Istanbul's App-Based Taxi License Auction: Costs Exceed 9 Million Lira and Legal Risks

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality is auctioning 29-year taxi licenses for vehicles servicing Bitaksi, Valo, Binbin, Uber, inDrive, and YandexGo apps. The starting bid is set at 6.125 million lira, with a total cost exceeding 7.3 million lira after adding VAT and Value-Added Tax. The licenses will have a 29-year usage period, while unlimited-use licenses are priced at 11 million lira. The IBB mandates that these vehicles only accept customers from the specified apps and prohibits picking up passengers on the street. The rise of app-based taxis picking up customers on the street has angered yellow taxi owners, exacerbating the fight against rogue taxis. The IBB and police will monitor smart meter and app revenues to detect illegal operations. Special warnings are issued for TUA-plated taxis, with 34 TUA XXX plates banned from street pickups. The auction is part of Istanbul's ongoing regulatory efforts in the taxi sector.