Millions of tourists rent cars in Turkey every year — and unfortunately, a growing number of them fall victim to scams. From fake websites to surprise charges at pickup, fraudulent practices can quickly turn a dream holiday into a nightmare. This guide breaks down the most common car rental scams and tells you exactly how to protect yourself.
Fraudulent websites mimic legitimate car rental companies, offer unrealistically low prices, and ask for payment via bank transfer to an IBAN. Once the money is sent, neither the car nor a refund appears. In 2025, this scheme defrauded 43 people out of over 2.8 million Turkish Lira across Turkey.
What to do: Always book through an official website and pay by credit card. Never send a bank transfer to any rental company.
At the pickup counter — often at the airport — customers are told certain insurance packages are "mandatory" even though they weren't part of the original quote. Faced with the pressure of a waiting flight, many people simply sign without reading.
What to do: Get written confirmation of the total price at booking. Refuse to sign any add-on that wasn't in your original agreement.
Scratches and dents on the vehicle are not recorded at pickup. At return, those same damages are charged to you. Bumpers, roofs, and underbodies are common targets since they're easy to miss.
What to do: Before driving away, photograph and video the entire vehicle. Timestamped media is your best evidence.
Under a 'full-to-full' policy, the car is handed over half-empty. At return, you're charged extortionate rates for the missing fuel. Alternatively, a 'full-to-empty' policy traps you into buying back unused fuel at inflated prices.
What to do: Photograph the fuel gauge at pickup. Read the fuel policy carefully in your contract.
Extremely cheap rentals sometimes come with worn tyres, warning lights on the dashboard, or unreported mechanical issues — putting your safety at risk and potentially making you liable for damage.
What to do: Check the tyres, brakes, and dashboard before accepting the vehicle. Report any issues immediately.
At RepeatCar, transparency is non-negotiable. The price shown during booking is the price in your contract — no surprise fees, no mandatory add-ons. All terms are stated clearly before you sign.
Our customer team is available 24/7 in Turkish, English, German, and Russian. We meet you at the airport, and every vehicle goes through a technical and hygiene inspection before handover.
Book safely at repeatcar.com
