Turkish Toll Highways & Bridges

Home
Search
Maps of Turkey
Photo Gallery

Where to Go
When to Go
Where to Stay
What It Costs
Turkish Money
Transport
FAQ-Travel Details

Best Itineraries
Guided Tours
Travel Agency
Unusual Trips
Consultations

TTP Forums
Funny Stuff
Shopping
Site Index
Bright Sun

Turkey's modern toll expressways (otoyol) and bridges (köprü) require a bit of information.

Otoyols between Istanbul and Ankara, between Izmir and Çesme, between Izmir and Aydin, and in increasingly more locations around the country, are wonderful alternatives to the traditional highways.

The otoyols are smoother, faster, more comfortable and easier to drive. Tolls are low, but paying them can be a bit tricky. For example: to cross Istanbul's Bosphorus Bridge, you are required to have a toll transponder (called "EasyPass" in the eastern USA) or a prepaid KGS toll card. You cannot pay in cash!

A few otoyols still have the traditional system whereby you take a ticket when entering the highway, and when you exit, you submit the ticket and pay the toll in cash (nakit). However, the ticket-and-cash system is being removed so you should have a KGS toll-payment card.

Kartlı Geçiş Systemi

You can buy a KGS Kart at a bank (Halkbank, İş Bankası, Vakıfbank, Ziraat Bankası, Garanti Bankası, Bank Asya) or, when you are about to enter a toll highway, stop in a safe place by the building on the right of the toll booths and purchase your KGS (Kartlı Geçiş Sistemi, Card Payment System) toll card. (Ask for a KEH-geh-SEH kart) The card itself costs TL3, and you can load it with as much credit as you wish.

If you only plan to drive a few days on toll roads, I suggest that you give the officer TL10: TL3 for the card and TL7 for toll credit.

When you enter a toll highway, look for the lane marked KGS and/or Kart:

NAKIT or PARALI = "Cash," if cash is accepted at the toll booth, at least one lane will be marked with this sign, but these lanes are being discontinued.

KAPALI = (Lane) closed.

KGS/KART = Kartli Geçis Sistemi, prepaid toll debit card. You buy these cards (TL30) at banks (Halkbank, Is Bankasi, Vakifbank, Ziraat Bankasi, Garanti Bankasi, Bank Asya) before driving, and use them to pay tolls.

OGS = Otomatik Geçiş Sistemi, "Automatic Passage System," toll transponder only (you must have a toll transponder in your car to pay the toll)

%20 UCUZ = For vehicles entitled to a 20% discount on tolls (probably not you)