One-Way Car Rental Between Cities in Turkey

When travelling in a country as vast as Turkey, being able to return your car in a different city from the one where you picked it up is a great freedom. Intercity car rental, or by its international name one-way rental, is a rental model that lets you pick up the car at one point and return it at a completely different location. In scenarios such as a business trip from Izmir to Istanbul, a holiday drive from Ankara to Antalya, or picking up at Sabiha Gökçen and dropping off in Cappadocia, one-way rental removes the need to return and provides flexibility in both time and planning.

On the wide routes stretching from west to east and from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, a rental car offers a far more independent travel experience than bus or plane alternatives. What's more, you don't have to struggle with your suitcases, child seat or camping gear.

Extra Fee in One-Way Rental (Drop-Off Fee)

The most important difference between one-way and standard rental is the extra charge called the drop-off fee. This fee usually varies between 200 TL and 1,500 TL and is determined by distance, the demand balance between cities and fleet distribution.

So why is this fee charged? Rental companies want their vehicles distributed in a balanced way across certain locations. When you pick up the car in Izmir and leave it in Istanbul, the company must bring that vehicle back to Izmir or another active point. This process is called fleet rebalancing and creates operational cost. The drop-off fee is the part of this cost passed on to the customer.

• Short distance (200–400 km): 200–500 TL
• Medium distance (400–800 km): 500–900 TL
• Long distance (800+ km): 900–1,500 TL

During some promotional periods, companies may reduce the drop-off fee to zero on in-demand routes. For example, if the return traffic from Antalya to Istanbul is high at the end of summer, companies may offer free return on this route.

Turkey's Most Popular One-Way Routes

• Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) → Antalya: ~720 km, holiday route, busy in summer
• Istanbul → Izmir: ~480 km, the most popular line for business and holiday
• Ankara → Cappadocia (Nevşehir): ~290 km, short touristic route
• Izmir → Bodrum: ~250 km, high demand in summer
• Adana → Mersin: ~70 km, short and affordable
• Istanbul → Trabzon: ~1,050 km, ideal for a Black Sea tour
• Ankara → Antalya: ~485 km, one-way use on holiday return

Return From the Airport to the City Centre

One of the most practical uses of one-way rental is to pick up the car at the airport and return it in the city centre. For example, you can return the car picked up at Sabiha Gökçen Airport at the branch in Kadıköy or Beşiktaş. For such in-city one-way returns, the drop-off fee is usually low (100–300 TL) or not charged at all.

Advantages of Intercity Travel by Rental Car

• Cost: While flight tickets for a family of four can reach 6,000–10,000 TL, the total of rental + fuel + drop-off stays in the 4,000–6,000 TL range.
• Flexibility: No time restriction; you choose your rest stop yourself.
• Luggage freedom: No kg limit as on a plane.
• Comfort: Ideal for travelling with children and elderly family members.

One-Way Booking on RentaCarSAW

Making a one-way booking via RentaCarSAW.com is extremely easy. After ticking the "Return at a different location" option on the booking screen, you can select the pick-up and return cities separately. The system lists all companies operating on that route along with their drop-off fees.

For your intercity rental planning, reach us on +90 850 304 94 30 or via WhatsApp on +90 544 581 94 30.