Driving, cars and rental in Cyprus: licence exchange, insurance, MOT, fines and hire
Cyprus drives on the left and runs a British-style motoring system: EU licences are recognised indefinitely, licences from certain notified countries must be exchanged after six months, insurance is compulsory, and the roadworthiness test has a fixed price. This page gives the figures with a primary source, not advice.
Left-hand traffic: what a newcomer must adjust to
- traffic keeps left, the steering wheel is on the right; roundabouts flow clockwise — give way to vehicles already on the roundabout;
- overtake on the right; you may not overtake from the left-hand (oncoming) lane;
- speed limits: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h on rural roads, 100 km/h on motorways;
- the legal alcohol limit is 0.05% BAC, stricter than many countries;
- minimum driving age is 18; holding a phone is banned even while stopped at lights;
- signs and road markings follow European shapes, with Greek and Latin script.
For the first days, an automatic rental helps: retraining yourself to mirror everything takes two to three weeks. Limits and rules are Cyprus traffic law — confirm the reference figures with the Road Transport Department (gov.cy).
EU and notified-country licences: validity and exchange
| Whose licence | May you drive | Exchange | Source · date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU / EEA | indefinitely, no exchange | optional, €40 | Road Transport Department (gov.cy) · 11.10.2026 |
| Notified countries (outside the EU) | 6 months of residence, then exchange is mandatory | mandatory after six months; in person at a district examiner's office, fee €40 | Road Transport Department (gov.cy) · 11.10.2026 |
| Other countries outside the EU and the notification | the department does not publish a rule | no exchange is provided; the district examiner's office answers case by case | Road Transport Department — contacts (gov.cy) · 11.10.2026 |
| Validity of a Cypriot licence | category B (car/motorcycle) 15 years, C/D 5 years | from 70 renewed every 3 years with a medical certificate; free from 65 | Accompanying document to TOM 7D (gov.cy) · 11.10.2026 |
The department does not publish the list of notified countries, so whether your country falls under compulsory exchange can only be established at a district examiner's office. We do not invent the figures we could not confirm.
How to exchange your licence: steps and documents
- have at least 185 days of residence in Cyprus (the 'ordinary residence' condition);
- register with the Civil Registry if you are an EU resident, or hold a valid residence permit;
- apply in person at a District Driver Examiner Office using form TOM 7 / TOM 7D;
- bring your passport/ID, proof of address, a recent 45×35 mm colour photo and the foreign licence;
- pay the €40 fee; if you are 70+ or hold C/D categories, add a medical certificate (TOM 153B);
- hand over the foreign licence — it is returned to the issuing state, not given back to you;
- collect the Cypriot licence at a district office, a KEP service centre or a post office point (ΚΕ.ΠΟ).
If the licence is not in English or Greek you need an official translation (done through the Press and Information Office, paid separately). The department states no processing time. Confirm current rules and fees with the primary source.
When exchange is not possible: tests and the medical
For licences from countries that are neither in the EU nor in the notification, the department provides no exchange. The practical route is the Cypriot test: theory (in Greek or English) and a practical driving test with a school instructor. A certificate of physical fitness is required from age 70 and for heavy categories; young drivers of ordinary categories do not need one.
To verify: the exact list of countries with which Cyprus has an exchange agreement, and the test route for a given nationality — ask a district examiner's office. We have not confirmed that list and do not publish it.
Car insurance: the compulsory minimum
| What | Figure | Source · date |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance is compulsory | Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Insurance) Law 96(I)/2000 | CyLaw · 11.10.2026 |
| Minimum cover for injury or death | €38,600,000 per event | Market data (insurers' summary) · 11.10.2026 |
| Minimum cover for property damage | €1,300,000 | Market data (insurers' summary) · 11.10.2026 |
| Third-party only, experienced driver | €207–299 a year | Insurer price study, July 2026 · 11.10.2026 |
| Comprehensive, experienced driver | €357–753 a year; young driver up to €1,693 | Insurer price study, July 2026 · 11.10.2026 |
Without a policy you cannot register the car, and driving uninsured is an offence. The prices are a market benchmark from July 2026, not a tariff: the district (Limassol is dearest) and your no-claims history drive the premium.
The roadworthiness test (MOT): a fixed €35
| What | Figure | Source · date |
|---|---|---|
| Price for a private car (M1) | €35, fixed by law | Law 64(I)/2019 (Road Transport Department) · 11.10.2026 |
| Re-test after a fail | €10 if you return within 30 days to the same centre | Road Transport Department (gov.cy) · 11.10.2026 |
| First test | at 4 years old, then every 2 years | Regulations Κ.Δ.Π. 90/2018 (gov.cy) · 11.10.2026 |
| A car rented out without a driver | first at 2 years, then yearly | Road Transport Department (gov.cy) · 11.10.2026 |
If the MOT lapses, the vehicle's registration is deemed suspended — you cannot renew the road tax and cannot drive lawfully. The certificate must be carried in the car. Cyprus implements EU Directive 2014/45.
Fines and penalty points
| Offence | Fine | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-held phone while driving | €85 | 1 point |
| Running a red light | €300 | 4 points |
| Seatbelt not worn | €85 | — |
| Speeding up to 10 km/h over | €50–100 | — |
| Speeding 11–20 km/h over | €150–250 | 3 points |
| Speeding more than 20 km/h over | €300–500 | 4 points and possible suspension |
Exact amounts and points for a given offence are set by the traffic police; these are 2026 reference figures. Check against the Cyprus Police and traffic-law updates.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I drive on a Russian licence?
- Only to a limited extent: if the country is neither in the EU nor in the notification, no exchange is provided — check with a district examiner's office and expect to sit the Cypriot test.
- Do I have to exchange a German or Spanish licence?
- No. EU/EEA licences are valid indefinitely; exchange is your choice only.
- How much does the exchange cost?
- The state fee is €40; an official translation (if the licence is not in English or Greek) is paid separately.
- What happens if I let the MOT lapse?
- The car's registration is suspended automatically: you cannot renew the road tax, the certificate must be carried, and driving without it is an offence.
- Is comprehensive insurance compulsory?
- No, only third-party liability is. Comprehensive is optional and often not worth it on an old, cheap car.
- Is there a register of rental companies in Cyprus?
- There is no separate open register of transport rental, so we do not use a “checked against the register” mark. See the official sources below for licences and rules.
- How do you select companies for this section?
- From open data only: name, city, website and languages. We do not publish phone numbers or emails — you send a request through the form and we pass it to a suitable company.
- Do I need an international driving licence?
- For visitors a national licence is usually enough; EU licences are recognised. Check the exact requirements with the rental company and the official source.
- Can I drive a rental car to the north of the island?
- As a rule no: insurance does not cover the area beyond the Green Line and most companies forbid it. Check the term in your contract.
- What is rent-to-own for residents?
- It is a long-term hire at the end of which you may buy the car at a price fixed in the contract from day one. Exact terms are set by the company.
This page is a reference, not legal advice. Amounts, deadlines and country lists are revised: before deciding, check the Road Transport Department (gov.cy), the traffic police and your insurer.
Transport rental in Cyprus: cars (international networks and local companies), scooters and motorbikes, buggies and quads, and for residents — long-term hire, leasing and rent-to-own. Scooters and quads are especially handy in Limassol and Paphos, where parking gets hard in season. Companies are grouped by type with name, city, website and languages. There is no open register of rental companies in Cyprus, so no card carries a “checked against the register” mark — we verify the details and the licence together with you. Phone numbers and emails are not published: you send a request through our form. Remember: traffic in Cyprus drives on the left.
What to check
| What to check | Guide | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Driver age and experience | usually from 21 (scooters and buggies from 18), licence held at least 2 years | 11.10.2026 |
| Licence | national or international; traffic in Cyprus drives on the left | 11.10.2026 |
| Deposit | held on a card; some local firms rent without a deposit | 11.10.2026 |
| Insurance and excess | third-party cover is mandatory; full cover and the excess are set in the contract | 11.10.2026 |
| Price, economy class | guide €11–19/day in winter and €20–30/day in summer (market, not a tariff) | 11.10.2026 |
| Price, crossover/SUV | guide €25–55/day (market, not a tariff) | 11.10.2026 |
| Leasing and buy-out | long term — a fixed monthly payment; buy-out at the price fixed in the contract | 11.10.2026 |
Rates are set by the renter; the ranges in the table are indicative, from open market data, and are not a tariff. There is no transport-rental register — company data comes from open sources; the section is checked against the official sources below. Date of the check — 11.10.2026.
Types of rental:
Car rental
Hertz CyprusEN
International rental network with desks at Larnaca and Paphos airports and city offices; English-language booking, 24/7 support and roadside assistance.
City: Larnaca, Paphos, Nicosia, Limassol, Ayia Napa
Website: www.hertz.com.cy
Licence not confirmed yetThere is no transport-rental register — we cannot confirm the company's licence; we check the details together with the company.
Send a requestAvis CyprusEN
Avis international rental with branches in the main cities and airports of the island; its budget sister brand is Budget.
City: Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Ayia Napa
Website: avis.com/en/locations/cy
Licence not confirmed yetThere is no transport-rental register — we cannot confirm the company's licence; we check the details together with the company.
Send a requestSixt CyprusEN
International Sixt rental with airport and city branches, including Limassol and Protaras; unlimited mileage available.
City: Larnaca, Paphos, Nicosia, Limassol, Protaras
Website: www.sixt.com.cy
Licence not confirmed yetThere is no transport-rental register — we cannot confirm the company's licence; we check the details together with the company.
Send a requestPetsas Rent a CarEN, RU
The oldest Cypriot rental company (est. 1962), a fleet of over 1,000 cars, branches island-wide and at the airports; site in English and Russian.
City: Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos, Ayia Napa
Website: www.petsas.com.cy
Licence not confirmed yetThere is no transport-rental register — we cannot confirm the company's licence; we check the details together with the company.
Send a requestEuropcar CyprusEN
The Europcar brand in Cyprus: car, van and truck rental plus a flexible-leasing programme (Flexilease).
City: Larnaca, Paphos, Limassol, Nicosia
Website: europcarcy.com
Licence not confirmed yetThere is no transport-rental register — we cannot confirm the company's licence; we check the details together with the company.
Send a requestGetmancarEN, RU
Long-term rental and leasing for residents and relocators: monthly rent, an operating lease for 12–36 months and rent-to-own with a down payment.
City: Larnaca, Limassol
Website: getmancar.com
Licence not confirmed yetThere is no transport-rental register — we cannot confirm the company's licence; we check the details together with the company.
Send a requestScooter and motorbike rental
Easy Riders RentalsEN, RU
Scooter, motorbike, buggy and quad rental in the centre of Ayia Napa; free delivery to hotels in Ayia Napa, Protaras and Paralimni.
City: Ayia Napa
Website: easyriders.com.cy
Licence not confirmed yetThere is no transport-rental register — we cannot confirm the company's licence; we check the details together with the company.
Send a request4Rent.cyEN, RU
Scooter and motorbike (and quad) rental in Limassol and Paphos: from 125cc city scooters to maxi-scooters; helmets and safety gear included.
City: Limassol, Paphos
Website: 4rent.cy
Licence not confirmed yetThere is no transport-rental register — we cannot confirm the company's licence; we check the details together with the company.
Send a requestRentamaniaEN
Scooter rental in Paphos (Chloraka): automatic 125cc Kymco scooters, with monthly hire for seasonal workers and students.
City: Paphos
Website: rentamaniacy.com
Licence not confirmed yetThere is no transport-rental register — we cannot confirm the company's licence; we check the details together with the company.
Send a requestBuggy and quad rental
Takos Bros RentalsEN
Buggy, quad and scooter rental across Protaras, Ayia Napa, Pernera and Paralimni; free hotel pick-up and return.
City: Protaras, Ayia Napa, Paralimni
Website: takosbros.com
Licence not confirmed yetThere is no transport-rental register — we cannot confirm the company's licence; we check the details together with the company.
Send a request