The capital with the unusual rule, where you must only drive white cars

2026-05-14 16:36:00, Blog CNA

A bold rule introduced in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, in 2018 meant that citizens could only drive white cars, while all other colors were banned from the streets.

Residents were stunned as police began seizing black vehicles without any official explanation. The crackdown quickly escalated to include cars of almost every other color, forcing many owners to pay thousands of manats to have their cars painted white.

The capital with the unusual rule, where you must only drive white cars

Only later did the real reason behind this decision come to light.

The drivers only got their vehicles back after they agreed to paint them white or another light color.

The problem, however, was that repainting costs ranged from $500 to over $1,000, with prices rising rapidly when unscrupulous workshops realized what had happened.

This may not seem like such a bad thing, but considering that the average monthly income hovers around $200 to $300, this is a big expense.

The capital with the unusual rule, where you must only drive white cars

The crackdown quickly expanded beyond black cars to include all non-white cars, requiring most owners to comply or risk continued fines and impoundments. This sudden decision to only allow people to drive white cars, issued through unwritten police directives, left many residents confused and frustrated.

But what exactly happened?

Well, the country's leader, President Berdimuhamedow, has long been obsessed with the color white, which he associates with luck and purity. At the very least, Berdimuhamedow will be pleased with the country's planes, considering that almost every plane is painted white by default.

The capital with the unusual rule, where you must only drive white cars

Since 2015, Turkmenistan had already banned the import of black, dark blue, and red cars in favor of white ones. This preference was expanded in 2018 to a full-fledged policy where non-white cars were banned entirely in the capital. This reflected the broader cult of personality surrounding the president.

Ashgabat is literally built in gleaming white marble, and Berdimuhamedow is often seen surrounded by white horses, clothing, and architecture.

The capital with the unusual rule, where you must only drive white cars

Many drivers complained about the financial burden and lack of transparency, noting that there was never an official decree, only immediate enforcement by traffic police.

At least in most other countries, the only time you have to worry about traffic police is when you're speeding.

The capital with the unusual rule, where you must only drive white cars

However, the people's cries fell on deaf ears and if you ever take a trip to Ashgabat, you will only see a sea of ??white on the city's streets. /CNA