A suspension bridge across the Bosphorus at dusk in Istanbul
Airport · Istanbul · SAW

Car Rental Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)

No deposit and no credit card needed from local suppliers at Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Start on the Asian side with fast routes to Bursa, the Aegean and Ankara. Book online with ease and add full insurance for extra peace of mind.

No Deposit No Credit Card Automatic Cars Airport Pickup

Find a car at Sabiha Gökçen Airport

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Live availability, price, deposit, payment and supplier conditions are shown inside the booking service.

Quick answer

Can I rent a car at Sabiha Gökçen Airport?

Yes. You can compare live offers for pickup at Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) in Pendik, on the Asian side of Istanbul. Kadıköy is about 33 km away and the historic peninsula about 41 km, across a tolled Bosphorus crossing. Bursa is about 125 km south via the tolled Osmangazi Bridge.

Airport codeSAW
To Kadıköy≈ 33 km · 35 min+
To Bursa≈ 125 km · 1 h 40 min
Bosphorus crossingsTolled (HGS)
Pickup

The Asian-side start for road trips.

Sabiha Gökçen is a busy single-terminal airport used heavily by low-cost airlines. Rental companies meet customers in the arrivals hall or hand over cars in the car park; your offer shows which.

Because the airport is already on the Asian side, it is the easier start for drives to Bursa and Uludağ, Iznik, the Black Sea at Şile, or south over the Osmangazi Bridge towards Izmir and the Aegean. You avoid crossing the Bosphorus and the slowest city traffic.

If you are staying in Sultanahmet or Taksim first, consider collecting the car later. Returning it here at the end of a trip works well too, because you do not need to drive back through the European side.

Late-evening arrivals are common at SAW. If you land after midnight, check the company’s out-of-hours charge and confirm that someone will meet you.
Destination guide

Where to base yourself after landing at Sabiha Gökçen Airport

Kadıköy and Moda (35 min–1 h)

The lively centre of the Asian side, with markets, cafés and ferries across to the old city. Parking is tight, so choose a hotel with a garage.

Princes’ Islands via Bostancı

The car-free islands are reached by ferry from Bostancı. Park the car at the pier and take the boat for a day of walking and cycling.

Bursa and Uludağ (1 h 40 min)

South across the Osmangazi Bridge, Bursa offers Ottoman mosques, silk bazaars and a cable car to Uludağ, a ski resort in winter.

Şile and Ağva

Black Sea beaches and river villages about an hour away. Ideal for a short break away from the city.

Easy stops near Sabiha Gökçen

Bostancı pier

The ferry point for the islands, with paid parking nearby. Arrive early in summer.

Polonezköy

A village founded by Polish settlers in the 19th century, set in forest with a nature park and garden restaurants.

Şile

Beaches below a lighthouse and castle, about an hour from the airport.

Distances

Where a car can take you from Sabiha Gökçen Airport

Road distances from the airport. Times into central Istanbul depend on traffic and the Bosphorus crossing you take.

DestinationRoad distanceTypical drive
Bostancı ferry pierFerries to the Princes’ Islands≈ 27 km30–45 min
KadıköyAsian-side centre≈ 33 km35 min–1 h
SultanahmetHistoric peninsula, across the Bosphorus≈ 41 km45 min–1 h 15 min
TaksimEuropean side≈ 43 km50 min–1 h 20 min
ŞileBlack Sea beaches≈ 63 km1 h 5 min
BursaVia the Osmangazi Bridge (tolled)≈ 125 km1 h 40 min
Price statistics

Car rental prices in Istanbul by month

Use these published figures as a planning benchmark, then search your exact dates. Prices change with the car class, rental length, pickup point and demand.

Lowest monthSeptember€36 per day
Highest monthMay€58 per day
Source checked12 October 2026Localrent price guide
Published average car-rental price per day in Istanbul (€)
  1. €44Jan
  2. €42Feb
  3. €45Mar
  4. €49Apr
  5. €58May
  6. €53Jun
  7. €42Jul
  8. €41Aug
  9. €36Sep
  10. €37Oct
  11. €40Nov
  12. €41Dec
Show the monthly table
MonthPrice per day
January€44
February€42
March€45
April€49
May€58
June€53
July€42
August€41
September€36
October€37
November€40
December€41

Monthly averages published by Localrent, checked 12 October 2026. They are planning references, not live offers. The search above shows the total for your dates.

Best time to go

When Sabiha Gökçen Airport is busiest

Sabiha Gökçen handles many low-cost and late-evening flights, so night arrivals are common. Published rental averages for Istanbul peak in May at about €58 a day and are lowest in September at about €36.

Plan your arrival

Is Sabiha Gökçen the right airport for you?

Sabiha Gökçen is on the Asian side, so it is the natural choice for Kadıköy, Bursa, the Black Sea at Şile and routes into Anatolia. For hotels in the old city or on the European side, Istanbul Airport or a city pickup avoids a Bosphorus crossing on arrival. Late-evening arrivals are common here, so check the supplier’s out-of-hours terms.

How to book

How to rent a car at Sabiha Gökçen Airport

01 /

Search Sabiha Gökçen

Enter your dates and choose SAW as the pickup point.

02 /

Compare the conditions

Check the deposit, the card rule and the toll billing.

03 /

Check the handover

See whether you meet in arrivals or in the car park.

04 /

Book and save the voucher

Keep the supplier’s number for late arrivals.

Before you book

Deposit, payment card and tolls: know the difference before you book

These three conditions cause most surprises at a rental desk in Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Each offer shows them before you pay.

No Deposit

Many local suppliers rent without a security deposit or accept it in cash. Others block an amount on a card until the car is returned. The offer shows which.

No-deposit guide

No Credit Card

Local suppliers commonly accept a debit card or cash at pickup. International brands usually want a credit card in the main driver’s name.

No-credit-card guide

Motorway tolls (HGS)

Turkish toll roads are fully electronic. Rental cars carry an HGS tag and the company charges the tolls after the rental, so ask how it bills them.

How tolls work
On the road

Driving from Sabiha Gökçen: routes and tolls

South to Bursa and the Aegean

The O-5 motorway crosses the Gulf of İzmit on the Osmangazi Bridge, one of the most expensive tolls in Turkey, and continues towards Bursa and Izmir. The toll is read from the car’s HGS tag.

East to Ankara and Anatolia

The O-4 (TEM) motorway passes close to the airport and runs east towards Ankara. It is tolled electronically.

To the European side

Use the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge or the Eurasia Tunnel. All are tolled, and traffic at peak hours is heavy.

The O-4 (TEM) next to the airport

The motorway beside the airport is busy at rush hour. Plan pickups and returns outside 07:00–10:00 and 16:00–20:00 where possible.

Osmangazi Bridge toll

The bridge towards Bursa is one of Turkey’s most expensive tolls, billed through HGS after the rental.

Return-day traffic

Weekday evening jams on the D-100 and O-4 can double journey times. Leave extra time for the return.

Good to know in Turkey

  1. Drive on the right and overtake on the left.
  2. Speed limits for cars are usually 50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h on two-way roads, 110 km/h on divided roads and 130 km/h on motorways. Follow the signs.
  3. The alcohol limit for car drivers is 0.5 g/l. The safest choice is not to drink at all.
  4. Seat belts are compulsory in every seat; phones only hands-free.
  5. Motorway, bridge and some tunnel tolls are electronic. Do not stop at the toll gates.
  6. In an accident, call the rental company first and follow its instructions. Insurance usually needs an official report.
Full driving guide
Ask the rental company how it bills tolls and whether it adds a service fee. On a long trip via the Osmangazi Bridge the toll total is noticeable.
Choose your car

Find the right car for Istanbul

Compare categories by seats, luggage space, transmission and the roads on your route.

Mini and economy

Easy to park in old towns and resort centres. A good match for couples and city stays.

Compact

More boot space for two to four people and longer coastal drives.

SUV and crossover

A higher seating position for mountain roads, gravel tracks to beaches and longer trips.

7-seaters and minivans

Seven or more seats for families and groups with luggage. Book early for July and August.

Automatic

Manual cars are still common in Turkey. Filter for automatic early if you need one.

Premium

More comfort for long motorway days, such as Istanbul to the Aegean coast.

Automatic car rental in Turkey
Documents

What you need to collect your car

Driving licence

A full licence, usually held for at least one or two years. Licences not written in the Latin alphabet need an International Driving Permit as well, and UK licence holders need a 1968 IDP or a licence notarised in Turkish.

Passport or ID card

The document you used for the booking. Visitors can drive on a foreign licence for up to six months after entering Turkey.

Payment method

Use the method named in your offer. If a deposit is taken by card, the card usually has to be in the main driver’s name.

Booking voucher

Keep it on your phone with the supplier’s phone number, meeting point and opening hours.

Pickup and return

Airport information

Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)

Address: Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, Sanayi, Pendik, İstanbul, Türkiye

IATA SAW · ICAO LTFJ · 40.8986, 29.3092

Open in Google Maps

The airport address is a reference point. The exact meeting point for your car is in your booking voucher.

Good to know

Questions about car rental at Sabiha Gökçen Airport

Short answers for a smoother start. The conditions of the car you choose always take priority.

More car rental questions
Can I rent a car at Sabiha Gökçen without a deposit?

Selected local offers have no deposit or accept it in cash. Filter for no-deposit cars in the search and read the payment notes. A zero deposit does not cover damage outside your insurance.

Is Sabiha Gökçen a good airport for a road trip from Istanbul?

Yes, especially if your route heads to Bursa, the Aegean, Ankara or Cappadocia. The airport is on the Asian side, so you skip the Bosphorus crossing and the slowest European-side traffic.

Is the Osmangazi Bridge tolled?

Yes. The bridge on the O-5 motorway over the Gulf of İzmit is tolled electronically. The rental car’s HGS tag records the crossing and the rental company bills it after the rental.

What if my flight lands late at night?

Many companies serve late arrivals but may charge an out-of-hours fee. Add your flight number to the booking and check the meeting instructions on your voucher.

Can I collect at Sabiha Gökçen and return at Istanbul Airport?

Some companies allow returns at the other Istanbul airport. Set a different drop-off location in the search; any fee is part of the total shown.

How long is the drive to Bursa?

About 1 h 40 min via the Osmangazi Bridge, which has a high toll.

Can I take the car to the Princes’ Islands?

No, the islands are car-free. Park at Bostancı pier and take the ferry.

Is parking easy in Kadıköy?

Not in the centre. Use paid car parks and walk.

What is Polonezköy?

A village founded by Polish settlers in a forest on the Asian side, with a nature park and garden restaurants.

How far is Şile from Sabiha Gökçen?

About 63 km, usually around 1 h 5 min.

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