Motorcycles Outnumber Cars in 7 Turkish Provinces

Motorcycles Outnumber Cars in Seven Turkish Provinces

According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), by August 2026, the number of registered motorcycles had exceeded the number of passenger cars in seven provinces across Turkey.

Rising fuel prices and traffic congestion in major cities are encouraging more residents to choose economical two-wheeled vehicles. This is contributing to a rapid change in transportation habits and the structure of the country's vehicle fleet.

7.6 million motorcycles registered in Turkey

Turkey currently has around 7.6 million motorcycles and approximately 18 million passenger cars.

Istanbul has the highest number of registered motorcycles, with more than 971,000. It is followed by the southern province of Antalya, with approximately 563,000 motorcycles, and the western province of Izmir, with almost 550,000.

The lowest number of motorcycles was recorded in the northeastern province of Ardahan, with 1,455. It was followed by Tunceli with 2,113 motorcycles, Hakkari with 2,348 and Bingol with 2,602.

Where are there more motorcycles than cars?

Motorcycles outnumbered passenger cars in the western provinces of Manisa, Mugla and Aydin, the southeastern provinces of Kilis, Sanliurfa and Sirnak, and the eastern province of Igdir.

• Kilis: 42,081 motorcycles compared with 14,507 cars. The difference was 27,574 vehicles.
• Manisa: 351,713 motorcycles compared with 285,696 cars. The difference was 66,017 vehicles.
• Mugla: 325,559 motorcycles compared with 294,321 cars. The difference was 31,238 vehicles.
• Aydin: 266,141 motorcycles compared with 248,830 cars. The difference was 17,311 vehicles.
• Sanliurfa: 127,205 motorcycles compared with 120,768 cars. The difference was 6,437 vehicles.
• Igdir: 14,694 motorcycles compared with 8,569 cars. The difference was 6,125 vehicles.
• Sirnak: 9,665 motorcycles compared with 9,530 cars. The difference was 135 vehicles.

Fuel prices and traffic changing transport habits

The figures show how transportation preferences vary significantly between Turkish provinces. In areas where motorcycles are more common than cars, lower fuel consumption and greater mobility in congested urban areas may make two-wheeled transport an increasingly attractive option.

The trend is particularly noticeable in provinces such as Kilis, where the number of registered motorcycles is almost three times higher than the number of passenger cars.

In Alanya and other popular Turkish cities, motorcycles and scooters are also a common part of everyday traffic, particularly during the warmer months.

Source: Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), data reported on September 21, 2026.

Image generated using artificial intelligence.