Plate Letters

Consul: CC

Consular Technical and Administrative Staff: CG

Ambassador: CD

Embassy Administrative and Technical Staff: CM

Diplomatic Exemptions and Plate Procedures

Diplomatic exemptions; it is valid for diplomatic missions, international organizations, representatives and members of international organizations in Turkey. In this context, imported vehicles or domestic production vehicles can be purchased with diplomatic exemption. Diplomatic plate procedures are carried out within the framework of these issues.

Within the framework of green plate procedures, diplomatic members and administrative and technical personnel can import private vehicles free of customs duties based on the decree (Form B) to be approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs approves, domestic production vehicles can also be purchased within the scope of exemption, with the same conditions. Diplomatic members and administrative and technical personnel are approved to have a second vehicle for the use of their spouse, provided that they are registered in their name.

Important Considerations for Vehicles to be Imported under Diplomatic Exemptions

Private vehicles imported by diplomatic members and technical and administrative staff can be sold at the end of their duty. At the same time, it can be transferred, left to customs, or exported. Within the framework of diplomatic plate transactions (green plate), they are allowed to import a reasonable number of service vehicles by the foreign mission, based on the decree (Formula B) to be approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic missions can also purchase domestic production vehicles exempt under the same conditions. Reciprocity is essential in the number of service vehicles of the mission, and the necessary regulations for limitation are under the authority and evaluation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Within the scope of diplomatic exemptions, diplomatic plate transactions are carried out in accordance with the decree (Form B) issued by the foreign mission. The original purchase invoice, ownership certificate and traffic license must be included in the report, and all the characteristics of the vehicle, including the accessories of the vehicle, the date of entry and location in Turkey, must be stated in detail.

Diplomatic license plate procedures of domestic production vehicles start after the import of vehicles to be purchased within the scope of the Ministry of Commerce’s notification on sales determined as export, after the vehicle is placed in the temporary storage area under the supervision of the customs directorate that will carry out the import process. The waybill document used for the shipment of the vehicle to the relevant customs directorate must be delivered to the customs directorate within seven (7) days from the date of issue. The extension of the delivery period to be made to the customs directorate is notified directly to the relevant customs directorate if the relevant person applies to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within fifteen (15) days following the date of dispatch note and the application is approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A request for a later change or correction on the engine or chassis number of the imported vehicle is made with a note. If the request for correction, which should be based on valid reasons, is approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the necessary correction is made by the relevant customs directorate on the original copy. If the imported vehicle is older than three (3) years on the date of purchase by foreign mission or diplomatic members and technical and administrative personnel, an annotation “Cannot be sold to persons who are not within the scope of tax exemption” is written.

Important Issues Regarding the Sale of Vehicles Imported Under Diplomatic Exemptions

For the sale of private vehicles purchased within the framework of diplomatic plate procedures, a preliminary permission must be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Only one (1) vehicle can be sold to those who cannot benefit from the customs duty exemption during their tenure.

If the personal vehicle benefiting from the exemption is over three (3) years old when purchased by the owner, based on the principle of reciprocity, it cannot be sold to persons who cannot benefit from tax exemption; however, such vehicles can be exported, transferred or abandoned to customs. The sales permit is granted at the end of two (2) years following the import date of the vehicle. Foreign mission chiefs are also given a sales permit for their second private vehicle if they leave Turkey definitively. If the owner of the vehicle leaves Turkey for sure, this period can be reduced to one (1) year. This period can be shortened by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in case of compelling reasons. In these cases, the foreign diplomatic mission is obliged to complete all required activities within two (2) months after the approval of the sale. The sales of the vehicles belonging to the technical and administrative personnel working in the Foreign Mission are also made within the framework of the above-mentioned issues.

Service vehicles that are less than three (3) years old on the date of import can be sold to Turkish citizens five (5) years after the date of import, after the approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within the framework of reciprocity. Within the framework of reciprocity, shortening the five (5) year period is under the authority and evaluation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vehicles such as buses, trucks, minibuses, vans, trailers purchased within the framework of diplomatic plate procedures cannot be sold to persons who cannot benefit from customs exemption. However, these vehicles can be transferred if the necessary conditions are met. For compulsory reasons, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the authority and evaluation to decide otherwise.

Sales Confirmation

The sales approval of the vehicles can be requested with a note in the appendix containing a copy of the import certificate, insurance certificate and a photocopy of the traffic license. The vehicle to be sold must have all the conditions determined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vehicle sales approval, which has a validity period of two (2) months, can be extended for two (2) months for once if a request is made with a note before the end of the period. Resale permission is not granted for the same vehicle. In case of a definite departure, early vehicle sales approval can be given two (2) months before the final return date. The exact return date is stated in the note. The duration of this approval cannot be extended.

Upon acceptance of the vehicle sales approval, the relevant vehicle is delivered to the customs office. The vehicle is delivered to the buyer after the final sales document issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stating the address and identity information of the buyer, and the taxes in the relevant legislation are paid.

Issuance Procedures

For the diplomatic plate procedures, it is obligatory to notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in advance for the export of the vehicles imported to Turkey with consent. The request for issuance is made with a note containing the name and title information of the owner, the characteristics of the vehicle, the date of issue, license plate information and the customs office where the export will be carried out. A copy of the license of the vehicle, the insurance certificate and an approved import certificate or a copy certified by the customs office are also attached to the aforementioned note.

Theft and Accident

The theft or accident of the vehicle must be documented by the decision taken by the court, by an official letter drawn up by the highest administrative authority, prosecutor or police headquarters. In the event of an accident, the vehicle, which cannot be repaired, is abandoned to the customs after obtaining the preliminary permission of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Replacing a stolen or scrapped vehicle is under the authority and evaluation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Diplomatic Plate Procedures for Vehicles Imported with Tax Exemption

It is possible to use the vehicle imported from abroad by the Embassy and Consulate within the scope of diplomatic exemptions in the country. Customs duty, value added tax and special consumption tax are not paid for the vehicle to be brought within the framework of diplomatic exemptions. Diplomatic plate procedures to be done are as follows.

It should be determined how the vehicle to be procured from abroad will be brought to Turkey. The importance of this matter is that the storage fee must be paid since the vehicles brought by the truck will wait at the port. The warehouse payments received at the port are higher than the parking fee at the customs office of the vehicle that enters by road. The vehicle brought to the country is delivered to the Customs Directorate upon receipt. The Foreign Mission sends a declaration to the General Directorate of Protocol of Foreign Affairs for the vehicle to be processed within the scope of diplomatic exemption. The approval given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is submitted to the customs office and the vehicle is taken from the customs. After the vehicle is received, the vehicle inspection (TÜV) and TSE certificate of conformity procedures are completed. Within the scope of diplomatic plate procedures, the traffic insurance of the vehicle must be taken out. After the completion of the procedures, an application is made to the General Directorate of Security for license plate and license procedures. In case the application is finalized, the Customs Directorate is informed.

If the traffic registration activities to be carried out for the diplomatic mission are carried out by a diplomatic mission officer, the approval of the mission chief and an authorization letter with a diplomatic mission seal, and an ID card or relevant document showing that the person following the transactions is a diplomatic mission official.

In case traffic registration procedures for diplomatic license plate are carried out by an intermediary firm on behalf of mission or mission officials, the authorization certificate must be made with a power of attorney issued by a notary.

For more detailed information about diplomatic plate procedures or to get consultancy services on different issues, you can reach us from the information in the contact area or from the lines +90 212 970 02 88 and +90 212 706 84 17.