One-Way Car Rental Between Cities in Türkiye: We Measured the Drop-Off Fees
With a one-way car rental, you pick the car up in one city and drop it off in another; companies charge an extra drop-off fee for this. On 13 October 2026 we measured this fee on 7 routes. The result: on the same route, the fee varies 2 to 4 times depending on the company. For example, the drop-off difference from Istanbul Airport to Izmir is 5.000 TL with the cheapest company and 18.750 TL at most companies. Not every company offers one-way rentals either: the number of companies offering one-way is less than half the number of companies that let you return the car to the same location. That is why comparing offers matters even more for one-way rentals than for regular ones.
Measured: 13 October 2026 · pickup 20 October, return 23 October (3 days) · Source: RentaCarSAW search results · amounts rounded to the nearest 50 TL and vary by date
One-way drop-off fees on 7 routes
We calculated the drop-off fee as follows: for the same car from the same company, the difference between what you pay when you return it to the pickup location and what you pay when you drop it off in another city.
| Route | Lowest difference | At most companies | Companies offering one-way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul Airport → Izmir | 5.000 TL | 18.750 TL | 5 / 9 |
| Sabiha Gökçen → Izmir | 5.000 TL | 16.550 TL | 8 / 18 |
| Istanbul Airport → Antalya | 6.500 TL | 16.750 TL | 5 / 9 |
| Sabiha Gökçen → Ankara | 8.300 TL | 10.000 TL | 5 / 18 |
| Ankara Esenboğa → Istanbul Airport | 5.500 TL | 9.500 TL | 5 / 10 |
| Izmir → Antalya | 8.300 TL | 9.500 TL | 3 / 11 |
| Antalya → Dalaman | 3.850 TL | 7.500 TL | 4 / 14 |
13 October 2026 · 20–23 October, 3-day rental · 439 one-way offers. "Lowest difference" = the median difference of the cheapest company; "At most companies" = the median of all offers. "Companies offering one-way" = companies with a one-way offer / companies that let you pick up and return the car at the same location. Prices for returning to the pickup location were measured on 13 October for the same dates.
Total price: 3-day one-way rental
The cheapest total price for a 3-day one-way rental, drop-off fee included:
| Route | Cheapest total (3 days) | Most common km allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Sabiha Gökçen → Izmir | 8.950 TL | 1,200 km |
| Antalya → Dalaman | 10.800 TL | 1,200 km |
| Ankara Esenboğa → Istanbul Airport | 11.150 TL | 1,200 km |
| Istanbul Airport → Izmir | 12.750 TL | 1,200 km |
| Sabiha Gökçen → Ankara | 13.300 TL | 1,200 km |
| Izmir → Antalya | 13.350 TL | 1,500 km |
| Istanbul Airport → Antalya | 14.250 TL | 1,200 km |
When does a one-way rental make sense?
- A single trip between cities: if you are driving from Istanbul to Izmir or Antalya and flying back, you do not pay for the drive back, the fuel, or the bridge and motorway tolls.
- Flight + car plans: routes where you land at one airport and finish your trip at another, for example the coastal road from Antalya to Dalaman.
- Moving and business travel: dropping the car off in your destination city saves time.
If you are making a round trip, returning the car to where you picked it up is almost always cheaper.
5 checks for a one-way rental
- Is the drop-off location on the list? In the search form, tick "I want to leave it in a different place" and enter the drop-off city. The results will then list only companies that offer one-way rentals.
- Compare the total price. The drop-off fee is shown included in the price; you do not need to work it out yourself, but do look at the difference in total price between companies.
- Check the km allowance against your route. Istanbul–Izmir is about 480 km by road, and Istanbul–Antalya about 700 km. In the one-way offers we measured, the most common allowance for 3 days was 1,200 km. More detail: mileage limit guide.
- Factor in bridge and motorway tolls. Tolls incurred in a rental car are charged to you afterwards. See the HGS toll tag guide for rental cars.
- Confirm the drop-off time. Check the opening hours of your drop-off location and the return steps in the booking details.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a one-way car rental cost?
In our 13 October 2026 measurement, the drop-off difference on 7 routes ranged from 3.850 TL to 18.750 TL. Even on the same route it varied 2–4 times by company; for example, on Istanbul Airport → Izmir the lowest difference was 5.000 TL, and 18.750 TL at most companies.
Does every company offer one-way rentals?
No. On the routes we measured, the number of companies offering one-way was less than half the number of companies that let you return the car to the same location. If you enter a drop-off city when you search, only companies that offer one-way rentals are listed.
Is the one-way fee included in the price?
On our platform, the total price shown for one-way offers includes the drop-off difference. Check the rental conditions in the car details as well.
How much is a one-way car rental from Istanbul to Izmir?
On 13 October 2026, for 20–23 October, the cheapest total for a 3-day one-way rental was 8.950 TL from Sabiha Gökçen and 12.750 TL from Istanbul Airport.
Is there a mileage limit on one-way rentals?
Yes. In the one-way offers we measured, the most common km allowance for a 3-day rental was 1,200 km; on the Izmir → Antalya route it was 1,500 km.
When do I pay for a one-way rental?
For bookings made through RentaCarSAW, no prepayment is taken at booking; you pay when you pick up the car. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before your pickup time.
