You have bought the motorcycle and the key is in your hand. The excitement is huge, but before you hit the road there are a few compulsory things to sort out and a few sensible steps to take in the first weeks. If you mix up the order, you can get fined and put your warranty at risk. In this guide we have collected, in order and according to the 2026 rules, what to do for a new or used motorcycle.
\n\nCompulsory traffic insurance (compulsory third-party liability insurance) is a legal requirement and must be in force before you take the motorcycle on the road. If you plan to collect the motorcycle from the dealer or seller on delivery day and ride it home, have the policy ready beforehand. A vehicle without insurance is not accepted for inspection either.
\nUnder the Highway Traffic Act, vehicles to be registered for the first time must be registered within three months of the purchase date. Registration procedures are carried out today at notaries; the plate is assigned, the plate is made and the registration certificate (ruhsat) is issued. In the 2026 tariff, the registration certificate and document fee is 1,511 TL; the plate fee is paid separately. For a new motorcycle, many dealers guide you through these procedures, so ask when you buy.
\nFor a used bike, the sale and registration are done at the notary in the same transaction. What you need: the seller's registration certificate and ID, the buyer's ID and the motorcycle's valid traffic insurance. In 2026 the transfer fee is 0.2 per cent of the sale price, at least 1,000 TL. All the steps are in the motorcycle sale at a notary guide.
\nAlways carry the registration certificate with you: the fine for not keeping the vehicle registration certificate in the vehicle is 92 TL, and the vehicle is barred from traffic until the details are verified. Fit your plate at the correct size under the regulations and in the right place; the fine for a non-compliant plate is 4,000 TL.
\n\nThe annual motor vehicle tax (MTV) is set by engine capacity and the age of the motorcycle and is paid in two instalments a year, in January and July. In 2026, for example, the annual MTV for a motorcycle of 100–250 cc that is 1–3 years old is 1,069 TL, and for 251–650 cc it is 2,214 TL. The full table is in the MTV guide. To see insurance, MTV, maintenance and tyre costs together, use the cost calculator.
\n\nOn a new motorcycle the first kilometres are the period when the engine's parts bed in against one another. The basic rules of this period are not to ride at a constant rpm for long, not to stress the engine with sudden full throttle, and to observe the rev limits in the manual. We explained how to do it in the running-in guide.
\nThis period is also your time to get used to the motorcycle. In an empty car park, practise pulling away, stopping, turning at low speed and hard braking. If you are just starting out, begin with the first ride guide.
\n\nThe mileage of the first service varies by model and is given in the maintenance schedule of the owner's manual. For example, the Turkish owner's manual for Honda's CB125F (SC74 type) calls for the engine oil to be changed at the first 1,000 km, and at the same stage for the valve clearance, idle speed, clutch and brake system, bolts and fittings and the steering head bearings to be checked. If you are under warranty, have the services done on time at an authorised service centre and keep the invoices. On the day of sale, these invoices increase the value of the motorcycle.
\nWe explained the maintenance schedule and its items in the maintenance guide, and the warranty conditions in the authorised service and warranty guide.
\n\nOn a motorcycle where the previous owner cannot show the maintenance with documents, the safest way is for you to start the schedule. In the first week, have these done or checked:
\nWhat to look at before buying is in the used checklist, and what can be read from the records is in the maintenance history guide.
\n\nNewly registered motorcycles have their first inspection at the end of the third year, and subsequent ones every two years. In 2026 the motorcycle inspection fee is 1,674 TL. If you bought used, check the next inspection date on the registration certificate or through TÜVTÜRK; for each month of delay, a 5 per cent late charge is added to the fee. Details are in the inspection guide.
\n\nA new motorcycle is conspicuous, especially in the first weeks. A disc lock or chain lock, covered parking and, if necessary, a GPS tracker should be among the first things to buy. Recommendations are in the theft guide; products are on the locks and GPS trackers pages.
\n\nInsurance first, then registration and plate; for a new motorcycle you have three months for registration. Check your licence class and the compulsory gear, follow the running-in during the first kilometres and have the first service done at the mileage in the manual. The inspection comes at the end of the third year for a new bike; the MTV is due every year in January and July. If you follow this order, you will stay clear of both fines and warranty problems.
\n\nUnder the law, the first registration must be done within three months of the purchase date. Registration procedures are done at the notary, and the plate is issued with this procedure.
\nThere is no waiting period: compulsory traffic insurance must be in force before the motorcycle goes on the road. Have the policy ready before you collect it.
\nA newly registered motorcycle's first inspection is at the end of the third year, and later ones every two years. The 2026 fee is 1,674 TL.
\nThis depends on the brand's and dealer's warranty terms; which of labour, parts and oil are chargeable varies from brand to brand. When buying, check what is written in the contract and warranty document, and ask the dealer for written information.
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