Amendments to Türkiye’s Road Traffic Regulation and AİTM rules introduced equipment-installation requirements for vehicles used in commercial passenger transport from 1 July 2025.
The affected vehicle groups included:
- School transport vehicles (from 18 February 2025)
- Staff transport services, route-based shared taxis and similar vehicles
- Intercity buses
- Shared taxis
- Taxis
- Other vehicles used for commercial passenger transport
From 1 July 2025, the affected vehicles became subject to requirements for image recording, vehicle tracking, camera systems and an emergency button.
AİTM Amendment of 2 July 2025: Updated Information
Following the AİTM amendment published in the Official Gazette on 2 July 2025, companies seeking an equipment conformity report could be authorised subject to specified undertakings.
Companies holding a series-modification certificate could also receive temporary authorisation to install the equipment.
According to correspondence with TÜVTÜRK at the time, vehicles without the equipment were to be recorded temporarily as having a minor defect; no end date had been specified.
1 July 2025: New Equipment, Installation and Certification Requirements for School and Staff Transport
Significant regulatory changes took effect in Türkiye on 1 July 2025 for M1, M2 and M3 vehicles used in passenger transport. School and staff transport vehicles and other commercial passenger vehicles became subject to stricter equipment-installation and documentation requirements. This article brings together the applicable process, official notices and practical questions.
References: Mevzuat.gov.tr and TSE.org.tr
Transitional Articles 12 and 13 of the Road Traffic Regulation
Regulation on the Manufacture, Modification and Installation of Vehicles (AİTM)
TSE Directive on Series Installation Certification and Related Documents
Mandatory In-Vehicle Equipment and Systems
The rules required specified equipment in the following vehicle groups.
Mandatory Equipment
- Image Recording Device and Camera System:
Required for M2 and M3 buses and minibuses, municipally owned or authorised public transport vehicles, taxis and shared taxis. - Emergency Button and Vehicle Tracking System:
Both vehicle tracking and an emergency button were required for taxis and shared taxis. - Location Data Transmission:
Required for all vehicles within scope. - Integration with the 112 Emergency Call Centre:
Pressing the emergency button must create an incident record, enable access to the in-vehicle cameras and support camera access at the prescribed intervals.
Note: In practical terms, the functional requirements indicated that taxis would need an emergency button and all vehicles within scope would need vehicle tracking.
Implementation and Transition Timetable
The official notices set out the following implementation timetable:
- School Transport Vehicles:
All vehicles converted into school transport vehicles after 18 February 2025 were subject to the new requirements.
Vehicles manufactured between 1 January 2018 and 1 March 2025 that already had a camera and recording device were exempt from installing the new equipment. Vehicles manufactured during the same period without those devices were required to install the new systems. - Other Public Transport Vehicles in Categories M1, M2 and M3:
Vehicles first registered after 1 July 2025 and treated as modified vehicles under AİTM had to present an installation conformity report confirming that the new equipment had been fitted when attending the modification inspection.
Already registered vehicles had to be presented with compliant equipment at their first inspection after 1 July 2025. - Commercial Passenger Cars:
For M1 vehicles, including staff transport vehicles, installation could be completed before or after the modification procedure.
Examples:
- An N2-to-M2 conversion completed after 1 July 2025 required the new equipment.
- Existing vehicles had to install the new equipment by their first applicable inspection.
- Taxis and shared taxis had to install the relevant equipment by their first applicable inspection.
- School transport vehicles converted after 18 February 2025 had to be equipped with these systems.
Installation and Certification: Authorisation, Locations and Process
Companies Holding a Series Installation Certificate:
Companies holding an AİTM Series Installation Certificate were required to operate through at least ten installation addresses across Türkiye’s seven geographical regions. Bodybuilders acting as installation points needed a notarised agreement and at least one trained member of staff.
Key Documents:
- Equipment Suitability-for-Installation Report:
Issued after TSE and TÜBİTAK-BİLGEM testing confirms that the equipment is suitable for installation. - Series Installation Certificate:
Obtained by the installation company for equipment that already held a suitability-for-installation report. - Installation Conformity Report:
Issued after installation for each vehicle and presented at the vehicle modification inspection.
Responsibilities:
- The installer and certificate holder were responsible for compliant installation and integration with the 112 Emergency Call Centre.
- TSE assessed applications and set deadlines for correcting nonconformities. An application could be cancelled if the deficiencies were not resolved.
Was a postponement expected?
At the time of the 5 June 2025 update, no postponement had been announced. A delay at the end of June was considered possible but unlikely. This paragraph records the position at that date; later developments are reflected in the updated sections above.
Were existing vehicles exempt?
Only school transport vehicles manufactured between 1 January 2018 and 1 March 2025 that already had a camera and recording device qualified for the stated exemption from the new equipment.
Who was authorised to perform the installation?
Installation could be carried out only by companies holding a Series Installation Certificate or by authorised companies at their registered installation addresses. Unauthorised companies could not perform the work.
What were the requirements for an installation address?
The detailed conditions were set out in the directive. In summary, an applicant for the certificate had to identify at least ten installation addresses across all seven geographical regions. Each location needed at least one trained employee and had to satisfy the other production and installation-site requirements.
What happens if the equipment fails?
If a system fault occurred, the responsible companies had to remedy it without charge, subject to the maximum equipment and installation fees set by TSE.
What if my vehicle inspection was due after 1 July 2025?
The required systems had to be installed before inspection, and the vehicle had to be presented with the corresponding installation conformity report.
What if my vehicle was inspected before 1 July 2025?
The deadline was the vehicle’s first inspection after 1 July 2025. The relevant equipment could be installed by an authorised company before that date without changing the existing inspection appointment.
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Summary
Requirements for cameras, image recording, vehicle tracking and emergency systems in commercial passenger transport entered a new implementation phase in 2025. This article explains the affected vehicle groups, transition timetable and certification steps. The article also covers AİTM Amendment of 2 July 2025: Updated Information, 1 July 2025: New Equipment, Installation and Certification Requirements for School and Staff Transport and Mandatory In-Vehicle Equipment and Systems.
