2026 was a turning point for traffic fines. Law No. 7574, published in the Official Gazette on 27 February 2026, made comprehensive changes to the Highway Traffic Law, and the amounts of many fines were written directly into the text of the law. The topics that matter most to motorcycle riders are helmets, speed, plates, exhausts and stunt riding. In this guide we have collected the fines valid as of 2026 in tables. Because old amounts are still circulating on some sites, we recommend reading the figures according to this law.
Helmet and protective equipment
| Offence | Fine |
|---|---|
| Not wearing a helmet (protective headgear), 1st offence | 2,500 TL |
| 2nd offence within 1 year | 5,000 TL |
| 3rd and subsequent offences within 1 year | 10,000 TL |
A helmet is mandatory for the rider; it is generally accepted that the passenger must wear one too. A regulation change has also introduced requirements for protective goggles if the helmet has no visor, protective gloves for rider and passenger, and reflective clothing at night. Fines aside, a helmet is your only serious protection against head trauma. For choosing one, see the helmet buying guide and the full-face helmets, gloves and reflective vests categories.
Speeding fines
First, the limits: for a two-wheeled motorcycle (L3) they are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 on two-way intercity roads, 90 on divided roads and 100 on motorways. The fact that the motorway limit for a car is 120 km/h is the point motorcyclists most often get wrong. If there is a sign, the limit on the sign applies. For mopeds (50 cc) the limits are 30/45/45 km/h and they are not allowed on motorways.
| Excess in built-up area (km/h) | Excess outside built-up area (km/h) | Fine | Additional penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6–10 | 11–15 | 2,000 TL | — |
| 11–15 | 16–20 | 4,000 TL | — |
| 16–20 | 21–25 | 6,000 TL | — |
| 21–25 | 26–30 | 8,000 TL | — |
| 26–35 | 31–40 | 12,000 TL | — |
| 36–45 | 41–50 | 15,000 TL | — |
| 46–55 | 51–60 | 20,000 TL | Licence withdrawn for 30 days |
| 56–65 | 61–70 | 25,000 TL | Licence withdrawn for 60 days |
| 66 and over | 71 and over | 30,000 TL | Licence withdrawn for 90 days |
Example: if you are caught doing 125 km/h on a motorway on a motorcycle, the excess is 25 km/h and the fine is 6,000 TL according to the outside-built-up-area table. The same speed is only 5 km/h over the limit for a car. So going with the flow of car traffic can mean committing a speeding offence on a motorcycle without realising it. On bikes with cruise control, setting the limit to 100 km/h is a good habit.
Plate fines
| Offence | Fine | Additional penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Plate that breaches the regulation or is incomplete | 4,000 TL | Impounded until corrected |
| Deliberately making the plate illegible | 140,000 TL; 280,000 TL for a repeat | 30 days' impoundment (60 for a repeat) |
| Using a registered vehicle without a plate | 46,000 TL; 140,000 TL for a repeat within 1 year | Licence withdrawn for 30 days, vehicle impounded for 30 days (60 for a repeat) |
| Fake plate or a plate belonging to another vehicle | 140,000 TL; 280,000 TL for a repeat | Also a criminal offence under Turkish Penal Code Art. 204 |
Practices common among motorcyclists, such as tilting, shortening or covering the plate, can now have very heavy consequences. If the plate does not meet the standard, it also causes problems at inspection; details are in the inspection guide.
Exhaust and technical modifications
| Offence | Fine | Additional penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Technical modification that breaches the regulations | 5,000 TL for the operator | Impounded until brought into compliance |
| If this modification causes noise (exaggerated exhaust) | A further 16,000 TL for the rider | 30 days' impoundment |
So if you are caught with a non-homologated, loud exhaust, you may face a total fine of 21,000 TL, made up of 5,000 TL for the registered owner and 16,000 TL for the rider, plus 30 days' impoundment. If you plan to change the exhaust, ask the seller and the workshop about approved products and, if necessary, having it entered on the registration document.
Stunt riding
Wheelies and similar stunt manoeuvres were explicitly banned by Law No. 7574. The fine is 46,000 TL; in addition, the rider's licence is withdrawn for 60 days and the vehicle is impounded for 60 days. If it happens a second time within 5 years, the driving licence is cancelled.
Licence fines
| Offence | Fine |
|---|---|
| Driving without a licence | 40,000 TL |
| Letting an unlicensed person drive your vehicle (vehicle owner) | A further 40,000 TL |
| Driving while the licence is withdrawn or cancelled | 200,000 TL |
For cases where the licence class is not sufficient (for example riding a 125 cc on a B licence without training, or riding an A-class bike on an A2), we could not verify a separate amount; such a case can count as unlicensed riding. The conditions for riding a 125 cc on a B licence are on the licence page.
Red lights and lane rules
For running a red light, the fine rises with the number of offences: 5,000, 10,000, 15,000, 20,000, 30,000 and 80,000 TL. On the sixth offence the driving licence is cancelled. For breaches of lane and direction rules (Art. 46), there are fines between 5,000 TL and 90,000 TL depending on the sub-paragraph.
The law contains no explicit permission or ban on filtering between lanes. However, sudden and dangerous lane changes can be penalised under Article 46. Motorcycles are exempt from the rule of keeping to the right-hand lane on multi-lane roads. In stationary traffic, with a small speed difference and with foresight is the safest approach.
Inspection and insurance
We could not verify the 2026 amounts for driving without an inspection or without insurance following Law No. 7574; one source dated March 2026 gives the fine for a vehicle without inspection as 2,719 TL. In both cases the vehicle can be impounded. For insurance options, see the traffic insurance prices guide.
Passenger rules
Law No. 7574 also stressed that more passengers than the number stated on the registration document cannot be carried. Taking a passenger on a bike registered for one person, or putting two passengers on a bike registered for two people, falls under this. Remember that the passenger must also wear a helmet and gloves; as for a minimum age for passengers, we could not find a reliable source.
Short checklist to avoid fines
- Helmet and gloves on every ride, and goggles if there is no visor; reflective clothing at night.
- Keep your licence, registration document and valid traffic insurance with you or accessible digitally.
- Add the inspection date to your calendar; do not leave it to the last day.
- Keep the plate standard, flat and legible; make sure the plate light works.
- Keep the exhaust original or approved.
- Remember that the motorcycle limit is 100 km/h on motorways and 50 km/h in town.
Conclusion
In 2026 motorcycle fines rose sharply, and the heaviest penalties are for plates, stunt riding and licences. Wearing a helmet, remembering that the motorway limit is 100 km/h, keeping the plate standard and staying away from unapproved exhausts protect you from almost all of these fines. To see your annual compulsory costs, you can use the cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the fine for riding without a helmet?
In 2026 the first offence is 2,500 TL. A second offence within a year is 5,000 TL, and a third and later ones 10,000 TL.
What is the motorway speed limit for motorcycles?
For a two-wheeled motorcycle it is 100 km/h on motorways and 90 km/h on divided roads. If there is a sign, the limit on the sign applies.
How much is the exaggerated exhaust fine?
For a technical modification that breaches the regulations, 5,000 TL for the operator; if the modification causes noise, a further 16,000 TL fine for the rider and 30 days' impoundment.
Is there a fine for tilting the plate?
For a plate that breaches the regulation, there is a 4,000 TL fine and impoundment until it is corrected. Deliberately making the plate illegible is 140,000 TL.