Driving In Cyprus

 

The best way to travel around Cyprus is by car. It is possible to pre-book your hire car through the internet for collection on your arrival at either Cyprus airport .

Driving in Cyprus is most advisable as regular transport service is not available to all remote areas where many places of interest are to be found.

Four lane motorways connect the capital, Lefkosia with the coastal towns of Lemesos, Larnaka and one part of Paphos

Hands free during driving is mandatory

During driving, the driver should take all necessary measures, so that his/her hands are free at all times in order to have full control of the vehicle. Therefore the use of a mobile phone is strictly prohibited.

Driving licence

Visitors in Cyprus can drive using a valid International driving licence, or their National driving licence, provided it is valid for the class of vehicle they wish to drive.

Insurance requirements for foreign motorists entering cyprus
With effect from 1st January 2001, Cyprus became a signatory to the Multilateral Guarantee Agreement ( M.G.A.)

This means that, as far as insurance cover is concerned, Cyprus is considered as one unified territory with all other signatories of the M.G.M., which at this moment are 24. The M.G.A. countries are the 15 E.U. member states, as well as Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Iceland, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia and Cyprus.

If a foreign visitor brings to Cyprus a motor vehicle bearing the registration plate of one of the M.G.A countries, he should not be intercepted at his point of entry in Cyprus for proof of insurance cover, as it is presumed that he is covered by insurance in his own country, even if he may not be so covered. In the latter case the international insurance Bureau of his country will be held responsible to compensate the claimant as a result of the Guarantee Agreement in force.

If a foreign visitor brings into Cyprus a motor vehicle bearing a registration plate not belonging to a country member of the M.G.A. the Cyprus Authorities should check whether the foreign motorist has a valid Green Card in force for Cyprus. A foreign visitor may have a Green Card in force, even if his country of origin is not a member of the Green Card System.

Cyprus has signed an Agreement called "Uniform Agreement", with all foreign Bureaux members of the Green Card System, with the exception of Turkey. (The Agreement with Iraq is suspended).