The country where you can only drive white cars as all other colors are banned

A bold rule introduced in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, in 2018 meant citizens could only drive white cars, with all other colors effectively banned from the roads.

Residents were left puzzled as police began impounding black vehicles without any official explanation.

The crackdown quickly escalated, including cars of nearly every other color, forcing many owners to pay thousands to have their cars repainted white.

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

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The change happened abruptly

Starting in early January 2018, police in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan began impounding black and dark-colored cars without warning or official explanation.

Drivers reclaimed their vehicles only after agreeing to repaint them white or another light color.

However, the catch was that repainting costs ranged between $500 to over $1,000, with prices rising quickly when dishonest workshops realized what happened.

This might not seem so bad, but considering the average monthly income hovers around $200 to $300, this is a massive expense.

The crackdown soon extended beyond black to include all non-white cars, requiring most owners to comply or risk fines and continued impoundment.

This abrupt decision to only allow people to drive white cars, rendered through unwritten police directives, left many residents confused and frustrated.

You can only drive white cars as it’s considered to be lucky

But what exactly happened?

Well, the leader of the country, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, has long been obsessed with the color white, which he associates with luck and purity.

At the very least, Berdimuhamedow will be happy with airplanes in the country, given that almost every aircraft is painted white by default.

Since 2015, Turkmenistan had already halted the importation of black, dark blue, and red cars in favor of white ones.

That preference expanded in 2018 into a full-scale policy where non-white cars were banned entirely in the capital.

This mirrored the broader personality cult surrounding the president.

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

Many drivers complained about the financial burden and absence of transparency, pointing out there was never an official decree, only sudden enforcement by traffic police.

At least in most other places, the only time you need to worry about the traffic police is when you’re speeding.

In any case, the people’s cries fell on deaf ears, and if you ever make a trip to Ashgabat today, you’ll only see a sea of white in the city’s roads.

Now, here’s an interesting question: how will the ‘white truck theory’ work in a place where you can only drive white cars?

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