What is an APP license plate, which is now subject to fines, and how can you identify it: Here are the distinguishing features
With a decision published in the Official Gazette on February 27, 2026, amendments were made to the Highway Traffic Law. While penalties for non-standard license plates were previously at lower levels, the February 27 decision raised these fines to the maximum limit of 140,000 TL to serve as a deterrent.
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Drivers with European Press Plate (APP) license plates on their vehicles have formed queues in front of the Chambers of Drivers and Automobile Manufacturers to replace their plates with standard ones.
Inspections will be conducted for guidance purposes until April 1. After April 1, monetary fines will begin to be imposed on drivers who do not comply with the rules.
APP PLATES ARE SUBJECT TO FINES
Yesterday, the General Directorate of Security (EGM) issued a statement regarding the issue due to misunderstandings. The statement clarified that APP plates are among the defects that can lead to a 140,000 TL fine.
Furthermore, it was reported that the driver's licenses of those using such plates would be suspended for 30 days and the vehicles would be prohibited from traffic for 30 days. Additionally, it was stated that judicial proceedings could be initiated against these individuals under Article 204 of the Turkish Penal Code, titled "Forgery of Official Documents," which carries a prison sentence of two to five years.
WHY ARE THEY BANNED
In the EGM's statement, the reason for the ban on these plates was explained as follows:
"Vehicle registration plates serve as an official identity that enables the accurate and rapid identification of vehicles for traffic inspections, electronic monitoring systems, city security cameras, and judicial investigations. Non-standard, unauthorized plates weaken the effectiveness of these inspection mechanisms and negatively affect public safety."
HOW TO IDENTIFY AN APP PLATE
Font: Characters on APP plates are thicker, whereas standard plates use a thin font. Additionally, "Beşiktaş print" or "French print" font styles are preferred for APP plates.
QR Code: License plates of vehicles registered after January 1, 2024, contain a QR code. You can determine if a vehicle has an APP plate by running your finger over the QR code. On APP plates, this code is embossed, while standard plates do not have embossing.
Seal: Standard plates feature an official cold seal applied by the authorized institution. Most APP plates do not have this seal or it is not applied in the proper manner.
Hologram: While TR and crescent-star holograms should be present in the middle of the plates, this security element is often missing on APP plates.
Wavy Strip: While original plates have a wavy strip at the bottom, it is often absent on APP plates.
Individuals who are unsure whether their plate is an APP type can have it checked at inspection stations.
HOW TO CHANGE APP PLATES
Some thick-font APP plates may have a Chamber of Drivers seal. This is because, in the past, some printing centers used unofficial thick-font machines instead of the standard thin-font ones. People who have these plates can remove and destroy their APP plates and use their original plates if they have them.
Those who have plates not printed at the Chamber of Drivers must go to the police station in their district to apply for a lost plate. After obtaining the necessary documents from the traffic branch and entering the lost plate application into the system, one must go to a notary to have a new vehicle registration issued and a new plate consisting of different letters and numbers assigned.
Additionally, the notary creates documents for the printing of a plate with new letters and series. With these documents, one goes to plate printing workshops to receive the new plates.
INSURANCE, CASCO, HGS, AND UTTS MUST ALSO BE CHANGED
Because the plate and registration are completely changed and the vehicle now has a plate with new letters and numbers, an endorsement must be issued for traffic insurance, casco (if applicable), and optional financial liability insurance, and new policies must be printed.
For vehicles with a Fast Pass System (HGS) tag used for services such as bridges and highways, the plate change must be reported. Furthermore, since the National Vehicle Identification System (UTTS) is linked to the plate, changes will need to be made in the UTTS systems once the plate is changed.
Since the plate has changed, transactions will also be required for fuel purchases made with vehicle identification systems, which are generally found in company vehicles, and the new plate must be updated in the systems.
Since gate openings in some residential complexes or subscription parking lots are performed via license plate recognition systems, the new plates must be reported to the site or parking lot management.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST
Fees such as registration, plate printing costs, and plate printing documents result in an average bill of nearly 4,000 liras. The plate printing fee is around 850 liras.