Road Freight to Iran — Transport from Europe and Turkey

We carry full loads and groupage to Iran from across Europe and from across Turkey. Delivery goes to Tehran, Tabriz, Urmia, Isfahan, Mashhad and Bandar Abbas through the Gurbulak and Esendere border gates. Send the loading point, commodity, weight and delivery city and you receive a rate the same working day, with the truck traceable to the Iranian customs warehouse.

We have run this corridor since 1996 and work with the same Iranian agent for 25 years. European forwarders use us for the Turkey–Iran leg; shippers use us end to end.

Road Freight from Europe to Iran via Turkey

The Turkey–Iran leg needs different equipment, border planning and transit documents from the European leg. We offer two options for European cargo.

Transfer service

Cargo comes to our Istanbul or Mersin warehouse and is reloaded onto a truck dedicated to the Iran leg. Two vehicles, two rates, priced separately. It is usually the cheaper option and adds about 3 days to the total.

Direct service

One truck from the European loading point to the consignee in Iran, no reloading. It runs roughly 1,000 EUR above transfer service, because the vehicle stays on the full Europe–Iran route.

Mersin works well as a transfer point for cargo arriving by sea and for deliveries to southern and central Iran. Iranian trucks bring regular cargo into the port and can often be secured for the return leg.

Europe–Iran shipments use Turkish plated trucks throughout. Iranian plated equipment is used only for cargo loaded in Turkey, so the lower Iranian plate rates do not apply to European cargo. Transit across Turkey runs under T1 and the documents are prepared before the truck reaches Kapikule.

FTL, Groupage, Reefer and ADR Transport to Iran

• FTL — full truck, tilt or mega trailer, delivered to the designated customs warehouse
• Groupage (LTL) — weekly Friday departure from our Istanbul and Mersin warehouses
• Reefer — temperature-controlled transport
• ADR — dangerous goods with certified equipment and drivers
• Project and out-of-gauge — lowbed, extendable and modular trailers

Transit Times from Turkey and Europe to Iran

Istanbul to Tehran takes 5 days by full truck through Gurbulak–Bazargan, and groupage runs 6–9 days. The table covers the Turkish leg, counted from the Turkish loading point or from entry at Kapikule.

For European loading points, add the run down to Kapikule, and another 3 days on transfer service. We give the total for your loading point with the rate. Border congestion and Iranian public holidays can extend these times, so the figures are planning ranges rather than fixed delivery dates.

Turkey–Iran Border Crossings: Gurbulak and Esendere

Commercial trucks use Gurbulak–Bazargan and Esendere–Sero. Kapikoy–Razi is a rail and passenger crossing and carries no truck traffic. Kapikule, which European cargo passes on the way in, is the Bulgarian border and not an Iranian gate.

Iran Road Freight Rates 2026

The two legs are quoted separately and the figures below are current rates, not a fixed tariff.

European leg

Full truck rates from Germany to Turkey start at 3,400 EUR (September 2026).

Turkey–Iran leg

From Turkey, a full truck to Tehran is around 7,000 USD on Turkish plates and starts at 1,800 USD on Iranian plates (September 2026). The difference comes from return-load conditions: Iranian trucks bring regular cargo into Turkey, particularly through Mersin, and price the Iran return leg below Turkish plated equipment. When you compare a lower offer, ask whether the truck is Turkish or Iranian plated.

End to end

A Berlin–Tehran shipment is around 9,500 EUR on transfer service and 10,500 EUR on direct service (September 2026). These are quoted as one figure for the whole route, not as the sum of the two legs above.

Rates on this corridor move within days while the war continues, which is why buyers on this route ask for a current figure instead of working from a published one. Send the commodity, gross weight, dimensions, loading point and delivery city and we price the current week; an HS code helps us confirm the rate.

Delivery and Customs Clearance in Iran

Cargo is delivered to the bonded warehouse designated by Iranian customs. The consignee clears the goods and collects from there, and door delivery after clearance is arranged separately.

Transport documents

CMR, commercial invoice and packing list travel with every shipment. We are not a customs broker. We follow the document flow between shipper, consignee and broker, and flag anything missing before the truck departs.

Origin documents

Iran sits outside the EU Customs Union, so A.TR and EUR.1 do not apply on the Iranian leg. Which origin document applies depends on the commodity and the agreement in force: part of the tariff schedule falls under the Turkey–Iran Preferential Trade Agreement and can qualify for a reduced rate, and the rest travels on an ordinary certificate of origin. Confirm the applicable document with your customs broker before loading.

Payment Terms and Sanctions on Iran Shipments

Payment arrangements for Iran shipments affect the loading date, because the document flow follows the payment. Agree the method with your consignee before booking.

Check applicable sanctions and payment restrictions with your bank and your customs adviser before booking, since specific goods, companies and payment channels can fall within scope.

CMR Liability and Cargo Insurance

Road transport runs under CMR carrier liability. Our carrier liability policy has a limit of 1,500,000 USD, which is the policy ceiling and not the amount payable on an individual shipment: CMR liability is subject to its applicable weight-based limits, regardless of invoice value. For high-value, low-weight cargo we recommend separate cargo insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does road freight from Europe to Iran cost?

A Berlin–Tehran shipment is around 9,500 EUR on transfer service and 10,500 EUR on direct service (September 2026). Full truck rates from Germany to Turkey alone start at 3,400 EUR. Rates move within days on this corridor, so ask for a current figure.

How much does road freight from Turkey to Iran cost?

A full truck from Turkey to Tehran is around 7,000 USD on Turkish plates and starts at 1,800 USD on Iranian plates (September 2026). The difference comes from return-load conditions on the Iranian side.

Can Iranian plated trucks carry cargo from Europe?

No. Iranian plated equipment is used only for cargo loaded in Turkey. Europe–Iran cargo, including transfer shipments, runs on Turkish plates.

How long does road freight to Iran take?

Istanbul to Tehran takes 5 days by full truck through Gurbulak–Bazargan and groupage runs 6–9 days. Tabriz is 4–5 days and western Iran via Esendere–Sero is 4–7 days. For European loading points, add the run to Kapikule and another 3 days on transfer service.

How long is free time at loading and unloading?

48 hours at each end. Beyond that, demurrage is 150 USD per day.

Which border crossings do you use between Turkey and Iran?

Gurbulak–Bazargan and Esendere–Sero. Kapikoy–Razi is a rail and passenger crossing and carries no trucks.

Where is the cargo delivered in Iran?

To the bonded warehouse designated by Iranian customs. The consignee clears the goods and collects from there, and door delivery after clearance is arranged separately.

Şah Global Lojistik on the Iran Corridor

We have run this corridor since 1996 and have been a member of the International Transporters Association (UND) for 20 years. Our quote states the truck plate, included services, exclusions and the delivery point.

For a quote: +90 532 256 77 14  |  bilgi@sahlojistik.com  |  +90 212 631 02 01

Şah Global Lojistik Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. Şti.
Istanbul: Mollagürani Mah. Vatan Cad. Fatih / Istanbul
Mersin: Camişerif Mah. Lina Nasif Sk. Akdeniz / Mersin
Office hours 08.00–19.00 (GMT+3)

Other languages: Türkçe  |  فارسی