Turkish Driving License Exam in English
Everything a foreigner needs to know about the Turkish driving theory test, plus free practice tests in English that follow the official format. Every question comes with the correct answer and a short explanation.
- 50multiple-choice questions
- 45 minto answer them all
- 70points to pass (out of 100)
- 35correct answers needed
How the e-Sınav works
To get a Turkish licence you first complete a course at a private driving school approved by the Ministry of National Education (MEB). After the classroom part, you sit the written exam, which is called the e-Sınav because it is taken on a computer at an MEB exam centre. Your driving school books the exam for you.
There are 50 questions, each with four options (A to D) and one correct answer. Every correct answer is worth 2 points, so the maximum is 100 and you pass with 70. Wrong answers do not cost you points, so never leave a question blank. Once you pass, you move on to the practical driving test.
The four subjects
| Subject (Turkish name) | Questions |
|---|---|
| First Aid (İlk Yardım) | 12 |
| Traffic and Environment (Trafik ve Çevre Bilgisi) | 23 |
| Engine and Vehicle Technology (Motor ve Araç Tekniği) | 9 |
| Traffic Etiquette (Trafik Adabı) | 6 |
| Total | 50 |
Traffic and Environment is almost half the exam: speed limits, right of way, overtaking, stopping and parking, signs and road markings, crashes and protecting the environment. First Aid covers basic life support, bleeding, shock, burns and fractures. Engine and Vehicle Technology is about how the car works and what the warning lights mean. Traffic Etiquette is about respect, patience and safe behaviour on the road.
Can you take the exam in English?
According to MEB's e-Sınav guide for driving school candidates, foreign nationals (and Turkish citizens who studied abroad and do not know Turkish) can see the questions on screen in a foreign language set by the ministry. In a statement reported in the press, the Mersin Governorate said that since 2018 candidates who are foreign nationals have been able to choose Arabic, Chinese, English, German, French, Persian or Russian.
Important: the language has to be selected by your driving school in MEB's system at least 48 hours before your exam appointment. If it is not, the questions appear in Turkish. Ask your school to confirm the language when they book your exam.
Even with a translated exam, it helps to know the Turkish names of key terms, because signs, road markings and the driving test itself are in Turkish. Our practice tests give the Turkish term in brackets where it matters, for example stopping (duraklama) and parking (park etme).
Free practice tests in English
Each test shows your score, whether you would have passed and how you did in each subject. More tests, daily question sets and topic tests are available on the Turkish side of the site.
Guides for foreigners
How to prepare
- Take one practice test without looking at the explanations, to see where you stand.
- Read the explanations for every question you got wrong. Many mistakes come from rules that are different in Turkey.
- Learn the numbers by heart: speed limits, the 0.50 promille alcohol limit, the 5-metre no-stopping zone near junctions and crossings, and the emergency numbers 112 and 114.
- Take the second test. If you score 80 or more on both, you are ready for the real exam.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the Turkish driving theory exam in English?
MEB's e-Sınav guide lets foreign nationals see the questions in a foreign language chosen by the ministry, and English is one of the languages announced. Your driving school has to select the language in the system at least 48 hours before your exam, otherwise the questions appear in Turkish. Confirm this with your school when you book.
How many questions are in the Turkish driving licence exam?
The theory exam has 50 multiple-choice questions and you have 45 minutes. Each correct answer is worth 2 points and you need at least 70 points, which means 35 correct answers.
Are the practice questions on this site the real exam questions?
No. We write our own questions from the MEB driving course curriculum and current Turkish traffic law. They follow the same format and subject mix as the real exam, but they are not the official questions. This site is not affiliated with MEB.
Can I use my foreign licence instead of taking the exam?
For a limited time, yes. Foreign nationals can drive in Turkey on a licence issued abroad for up to six months from their date of entry. After that you need a Turkish licence, either by exchanging your foreign one (if your country is eligible) or by going through a driving school and the exams.
Sources
- MEB, Motorlu Taşıt Sürücü Kursiyerleri e-Sınav Uygulama Kılavuzu (2024 update): foreign-language option
- Hukuki Haber: report on the Mersin Governorate statement about e-Sınav languages
Exam rules can change. Last checked on 21 October 2026; your driving school has the final word on the current procedure.
50 questions in the real exam format, with explanations.