This article addresses the questions most frequently asked about O1-category caravans in Türkiye: whether registration is mandatory, which legislation governs the requirement and how the rules have changed.
Definition of an O1-Category Trailer or Caravan
Category O1 covers trailers with a technically permissible maximum laden mass not exceeding 750 kg. This limit applies to the complete trailer and its load.
Must O1-Category Caravans Be Registered?
An amendment published in the Official Gazette on 4 December 2024 made registration mandatory for O1-category vehicles. The change is often referred to in Türkiye as the “new caravan law”. The following sections answer the principal questions about its application to O1-category trailers and caravans.
Frequently Asked Questions after the Amendment
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By What Date Must Existing O1 Caravans Be Registered?
Under the transitional provisions, caravans manufactured before 1 January 2025 must be registered by 1 January 2035. Caravans manufactured on or after 1 January 2025 became subject to registration from 1 July 2025.
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How Are O1 Vehicle Records Processed through ARTES?
Manufacturers must transfer the certificate-of-conformity information for caravans produced before 1 January 2025 into ARTES. Caravans and trailers produced on or after that date are to be processed directly through ARTES. Owners must then register vehicles whose records have been entered into the system within the applicable transitional deadline.
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What If the Certificate of Conformity Cannot Be Found?
The amendment provides for a separate procedure where a certificate of conformity cannot be obtained because of force majeure. The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior are to determine the applicable registration method jointly.
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Are O1-Category Caravans Subject to Periodic Inspection?
Yes. Under the Turkish Regulation governing the establishment and operation of vehicle inspection stations and vehicle inspections, O1-category trailers are subject to annual inspection from one year of age. The inspection provisions do not provide a separate exemption for this vehicle category.
Registration Is Now Mandatory for O1-Category Caravans and Trailers
The amendment of 4 December 2024 to the Turkish Regulation on the sale, transfer and registration of vehicles introduced a requirement for O1-category caravans and trailers to be registered and issued with a registration plate and certificate. Transitional provisions and specific exceptions also apply.
The following provisions introduced the registration requirement:
ARTICLE 9 – The following provisional articles have been added to the same Regulation.
“Registration of trailers or semi-trailers with a laden mass not exceeding 750 kilograms
PROVISIONAL ARTICLE 9 – (1) The amendment made to Article 15 by Article 3 of the Regulation introducing this provision shall apply to the registration of trailers or semi-trailers manufactured on or after the effective date of this Article, for which a certificate of conformity has been issued and whose laden mass does not exceed 750 kilograms.
Transitional period for the registration of trailers or semi-trailers with a laden mass not exceeding 750 kilograms
PROVISIONAL ARTICLE 10 – (1) Trailers and semi-trailers manufactured before 1 January 2025, with a laden mass not exceeding 750 kilograms, whose certificate-of-conformity information has been transferred electronically to ARTES by the manufacturer or importer, may be registered upon application by the relevant party until 1 January 2035; after that date, unregistered vehicles may not be used on public roads.
(2) A plate bearing the registration number assigned to the towing vehicle shall be fitted or displayed at the rear of any trailer or semi-trailer that has not been registered by 1 January 2035 under paragraph one.
(3) Where certificates of conformity cannot be obtained or transferred electronically due to force majeure, the procedures and principles governing registration shall be determined jointly by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior.”
ARTICLE 10 – The following provisions of this Regulation
(a) Articles 1, 3, 7 and 9 on 1 July 2025;
(b) Article 4 on 1 January 2025;
(c) Article 5 on 5 December 2024;
ç) The remaining articles on the date of publication;
shall enter into force.
Visual Overview
ARTES Applications for O1-Category Vehicles
For O1-category production vehicles, certificate-of-conformity records are processed through ARTES. We support manufacturers with the preparation and submission of the required ARTES data. Contact us.
How Is O1-Category Type Approval Obtained?
Requirements for Obtaining O1-Category Type ApprovalIs Type Approval Mandatory for O1-Category Caravans?
Yes. A caravan must be covered by the applicable vehicle type approval. Regulation (EU) 2018/858, which has also been incorporated into the Turkish regulatory framework, establishes the relevant approval requirements. Type approval provides evidence that the approved vehicle type has been assessed against the applicable safety and technical provisions. Buyers should therefore choose properly approved manufacturers that can demonstrate control of the vehicle’s conformity and safety-critical requirements.
If you require support with this process, contact us and we can support the approval process for vehicles across category O.
Overview
The registration position for O1-category touring caravans must be assessed against the current legislation and the applicable implementation dates. This article explains the framework for registration, ARTES records and manufacturer responsibilities. The article also covers Definition of an O1-Category Trailer or Caravan, Must O1-Category Caravans Be Registered? and Frequently Asked Questions after the Amendment.
