Ankara Car Rental Intercity Highway and Toll Fees Guide 2026: Budget Planning and Practical Tips
If you plan to rent a car from Ankara and embark on an intercity journey, highway and bridge tolls can take a significant place in your budget. As Fores Car Rental, we cover in detail the current 2026 toll fees for highways, bridges and tunnels, payment methods and budget planning strategies in this guide to ensure our customers do not encounter surprise expenses. The highway network spreading to popular routes such as İstanbul, İzmir, Antalya, Bodrum, Eskişehir and Kapadokya from Ankara offers both a comfortable and economical travel experience when planned correctly.
Why Is It Important to Know Highway Tolls for Intercity Travel?
The highway network in Turkey is expanding every year, and as of 2026, the total highway length has exceeded 4,000 km. In your Ankara-based car rental experience, highway tolls can account for 8% to 15% of the total travel budget. This ratio can make a significant difference, especially on long-distance routes. Knowing the toll fees in advance is as important as avoiding hidden fees.
Factors to Consider in Budget Estimation
When creating your highway budget, you need to consider not only the main toll points but also tunnels, viaducts and connecting roads. For example, on the Ankara-İstanbul route, not only OGS/HGS tolls but also Çamlıca and Yavuz Sultan Selim bridge crossings affect the total amount. Also, remember that you will pay the same fees again on the return journey; making a round-trip calculation increases your budget realism.
OGS and HGS Systems: Which Is More Advantageous?
Two main payment systems are used for highway and bridge tolls in Turkey: OGS (Automatic Toll System) and HGS (Fast Toll System). OGS provides high-speed passage with a device installed in the vehicle, while HGS offers a more widespread usage with a tag or device. Having detailed information about HGS fees and traffic fines helps you clarify your budget before setting off with a rental car.
2026 Highway Tolls for Popular Routes from Ankara
Below you can find the current toll fees for the most preferred intercity routes based in Ankara. These fees are valid for 2026 and are one-way amounts including bridge and tunnel crossings. The same fees apply for the return journey in both directions.
Ankara – İstanbul Highway Tolls
The highway toll between Ankara and İstanbul varies depending on the route. When using the main highway (Anadolu Otoyolu/TEM), the one-way toll is approximately 145 TL. This route does not include the Çamlıca Tunnel and bridge crossings; the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge crossing is approximately 54 TL, and the 15 Temmuz Şehitler Bridge is approximately 32 TL should be added. For those traveling to İstanbul by picking up a car from Esenboğa Airport, the total highway budget for a round trip should be planned between approximately 400-460 TL.
Ankara – İzmir Coastal Road Tolls
Access from Ankara to İzmir via highway is provided by the Anadolu Otoyolu connected to Manisa. The one-way highway toll is approximately 110 TL. If the coastal road is preferred, a more economical route is followed but the travel time extends. The total toll amount, including the körmez and Aliaga tunnels in İzmir, varies between approximately 250-280 TL for a round trip.
Ankara – Antalya Mediterranean Route Tolls
For those traveling by renting a car from Ankara to Antalya, the highway tolls are approximately 85 TL one way. The tunnels and viaducts on the Konya-Antalya highway are included in this amount. Especially during the summer season, due to heavy vehicle flow to Antalya, loading the HGS tag with sufficient balance eliminates the risk of penalty proceedings.
Ankara – Bodrum and Aegean Coasts
Access from Ankara to Bodrum by rental car is via the Muğla highway connection. The one-way toll is approximately 125 TL, and the total round-trip budget should be planned between approximately 280-300 TL. You can find the details of this route and rest stops in our Bodrum travel guide.
Ankara – Eskişehir Short Distance Tolls
The highway toll between Ankara and Eskişehir is one of the most economical routes. One way is approximately 28 TL, and the round trip total is around 56 TL. This short distance is a cost item that even day-trippers need to take into account.
Bridge Tolls and Details
The İstanbul Bosphorus bridges are among the highest toll points in Turkey. It is critical for car rental customers departing from Ankara and crossing to İstanbul to include these fees in their budget.
Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge (3rd Bosphorus Bridge)
As of 2026, the car toll is approximately 54 TL. This bridge serves as part of the TEM highway between the Anatolian and European sides. It is frequently used especially for transit crossings between Ankara and İstanbul.
15 Temmuz Şehitler Bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge
Both Bosphorus bridges have a toll of approximately 32 TL. These bridges, preferred according to inner-city traffic conditions, should be calculated in addition to the highway toll. HGS or OGS is mandatory for bridge crossings; cash toll gates have been closed.
Osmangazi Bridge (İzmit Gulf Crossing)
On the Ankara-İstanbul route, the Osmangazi Bridge crossing the İzmit Gulf has a car toll of approximately 75 TL. Using this bridge shortens the travel time between Ankara and İstanbul by about 30 minutes but has a significant impact on the budget. Although the alternative coastal road is free, the bridge crossing can save time, especially in summer months due to traffic density.
Tunnel and Viaduct Tolls
Turkey's highway network is equipped with numerous tunnels and viaducts due to geographical necessity. The tolls for these structures are generally included in the highway toll, but some special tunnels may be charged separately.
Çamlıca Tunnel and Çamlıca Viaduct
The Çamlıca Tunnel on the Anatolian side of İstanbul is located on the TEM highway and its toll is included in the highway fee. Customers coming from Ankara to İstanbul by rental car do not pay an additional fee when passing through this tunnel.
Antalya Tunnel and Mediterranean Region Crossings
The tunnels on the Konya-Antalya highway are also included in the highway toll. However, some old tunnels on village roads in the region are free, and navigation apps may prefer these routes.
HGS/OGS Setup in Rental Cars and Practical Tips
In our daily car rental service, our vehicles are delivered with an HGS tag. This way, you can travel smoothly without stopping at highway and bridge tolls. However, there are points to consider regarding HGS balance and account management.
HGS Balance Management in Rental Cars
When the vehicle is picked up, the HGS tag is already affixed to the windshield. Tolls are automatically deducted from the HGS account linked to the vehicle's license plate. As Fores Car Rental, we invoice all HGS tolls incurred during the rental period collectively at the end of the rental. This approach ensures our customers have a comfortable travel experience without needing to make separate payments at each toll point.
Price Difference Between OGS and HGS
There have been periods when a 20% discount was applied to OGS tolls, but as of 2026, the tolls are equal in both systems. The advantage of OGS is that it offers high-speed passage and provides faster flow in dedicated lanes. HGS, on the other hand, can be easily used in all vehicles with more widespread equipment and tag options.
Toll Violation and Penalty Risk
In case of passage with vehicles that do not have an HGS tag or have insufficient balance, a 5-fold penalty toll is applied. As we also stated in our traffic insurance guide, such penalties can affect the damage-free return conditions defined in the rental agreement. Since HGS tags are provided as standard in Fores Car Rental vehicles, this risk is eliminated.
Highway Density in Summer Season and Budget Impacts
In the summer period of 2026, especially between June and August, there is an increase in density on highways from Ankara to the coast. The budget and planning factors to consider during this period are summarized below.
Additional Fees During Holidays and Vacation Periods
During official holidays and religious festivals, some highway tolls may be made free. Following the announcements of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure allows you to benefit from these free passage periods. Especially on days when highways are free during Ramazan Bayramı and Kurban Bayramı, significant savings can be made in your budget.
Alternative Route Strategy During Peak Hours
On Friday evenings and Sunday mornings of the summer season, peak density is experienced on the Ankara-İstanbul and Ankara-Antalya highways. During these hours, the highway crossing time can be 2-3 times the normal. Using alternative state roads may save on tolls but can increase fuel consumption and time cost. In our fuel policy guide, we explain in detail how to strike this balance.
5 Ways to Save on Highway Tolls
1. Follow Free Passage Days
Free highway days announced during religious festivals and official holidays provide serious savings in your long-distance travel budget. By planning these days in advance, you can align your holiday route with the free passage period.
2. Consider Alternative State Roads
State roads such as D-100 and D-650 offer alternative routes without paying highway tolls. However, the road quality, speed limits and safety standards of these roads may not be at highway level. For long-distance journeys, make your decision by considering the time-fuel-toll balance.
3. Prefer Night Travel
Since highway traffic decreases at night, average speed increases and travel time shortens. Although we have shared detailed safety measures in our night driving guide, night travel allows you to reach your destination in a shorter time for the same toll.
4. Plan Weekday Travel
Weekday highway usage is both less dense and smoother compared to weekends. Especially journeys between Monday and Thursday shorten the average travel time and increase fuel efficiency.
5. Optimize Your Route
Evaluate the alternative route options offered by navigation apps. Sometimes, instead of making a short entry and exit on the highway, a completely highway-free route can be more economical for certain distances. You can find practical tips on this subject in our navigation and route planning guide.
Highway Budget Planning for Long-Term Rentals
For our customers who do long-term car rental, monthly highway budget calculation is especially important. A corporate customer making regular Ankara-İstanbul trips should plan a monthly average highway toll budget of 2,000-2,500 TL. This amount covers only highway and bridge tolls; fuel, parking and other transportation costs are excluded.
Highway Costs in Corporate Fleet Rentals
In fleet rental contracts, highway tolls are generally covered by the company's own HGS account. Our corporate customers, for whom detailed cost analysis is performed in our fleet rental guide, can track monthly HGS expenditures from the fleet management panel. In this way, transportation costs are reported transparently on a departmental basis.
Monthly Budget Estimation Example
For a professional residing in Ankara and traveling to İstanbul twice a week, the monthly highway budget can be estimated as follows: One-way highway 145 TL + bridge toll 54 TL = 199 TL, round trip 398 TL, 2 trips per week = 796 TL, 4 weeks per month = 3,184 TL. This amount can be reduced by 10-15% with corporate tax advantages and OGS discounts.
Recent Changes in 2026 Highway Tolls
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure increased highway and bridge tolls at the beginning of 2026 at the annual inflation rate. This increase means an average 25% rise compared to the previous year. The new fees have been automatically reflected in the HGS and OGS systems, and current toll amounts can be followed on the websites of the General Directorate of Highways and the Traffic Directorate.
Updates in Automatic Toll Systems
As of 2026, new generation tags have been introduced in the HGS system. These tags offer faster reading performance compared to old generation tags and increase passage speed. These new generation tags are used as standard in Fores Car Rental vehicles.
Digital Payment and Mobile App Integration
HGS balance inquiry and loading transactions can now be done not only through banks and PTT branches but also via mobile banking applications and the official HGS application. Detailed information on this subject is available in our digital reservation and mobile app guide.
Collective Budget Table for Routes Departing from Ankara
Below, you can find the estimated one-way and round-trip highway toll budgets for the most preferred destinations from Ankara. These amounts are the current 2026 fees and cover only highway/bridge/tunnel tolls; fuel and other costs are not included.
Ankara – İstanbul (TEM/O-4)
One-way highway toll: 145 TL. Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge: 54 TL. Total one-way: 199 TL. Estimated round trip: 398 TL. Including Osmangazi Bridge: one-way 274 TL, round trip 548 TL. This route is the most frequently preferred by those traveling from Ankara to İstanbul.
Ankara – Antalya (O-21)
One-way highway toll: 85 TL. Estimated round trip: 170 TL. Antalya tunnel crossings are included. Since this route is especially busy in the summer season, HGS balance check must be done.
Ankara – İzmir (O-31 connected)
One-way highway toll: 110 TL. Estimated round trip: 220 TL. Manisa tunnels are included. The coastal road alternative is more economical but takes longer.
Ankara – Eskişehir (O-26)
One-way highway toll: 28 TL. Estimated round trip: 56 TL. Although it is a short distance, it makes a significant contribution to the monthly budget for those traveling more than once a week.
Ankara – Kapadokya (Nevşehir connected)
One-way highway toll: 42 TL. Estimated round trip: 84 TL. Detailed information about the natural beauties and rest stops of this route can be found in our Kapadokya travel guide.
Conclusion: Comfortable and Economical Travel with Conscious Planning
Everyone who rents a car from Ankara and embarks on an intercity journey needs to know the highway and bridge tolls in advance and include them in their budget. As Fores Car Rental, we provide standard HGS tags in all our vehicles, ensuring our customers travel without stopping at toll points. Being prepared for heavy traffic in the 2026 summer season, evaluating alternative routes and following free passage days are the keys to experiencing both a comfortable and economical journey. With our extensive vehicle fleet based in Ankara, we offer rental options suitable for every need and are with you at every moment of your journey with our 24/7 customer support line.
