No Transfer Without Seeing the Money? Securing Payment in Car Sales

No; since September 27, 2024, payments in second-hand vehicle sales at notaries are no longer made in cash but transferred through the Secure Payment System. The vehicle price is blocked in an escrow account before the notary transaction is completed and is automatically transferred to the seller's account after registration. A transfer in which the money is not secured is now neither a reasonable risk for the seller nor a legal option.

I have been in this business for more than thirty years, and I have seen that the most tense moment of a second-hand vehicle sale is always the same: those few minutes when the money and the key change hands at the same time. In the past, these minutes rested entirely on the parties' trust. Cash counted by hand, the wallet tucked into a pocket, the promissory note handed over after the bodywork... Today, most of this scene has moved to the screen at the notary's office, and the system itself acts cautiously on your behalf. In this article, I will cover from start to finish the final and most critical step after posting the listing and agreeing with the buyer: securing the payment.

How is payment secured in a vehicle sale?

In notarized second-hand vehicle sales in Türkiye, payment is secured through the Secure Payment System. This electronic infrastructure, launched in 2020 in cooperation between the Ministry of Trade and the notaries' union, blocks the sale price in an escrow account before notary approval and automatically transfers the money to the seller once the transaction is complete. The aim is single and clear: simultaneous exchange of ownership and the sale price.

Since September 27, 2024, this system has been mandatory for notarized sales. In other words, a seller who says "I trust the buyer, we'll settle it in cash" is now in a difficult position not just technically but legally. The notary checks with online queries whether the money has been deposited into the system and blocked; if there is no money, the sale process does not begin. This single rule cuts off the kind of stories told for years about "buyers who say the money is ready at the notary and then disappear."

How does the Secure Payment System work step by step?

Let me say this to those who will use the process for the first time: what looks complicated on paper is quite smooth in practice. The steps proceed as follows:

1. Seller registration: The seller starts the process via internet banking, a mobile app, or e-Government; entering the license plate, sale price, the buyer's mobile phone number, and their own IBAN.
2. Buyer payment: The buyer makes the payment using the reference number sent via SMS. The amount is placed in the escrow account and remains blocked.
3. Notary transaction: The parties go to the notary together and start the transfer and registration process using the reference number. The notary queries whether the money has been blocked; if there is no money, the process does not begin.
4. Automatic transfer: With notary approval and registration, the amount is transferred to the seller's account within seconds and on a 24/7 basis.
5. Notification: The parties are informed via SMS and e-mail at every step.

You do not have to be a customer of the bank you use for the transaction. Sales can also be made through duty notaries on weekends; since the system works integrated with the notaries' union's IT infrastructure, it is the transaction itself, not the calendar day, that is decisive. The transaction amount has an upper limit of 5 million TL ; this limit has been in effect since the system's integration with FAST. For sales above this amount, multiple transfers can be made with the same reference number, meaning high-value vehicles are not left out of the system.

Cancellation is also defined: before the notary receipt is issued and the vehicle is registered in the buyer's name, either party can cancel the transaction. If, after the buyer sends the money, the transaction is not completed by 19:00 the following day at the latest, the transaction is automatically cancelled and the amount is refunded to the buyer. Another detail: after the seller's application, if the registration is not completed by the end of business hours on the following business day, the application loses its validity. In other words, once you start the system, you cannot leave it hanging.

How much is the Safe Payment System's fee, and who is it deducted from?

The service fee is 243.84 TL and is automatically deducted from the amount to be transferred to the seller. In practice, this means: in a sale you agree on for 500,000 TL, 499,756.16 TL is credited to the buyer's account. The fee is collected subject to the vehicle being registered in the buyer's name; in other words, if the sale does not take place, this fee is not charged to you. Additionally, as of 2026, the notary transfer fee structure has changed; the fixed fee has been removed and replaced with a system based on the sale amount, so you also need to calculate the notary costs based on the price before the transaction.

Is cash in hand, bank transfer, or valuables courier still an option?

The era of in-person payment at the notary is over; however, in practical life this question is still being asked, because there are moments other than the transfer. My observation over the years is this: cash is the most practical but the riskiest method. A bank transfer, on the other hand, is always a preferable route since it leaves a record. When making a transfer, writing "for the vehicle sale" in the description strengthens your hand in any future dispute.

Valuables courier also seems like a safe alternative to some sellers; the idea of money or documents being delivered through an official carrier is appealing. However, there is no concrete and detailed record of this method's applicability to vehicle sales; therefore, one should not expect a legal protection framework like the Safe Payment System (GÖS). The main rule has not changed: in the transfer process, the money does not change hands without passing through the system's escrow account.

What should be considered on the payment side when selling a vehicle with a promissory note?

Selling with promissory notes is still possible and is the only realistic route for some buyers. But that doesn't mean the risk has disappeared. The official sales contract at the notary states that the payment has been made; the parties can make an additional agreement between themselves. What comes after is the guarantee for the installments following the payment, and this is where things can get complicated.

• Placing a lien on the vehicle reduces the buyer's risk of missing payments.
• If title is retained, the buyer cannot become the full owner before the debt is settled.
• High interest rates and long legal proceedings may come into play in case of default.
• Promissory note transactions with non-corporate companies are additionally risky.
• The number of notes, the note numbers, and the total debt amount must match the contract exactly.

Let me add from my own experience: the most common mistake in sales with promissory notes is not fully reflecting the payment plan in the contract. If the note is on one side and a verbal agreement on the other, the paper left in your hands at the moment of dispute determines everything else.

In what order should the transfer procedures be done?

Completing all the checks and planning the procedure in the correct order before going to the notary is the safest route. I can summarize the sequence as follows:

1. Query the vehicle's debt, penalty, and lien records; initiate the sale price and GÖS record.
2. Make sure the buyer has taken out traffic insurance. Under the "First Insurance, Then Sale" practice, since December 5, 2024, the notary does not start the process with a buyer who has no insurance.
3. Have the payment blocked through GÖS; if the money is not in the escrow account, do not go to the notary.
4. Complete the transfer registration at the notary with the reference number and follow the transfer of the money via SMS notification.
5. Don't neglect the post-transfer procedures: the registration is reported to the relevant traffic registration authority and the tax office within three business days.

For registration, the vehicle's sales document, conformity certificate, and mandatory financial liability insurance are required; sales and transfers of registered vehicles are carried out by notaries based on the registration certificate. There is also a settled matter on the insurance side: after the sale, transferring the policy to the buyer is legally not possible. The seller can cancel the existing policy and receive a premium refund for the unused period; the buyer takes out a new policy in their own name. Tax liability also passes to the new owner upon registration; that is why the transfer being recorded in the registry is the threshold that frees the seller from future penalties and tax obligations.

Final recommendations on payment safety

Fraud attempts did not end with the new system; they just changed form. Be cautious of messages that rush you, such as "There's another buyer, send the deposit right away"; do not take any payment, including the deposit, outside the system. If letting go of old habits is hard, think of it this way: the system is being suspicious on your behalf, and this suspicion protects both parties. Do not hand over the keys without your money being blocked in the escrow account, and do not deliver the vehicle. In this business, experience now largely amounts to following the correct sequence.

Sources

• In this context, Secure Payment System - Türkiye Notaries Union
• Secure Payment System | Payment Solutions | Cash Management
• How to Use the Notary Secure Payment System and How Much Does It Cost?
• The Secure Payment Era Has Begun in Notary Transactions
• Secure Buying and Selling System for Second-Hand Vehicles
• Secure Buying and Selling System
• Secure Vehicle Buying and Selling Transactions
• Can You Sell a Vehicle Without Insurance? 2026 Guide
• Notary Procedures and Fees When Selling a Vehicle, 2026
• Vehicle Registration and Sale Transfer Procedures, Articles 19-20
• How Are Vehicle Transfer Procedures Done?
• Is Selling a Car by Promissory Note Safe?
• How Is Money Transferred in a Vehicle Sale?