Is Turkey's Mediterranean coast a good place to rent a car from a local company?

What the numbers say about car hire across Turkey

This page reads a recent snapshot of public Localrent search results for a one-week rental. It is an independent guide, not a Localrent site. Turkey scores 7.6 and ranks 5 of 36 destinations, following the scoring methodology.

The snapshot covers 2 cities on the Mediterranean coast. It lists 2,652 cars, and 1,920 of them were analysed in detail. Choice and card rules score highest, and the fleet comes close behind.

Fleets are young. The median model year is 2023, and 81% of cars are marked as new. Automatic gearboxes account for 67% of the cars.

Deposit terms sit close to the typical destination. 62% of cars need no deposit, roughly level with the median place tracked. Free cancellation is the stand-out result, at 74% of cars. That is nearly double the median destination.

Mileage is the weak point. Only 26% of cars come with unlimited kilometres. That matters for anyone planning long drives beyond the coast.

Antalya versus Alanya, and the Istanbul question

Antalya has the largest choice of local cars in Turkey, with a little over half of the listings. Most cars are collected in the city or at Antalya Airport (AYT). Its no-deposit share is slightly above the country figure. Unlimited mileage and free delivery are also a touch more common here.

Alanya is the second Turkish base, with slightly fewer cars than Antalya. It sits further east along the coast. Gazipasa-Alanya Airport (GZP) is the nearest airport. Alanya has the higher free cancellation share of the two. Free delivery is rarer, and the no-deposit share is a little lower.

Many travellers start with an Istanbul Turkey car rental search. This snapshot does not track Istanbul, so it gives no figures for rental cars in Istanbul, Turkey. The city is served by Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen (SAW).

If you plan to rent a car in Istanbul, Turkey, run the live search yourself. The same car card checks apply there as on the south coast.

Fiat Egea, Renault Clio and the cars that suit the Turkish coast

The most listed models are Fiat Egea, Renault Clio, Renault Taliant, Fiat Fiorino, Renault Megane. The list is led by compact sedans and small hatchbacks. Each class suits a different kind of trip.

• The Fiat Egea is a compact sedan with a large boot. It suits the D400 coastal road between Antalya and Alanya.
• The Renault Clio is a small hatchback. It suits the narrow lanes of Kaleici in Antalya and Alanya's old town.
• The Renault Taliant is a compact sedan. It suits airport runs from AYT with a family's luggage.
• The Renault Megane is a larger compact sedan. It suits longer drives inland towards the Taurus Mountains.
• The Fiat Fiorino is a small van. It suits travellers with bulky gear such as diving or cycling kit.
• The Fiat Doblo is a leisure van in Alanya's top models. It suits families heading to Side or Manavgat.

The median model year is 2023, so most cars are recent. 67% of cars are automatic. Drivers who avoid manual gearboxes have plenty of options. Still, confirm the gearbox on each car card before paying.

No deposit, cash deposit or credit card in Turkey

Turkey splits into two clear groups on deposits. 62% of analysed cars need no deposit at all. The other 38% take a cash deposit at pick-up.

Credit cards are not a barrier here. 100% of analysed cars need no credit card. That suits travellers who do not carry one.

Where a deposit applies, the car card shows its amount and how it can be paid. Read this before paying the advance. A cash deposit means arriving with the right amount in hand.

Search filters let you show only cars with no deposit or no credit card. Both filters work in Antalya and Alanya.

• The no-deposit cars page explains how that group is counted.
• The cash deposit guide covers cars that ask for cash.
• The deposits guide lists questions to ask at the desk.

In Antalya the no-deposit share is a shade higher than in Alanya. The gap is small, so either city works for travellers avoiding deposits.

Free cancellation, mileage limits and delivery in Antalya and Alanya

Free cancellation is common in Turkey. 74% of cars allow it, nearly twice the median destination. The exact deadline sits in the cancellation terms on each car card. The free cancellation page shows how to filter for it.

Mileage needs more care. Only 26% of cars offer unlimited mileage. The rest carry a limit that is shown on the car card.

A limit adds up quickly on the coast. A week touring Kemer, Belek, Side and Alanya covers real distance. Trips inland to Pamukkale or Cappadocia are far longer still. For those routes, filter for unlimited mileage first.

Free delivery is rare, offered on 7% of cars. Antalya has more cars with free delivery than Alanya. Most bookings mean collecting the car at the location shown on the card.

Check the pick-up place and any delivery terms before you book. A hotel drop in Alanya is less likely to be free than one in Antalya.

Driving the D400 and other roads on the Turkish Riviera

Turkey drives on the right, and you overtake on the left. Distances and speed signs use kilometres.

The D400 is the main road along the Mediterranean coast. It runs east from Antalya past Belek, Side and Manavgat to Alanya. West of Antalya, it follows the cliffs towards Kemer. Beyond Alanya, it continues towards Gazipasa and its airport.

Summer traffic builds near resort towns and around airport junctions. Allow extra time for an evening return to AYT or GZP. Roads inland climb into the Taurus Mountains, with tight bends and steep sections.

Traffic police checks are common on main roads. Keep your licence, passport and rental contract in the car.

Minimum driver age and licence rules are set by each rental company. They are shown on the car card. Check them before booking, especially for young or newly qualified drivers. The car card checklist lists every field worth reading.

How booking a local car in Turkey works on Localrent

Localrent is an online booking service listing cars of local, independent rental companies. It is an intermediary and does not own cars. This guide is independent and has no link to Localrent.

The process follows the same steps in Antalya and Alanya:

• Search by city or airport, such as Antalya (AYT) or Gazipasa-Alanya (GZP).
• Pick a specific car from a named local company.
• Read the car card: model, year, photos, deposit, payment methods, mileage and cancellation terms.
• Pay the advance online by bank card. Cash is not accepted for the advance.
• Pay the rest to the company at pick-up, by the methods shown for that car.

You sign the rental contract with the local company. Your conditions are in your voucher, so keep it on your phone.

Insurance terms differ by company. The car card shows them, so compare cover car by car.

The how it works guide explains each step in more depth. The is Localrent legit guide covers how the intermediary model works.

Our verdict

Turkey is a strong country for renting from local companies, ranked 5 of 36. Young cars, no credit card requirement and wide free cancellation stand out. Check mileage limits before any long drive beyond the coast.