Istanbul car hire: Best, cheap options for Aston Villa fans

Aston Villa supporters travelling to Istanbul for their Champions League clash with Galatasaray may be surprised by how little it can cost to hire a car in the city. However, driving through one of Europe’s busiest urban areas is not always straightforward, so it is worth weighing up the pros and cons before booking.

The league-phase meeting takes place at RAMS Park on Tuesday, November 24, with kickoff at 5.45pm GMT (8.45pm local time).

For those considering a hire car, Football Ground Guide looks at the cheapest options, where to collect a vehicle and what to expect on Istanbul’s roads.

Should Aston Villa fans hire a car in Istanbul?

Istanbul is home to around 15.8 million people, and traffic can be particularly heavy during rush hour, typically from around 7.30am to 9.30am and 5pm to 8.30pm, with the E-5 and TEM motorways among the busiest routes. Fans driving to the 8.45pm kickoff could therefore hit some of the remaining evening congestion.

For fans staying in the city centre and heading straight to the match, public transport is likely to be easier. Hiring a car makes more sense for groups sharing the cost, those staying outside the centre or supporters planning trips to Bursa, Lake Sapanca or the Black Sea beaches at Sile.

Cheapest car hire companies in Istanbul

Local rental firms tend to offer some of the lowest prices, with KAYAK recently listing 724Rent from around £13 per day, and Eren Rent and Nokta Rent A Car from £15. These are advertised deals rather than guaranteed match-date prices, while Green Motion and Garenta also operate locally.

The cheapest deal is not always the best value, though. Complaints involving budget operators such as Nokta Rent A Car include allegations of confirmed bookings being cancelled at the counter, leaving customers to find alternative vehicles at higher prices. Supporters should read recent reviews and check cancellation and payment terms before booking.

For a better-rated supplier, Enterprise scores 8.6 out of 10 from Booking.com customers in Turkey and Alamo scores 8.2, while Avec Rent a Car and Circular are also worth comparing, although ratings vary between platforms. Europcar, Hertz, Sixt and Avis also offer options at Istanbul Airport, and comparison sites including KAYAK, Skyscanner, Rentalcars.com and CarJet make it easier to check prices.

How much does car hire cost in Istanbul?

Hiring a car in Istanbul can be relatively inexpensive, particularly in a small manual vehicle. KAYAK currently advertises deals from around £13 per day, with compact models such as the Fiat Tipo among the cheaper options. 

Small cars average around £22 per day across the year, with the overall average roughly £27. CarJet lists small and medium-sized cars from approximately £9 per day, SUVs from £15 and seven-seat people carriers or automatics from around £17, while Skyscanner shows small and economy cars from approximately £13.

Fans travelling in late November should also benefit from being outside the peak summer season. Skyscanner’s current figures put the average daily rate at around £43 in November, compared with approximately £67 in July and £70 in August, although December is cheaper at around £31.

Groups of seven sharing a people carrier from £17 per day would pay approximately £2.43 each before fuel, insurance, tolls and any additional charges.

What you need to hire a car in Istanbul

Most rental companies require the main driver to be at least 21 and to have held a full licence for at least one year, and drivers under 25 may face an additional charge. Supporters should bring their driving licence and passport, while many companies also require a credit card in the main driver’s name, with a security deposit commonly held on it.

UK travel advice states that drivers in Turkey must carry either a 1968 International Driving Permit (IDP) or a notarised Turkish translation of their UK licence. The permit must be obtained before travelling, in person from participating UK PayPoint shops for £5.50. The older 1949 IDP is not accepted.

Manual vehicles are often cheaper than automatics, so anyone requiring an automatic should check availability before booking. A full-to-full fuel policy can also help avoid additional refuelling charges.

Tolls, parking and getting to RAMS Park

Turkey uses an electronic toll system called HGS on its motorways and Bosphorus bridges, so drivers cannot simply rely on paying in cash. Many rental companies fit vehicles with an HGS device or sticker and pass toll charges on after the vehicle is returned, sometimes with an administration fee, so check the system is active when collecting the car.

Parking in central Istanbul can be difficult, so drivers should use secure car parks, including the city-run ISPARK facilities, rather than leaving their vehicle on the street.

RAMS Park is approximately 11km from Taksim Square, but driving there is not necessarily the easiest matchday option. Supporters should check the club’s latest parking arrangements, with the nearby ISPARK Seyrantepe car park among the options.

The simplest option may be to leave the hire car at their accommodation and take the M2 metro to Sanayi Mahallesi before changing to the short branch to Seyrantepe station. Our RAMS Park stadium guide has more information, and supporters should also check the club’s official travel updates before setting off.