Coast to Island

Taking a Car from Turkey to the Greek Islands by Ferry

Which Turkey–Greek island ferries carry cars, 2026 vehicle fares, rental car rules, insurance, licences and Turkish customs for foreign-registered cars.

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On this page
  1. Short answer
  2. Which routes carry vehicles
  3. Vehicle fares (as of October 2026)
  4. Can I take a Turkish hire car?
  5. Taking your own UK or EU car
  6. Driving licences
  7. Renting on the island instead
  8. At the port
  9. FAQ

Only two short crossings from the Turkish coast carry cars: Ayvalık to Lesvos (Mytilene) and Çeşme to Chios. Every other route, including Bodrum–Kos, Kuşadası–Samos and Marmaris–Rhodes, is foot passengers only. If you are on holiday in Turkey with a hire car, the realistic plan is to park it, cross on foot and rent another car on the island.

Short answer

  • Car ferries (October 2026): Ayvalık–Lesvos (Turyol’s Fokaia, Uğur Jale Lines’ Seda Jale, Jalem Tur’s car ferry) and Çeşme–Chios (Ertürk Lines’ Ertürk-1 and Apostolos S.).
  • Car fares: €75 one way / €110 return on Ayvalık–Lesvos; €90–100 one way / €140–150 return on Çeşme–Chios. Port charges are extra.
  • Turkish hire cars: Most rental companies in Turkey do not allow their cars to leave the country.
  • Your own UK or EU car: Possible on the two car routes. You need a green card for Turkey; within the EU your UK or EU insurance applies without a green card.
  • Leaving a foreign car in Turkey for an island trip: Tell Turkish customs first, or you risk a fine.
AyvalıkLesvosÇeşmeChios
Ayvalık → Lesvos · 45–90 minÇeşme → Chios · 20–80 minAll routes →

Which routes carry vehicles

Route Cars? Vessel / operator Notes
Ayvalık–Lesvos Yes Fokaia (Turyol), Seda Jale (Uğur Jale Lines), Jalem Tur car ferry Fast sea buses and Catamaran Kalimnos are passenger only
Çeşme–Chios Yes Ertürk-1, Apostolos S. (sold by Ertürk Lines) Fast boat (Ertürk HSC) is passenger only
Aliağa–Lesvos Not yet Turyol Jalem Operator says car sailings are planned later
Dikili–Lesvos No İDO No vehicle deck
Kuşadası–Samos No Meander Travel, Tilos Travel Passenger only
Bodrum–Kos No Various Passenger only
Marmaris–Rhodes No Yeşil Marmaris No vehicle tickets sold
Fethiye–Rhodes No Sea Star vessels (via Ertürk) Only bicycles listed in the tariff
Kaş–Kastellorizo No Meis Express, Meis Ferry Lines Passenger only

Ertürk Lines’ website mentions vehicle crossings on its Bodrum–Kos and Kuşadası–Samos pages, but the fare pages show no prices at all. None of the sources checked in October 2026 show a car-carrying sailing on either route. If someone tells you otherwise, call the operator before you plan around it. See the ferry map for all routes.

On the Çeşme–Chios route, Ertürk’s published timetable from 1 November 2026 lists only the fast boat, so car crossings appear to stop for winter. On Ayvalık–Lesvos, Fokaia and Seda Jale sailings are listed until mid-December.

Vehicle fares (as of October 2026)

Ayvalık–Lesvos

Jalem Tur, Uğur Jale Lines and Ertürk (for Fokaia and Seda Jale) publish the same figures:

Vehicle One way Return
Motorbike €40 €60
Car / SUV €75 €110
Minibus / pickup €90 €140
Campervan under 6 m €120 €180
Bicycle Free Free

Adult passengers on the car ferry pay €30 one way or €40 return. On top come Turkish port charges listed by Jalem Tur and Uğur Jale Lines: 300 TL harbour tax per passenger and 750 TL for a car (500 TL for a motorbike, 2,250 TL for a campervan). Both sites also list a 1,250 TL Turkish exit fee (yurt dışı çıkış harcı); ask the operator whether it applies to your passport.

Çeşme–Chios

Ertürk Lines’ fare page shows two sets of prices:

Vehicle Ertürk vessels (one way / return) Apostolos S. (one way / return)
Motorbike over 250cc €50 / €80 €45 / €70
Car / jeep €100 / €150 €90 / €140
Minibus under 7 m €125 / €175 –
Campervan under 6 m €150 / €200 –

Adult tickets are €40 one way and €50 return on Ertürk vessels, €38 / €50 on Apostolos S. The page does not say which vessel runs which sailing or list port charges, so ask when you book. For a full budget, try the trip cost calculator.

Cars parked on a ferry deck beneath the ship's funnels
Cars parked on a ferry deck beneath the ship's funnels · Photo: Julia Taubitz / Unsplash

Can I take a Turkish hire car?

Usually not. Examples from rental terms checked in October 2026:

  • Enterprise’s Dalaman Airport branch states that its cars may not be driven out of Turkey at any time.
  • Carwiz’s rental conditions say cross-border use is not allowed.
  • Rentmotors’ Turkey terms ban taking the car outside Turkey and say all insurance cover is void if you do.

Ertürk Lines’ rules do allow for a rental car to leave Turkey if the rental company provides a notarised power of attorney. In practice that means a company willing to sign one, plus a green card that covers Greece. Do not turn up at the port without both in writing.

Taking your own UK or EU car

Some travellers drive overland to Turkey or arrive in a campervan. You can take that vehicle onto the Ayvalık or Çeşme car ferry.

Insurance. GOV.UK says you do not need a green card to drive a UK-insured car in the EU, but you may need one in Turkey, and its Turkey travel advice says you must carry a green card showing third-party cover. Ask your insurer to confirm that the policy covers both Turkey and Greece, including the ferry crossing.

Documents. Carry the original registration document, your passport and any power of attorney if the car is not in your name. Turkish ferry operators also check the vehicle at Turkish customs before boarding. Ertürk asks for company-car authorisations to be translated into English.

Turkish customs. Turkey’s Ministry of Trade says a foreign visitor’s vehicle may stay as long as the owner is allowed to stay in Turkey. If you drive out of Turkey on the ferry, the car leaves with you, and you go through entry formalities again when you come back.

Leaving your foreign car in Turkey while you hop over

This is the trap for overland travellers who want a foot-passenger day trip. According to the Ministry of Trade’s FAQ on accompanied vehicles:

  • You can go abroad without your car by leaving it with customs or by signing a commitment at a customs office. The commitment can also be submitted through e-Devlet or the Foreign License Plate Vehicle Operations application.
  • If you leave without telling customs, a one-off fine applies. The FAQ gives the 2026 amount as 11,952 TL.
  • A car stored under customs supervision can stay up to three months, extendable by three more. Storage fees are set by the facility operator.
Island harbour with white buildings and blue water
Island harbour with white buildings and blue water · Photo: DD GR / Unsplash

Driving licences

  • In Greece: GOV.UK says a UK photocard licence is valid in Greece. Paper licence holders may also need a 1968 international driving permit. EU and EEA licences are valid throughout the EU.
  • In Turkey: GOV.UK says UK drivers need a 1968 international driving permit or a UK licence notarised in Turkish, and the permit must be obtained before you travel.
  • Other licences: a 2026 Greece car rental guide says an international driving permit is needed for non-EU licences, with exceptions it lists for the UK, US, Canada and Australia. Check with your rental company.

Renting on the island instead

For most visitors this is simpler and cheaper than taking a car across. Uğur Jale Lines says there are many rental offices around Mytilene port. GOV.UK warns that hire companies in Greece often have stricter requirements than the law, such as a minimum age, a year of driving experience or an international driving permit, and that hire-company insurance often only covers third parties. Many Greek rental companies also do not allow their cars on ferries.

If you leave your Turkish hire car at the port, Ertürk says there is a paid Ulusoy car park next to Çeşme port, and Uğur Jale Lines says there are paid car parks around Ayvalık port. Route details are in the Ayvalık to Lesvos and Çeşme to Chios guides.

Aerial view of a beach with clear turquoise water
Aerial view of a beach with clear turquoise water · Photo: Dimitris Kiriakakis / Unsplash

At the port

  1. Arrive early. Uğur Jale Lines and Jalem Tur ask for at least 90 minutes before departure. Ertürk’s FAQ says vehicle check-in must be complete 90 minutes before departure, while its general rules say one hour. Go with the earlier time.
  2. Çeşme cut-off: Ertürk’s rules say vehicles arriving after 08:45 for morning sailings or 18:15 for evening sailings lose their place, and customs will not process late vehicles. Vehicle check-in is only at the Ulusoy Port Office.
  3. On board: cars go to the lower deck and nobody may stay in the vehicle during the crossing. Take your key with you.

Car space is limited, so book ahead in summer and around Turkish public holidays.

FAQ

Can I drive onto the ferry from Bodrum to Kos?

No. As of October 2026 the Bodrum–Kos boats carry foot passengers only. Leave the car in Bodrum and rent one on Kos.

How much does it cost to take a car to Lesvos?

As of October 2026, €75 one way or €110 return for a car on Ayvalık–Lesvos, plus passenger tickets and Turkish port charges (750 TL for a car).

Can I take my Turkish rental car to Chios or Lesvos?

Most rental companies forbid it. Ertürk Lines accepts rental cars only with a notarised power of attorney from the rental company and valid insurance for Greece.

Do I need a green card for Greece?

Not for a UK or EU-insured car, according to GOV.UK. You do need one for Turkey, and Turkish-registered cars need a green card that covers Greece.

Is there a car ferry to Rhodes from Turkey?

No. Marmaris–Rhodes and Fethiye–Rhodes are both passenger only as of October 2026.

Can I leave my own car in Turkey and visit an island on foot?

Yes, but tell Turkish customs first by leaving the car with them or signing a commitment. Leaving without notice can mean a fine of 11,952 TL (2026 figure).

Rules change; confirm with the official source before you travel.

Sources