Turkish Border Crossing for Campervans

We travelled from Bulgaria to Turkey in our converted campervan in October 2022 with our two cats and dog. We had no idea what to expect, couldn’t find that much information online about it and weren’t as well prepared as we could have been. So here’s an outline of exactly what to expect so you can prepare for your travels to Turkey.

Our information is based on the experience and border crossing we travelled through (in October 2022). We crossed the Border at BCCP Kapitan Andreevo on the Bulgarian side and Kapikule, in Erdine province on the Turkish side. The crossing is in the north of Turkey and south of Bulgaria. Check the location and coordinates of the crossing HERE.

Like most border crossings and travel in general, everyone will have a different experience. We can not say for certain this is exactly the process you will go through. There are many factors that affect the overall border-crossing experience. So as always do your own research, do what is best for you and have an open mind.

In this blog, we are going to walk you through the exact steps that we went through at the BCCP Kapitan Andreevo| Kapikule crossing, which will help you navigate your own crossing.

Van life in Turkey- sunset in Red Valley Capadoccia

Van life in Turkey, wild parking Pamukkale

What to expect

Unlike many of the crossings, you will have experienced (if you have made it to Turkey you will have crossed quite a few borders already no doubt!) We found out of the 19 countries we travelled to in our campervan, Turkey had a few extra steps and was a little more strict and busier than what we had experienced before.

What you should expect is a few steps and stages of crossing – we counted a 5 stage process, so don’t expect to just drive straight through, like some other border crossings. Although again I reiterate, border crossings are uniquely individual experiences.

Turkey is a big country, with over 85 million people and a huge tourism industry so people are crossing the border all the time. With that in mind expect queues, wait times and waiting around. However, once you get going it is relatively simple and the border staff are all very friendly and welcoming.

I would say this is a large, standard and pretty typical crossing for Turkey and for what to expect. It took us almost two hours to get across. The crossing is relatively straightforward if you have all the necessary documents to hand and you have cash on you. We drive a LWB Mercedes Sprinter Van that is from the UK, we are both British citizens and we travelled with our two cats and one dog just for some background information. What I will say is the longest part of our crossing was waiting for the customs inspection, there were many cars in front of us so it took quite a while.

So to recap: What to expect: a pretty standard border crossing, possibility of queues and waiting, and a relatively simply process if you have all your necessary documents.

D3 vehicle inspection hanger

Essential Information

By law in Turkey; you need to be insured whilst you are driving and need the minimum of third-party liability insurance for all vehicles. Proof of insurance must be carried around at all times. This vehicle insurance is called Zorunlu Trafic Sigortasi or Compulsory Traffic Insurance.

Now on to the slightly confusing next point about insurance and green cards. You will need a Green card insurance to enter Turkey. If you are from the UK, you will know all too well that many insurance companies no longer issue a green card and most insurance companies will not extend their policies to Asia, and technically once you’re across the Bosphorus your on Asian soil and on your own!

That is why you will be able to buy a green card/Turkish Government-issued third-party vehicle insurance at the border which lasts for three months. You can buy it prior to travelling to Turkey but we found it more affordable, transparent, official and easier to buy at the border. If you are already lucky to have a green card that is valid for all of Europe, you won’t need to buy this insurance at the border and will just show them your insurance and green card.

For the 3 months insurance: Expect to pay around €154 for motorhomes and €57 for vans. The price is calculated from what your vehicle is classified as on your V5/ vehicle registration. Bring cash to pay with, as they do not accept; card payments, credit or debit cards. You can pay in Euros or in Turkish Liras.

Please note* You do not need to pay for this service before the border, be aware of people that will charge you a much higher price for the service and will essentially try and rip you off but you don’t need to get ripped off, you can absolutely buy one at the border! 

The D3 inspection area & Insurance booth in the distance.

What you will need

Here’s what you will be asked for and exactly what you will need when crossing:

• Passports (and visas if you need them)
• Drivers license
• Vehicle Insurance (Minimum third-party liability insurance is required for all vehicles driving in Turkey)
• Vehicle registration details (V5 if your from the UK)
• Vehicle insurance Green Card or buy at the border.
• Cash (to pay for the vehicle insurance)

I need to reiterate this, If you don’t have a green card, do not worry, you will be given the chance to buy one at the border. In many ways, this is the easiest way to buy insurance. It is government insurance so you know it’s legitimate. Many people don’t have a green card, seeing as they are phasing them out in the UK, and many other European countries. 

You do not need an international driving permit unless you plan on staying over three months. We got ours before me left the UK but we have never been asked for it yet.

Turkish border crossing

The stages of crossing

First stage
Like every other border: you will drive through passport control on the side of the country you are leaving. They will check and stamp your passports and you will then drive through a large area between both countries usually with ample parking and toilets so you can stop and get things ready if you need to.

Second stage
You will then continue to drive to the booth of Turkish passport control and Turkish customs. They will ask for and check all of your documents: Passports (visas if you need them) driver’s license, vehicle registration details/ V5, and insurance and they will ask for a green card. If you don’t have a green card (a lot of foreign travellers won’t have one) this is where you make your way to stage three, which is an area called D3 and is next to the vehicle inspection area.

Third stage
This is where you will drive to the parking bay where the D3 Turkish vehicle inspection and insurance booth is. Park outside, there is a parking bay, toilets and bins. You will get out and go to the first booth where you will give over all your documents: passport, driving license, vehicle registration, and insurance. This step takes a while, as you may have to wait around in the queue and there’s a bit of time to wait whilst they check your documents and start to draw up your Turkish vehicle insurance papers.

As they are preparing your documents and doing their checks you will be asked to pay at the booth next door. The two booths are connected so you just have to move to the next booth and queue up where you will pay only in Cash. They do not accept any cards. You must arrive with cash, We didn’t have cash on us and added a lot of extra time to our border crossing as we had to go back to the duty-free shopping in no man’s land to find an ATM. Once you have paid there may be a fair deal of waiting around before stage four.

Fourth stage
Once you have paid for your insurance, you will then drive over to the vehicle inspection hangar area. There is usually a queue here where vehicles are waiting to drive into the hangar to be inspected. Park and wait your turn. This area is where they will inspect your entire van, do their last checks and finalise your documents. When it is your turn, you will drive through into the large vehicle inspection hangar and wait for the inspector. We waited about twenty to thirty minutes for our inspector. The inspector will ask you a few basic questions as they walk around inspecting your vehicle. They will most likely ask you to open the front and back of your van and will do a thorough walk-around. Checking the underneath, outside, back and inside of your van. They may come into your van and check in cupboards or cabinets and may ask you to remove belongings so they can have a good look around. they may also work as a team to inspect. As far as inspections go we found this experience to be quite thorough.

If you are travelling with pets this is also where they may ask you for your pet documents. After they are satisfied with your vehicle and inspection they will go away again to finalise your documents. Expect a bit of waiting around here. They will hopefully return with the all-clear and your Turkish vehicle insurance papers for you to keep with you on your stay in Turkey, remember to always keep them with you, preferably in the cab as it’s a legal requirement to have them with you at all times whilst you are driving. You will now be able to drive through the hangar and onto the last and final stage.

Fifth stage
The last step of the process. Generally just a formality,  this is the last booth you will drive up to, where they just have a glance over your new insurance papers and your passports before waving you through. This stage is super quick and you will be mostly waved on, I’m sure some people won’t even have to stop here and will just be waved through completely. You are free now to go and have made it to Turkey and that concludes your experience crossing the border into Turkey. Now go and enjoy yourself!

As always your experience may be completely different to ours, you may not be asked for things we were or inspected at all. It all depends on who you get on the day, where you cross the border, and just luck of the draw, but it’s always good to have an understanding of what may be asked of you before turning up.