Can I use my UK driving licence in Cyprus?

Yes. Visitors can drive on a UK photocard licence. Residents can use it for up to 6 months after becoming resident, then must exchange it for a Cypriot licence.

Do I need to take a test to exchange my UK licence?

No, according to GOV.UK and the Road Transport Department's list of recognised countries. The exchange costs €40, or nothing if you're 65 or over. One local law-firm guide says otherwise, so confirm when you book.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Cyprus?

Not with a UK photocard licence. An IDP is only useful if you hold an old paper UK licence.

Is it difficult to drive in Cyprus?

Not for UK drivers: same side of the road, familiar signs and toll-free motorways. The main adjustments are km/h limits, a stricter drink-drive limit and local driving habits.

What should I know about driving in Cyprus for the first time?

Drive on the left, think in km/h and keep to 50 km/h in towns. The drink-drive limit is 0.05%, stricter than England's, eating or drinking at the wheel is an offence, and speeding fines rise steeply once you're more than 30% over the limit. Motorways are toll-free, and road signs are in Greek and English.

Is it worth renting a car in Cyprus?

Yes, for your first weeks in Paphos. Public transport outside the towns is limited, so most residents drive. Hire companies usually need you to be at least 21, with extra charges under 25. Once you know where you'll live, compare importing your own car with buying locally.

Are there toll roads in Cyprus?

No. None of Cyprus's motorways charge tolls, including the A1 and A6 that link Paphos with Limassol and Nicosia.

How much is road tax in Cyprus?

It depends on engine size (pre-2014 cars) or CO₂ emissions (2014 onwards), up to a maximum of €1,500 a year. Electric cars pay little or nothing. Pay online at rtd.mcw.gov.cy.

How much does it cost to take a car from the UK to Cyprus?

Shipping by RoRo costs about £901–1,226, plus €390–520 in port and agent fees and RTD registration. If you don't qualify for transfer-of-residence relief, add 19% VAT and possibly 10% import duty.

How old can a car be to import to Cyprus?

Import agents report that used cars generally must be under 5 years old to register, unless you're bringing them under transfer-of-residence relief. Ask the Road Transport Department before you ship.

Can you drink coffee while driving in Cyprus?

No. Eating or drinking at the wheel is an offence, with a fine of about €85.

Driving in Cyprus (2026): UK Licence, Rules and Fines

Driving in Cyprus: The UK Resident's Guide for 2026

Cyprus drives on the left, like the UK, so a right-hand-drive car feels normal from day one. As a resident you can use your UK licence for 6 months, then you must exchange it for a Cypriot one (€40, free at 65+, no test). Speed limits are lower than the UK's and the drink-drive limit is 0.05%.

JJason 14 min read Last verified 27 September 2026

Get car import help Licence exchange steps

The short version

Left-hand traffic, overtaking on the right, roundabouts clockwise: the same as the UK.

Speed limits: 50 km/h in towns, 65 km/h on country roads, 80 km/h on national roads, 100 km/h maximum (65 km/h minimum) on motorways.

Drink-drive limit: 0.05% blood alcohol, stricter than England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

UK licence: valid for 6 months after you become resident. Then exchange it at the Road Transport Department. Fee €40, free at 65+. No test.

Bringing your car: no import duty or VAT under transfer-of-residence relief if you've owned it 6+ months and import it within 12 months of moving.

No motorway tolls. Road tax depends on engine size or CO₂ and is capped at €1,500 a year.

Driving in Cyprus in numbers

6 months

Driving on a UK licence after you become resident

€40

Licence exchange fee

Free if you're 65 or over

100 km/h

Motorway speed limit

About 62 mph

0.05%

Drink-drive limit (blood alcohol)

Is driving in Cyprus the same as the UK?

Mostly, yes. Cyprus drives on the left, overtakes on the right, and goes clockwise round roundabouts. Road signs are in Greek and English, and the motorway network linking Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca and Nicosia is modern and toll-free.

Small car driving along a quiet road through vineyards near Kathikas at golden hour — Cyprus drives on the left, like the UK.

The differences are in the numbers and the habits:

Speeds are in km/h, and they're lower. The motorway limit is 100 km/h, about 62 mph. There's also a minimum of 65 km/h on motorways.
The drink-drive limit is 0.05%. That's lower than the 0.08% in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the same as Scotland. Police carry out random breath tests.
Driving styles vary. Expect late indicating, sudden stops and creative parking in Paphos town. Drive defensively, especially on the old Paphos–Polis road and village lanes.
Summer heat. Parked cars get dangerously hot in July and August. Keep water in the car and never leave children or pets inside.

If you've driven in the UK, you'll adapt in a day. The paperwork takes longer.

Cyprus speed limits

Road	Limit	Roughly in mph
Built-up areas	50 km/h	31 mph
Country roads	65 km/h	40 mph
National roads	80 km/h	50 mph
Motorways (maximum)	100 km/h	62 mph
Motorways (minimum)	65 km/h	40 mph

Local signs override these defaults. Radar detectors are banned.

Driving in Cyprus vs the UK: the rules side by side

Same side of the road, different numbers. UK figures are for England unless stated; Cyprus figures from the RAC's 2026 Cyprus guide.

Cyprus

Republic of Cyprus

Wins 2 of 8

GOV.UK rules

Side of the road

Left

Motorway limit

100 km/h (62 mph), minimum 65 km/h

70 mph (112 km/h)

Built-up areas

50 km/h (31 mph)

30 mph (48 km/h)

Drink-drive limit (blood)

0.05%, i.e. 50 mg per 100 ml

80 mg per 100 ml; 50 mg in Scotland

Hand-held phone

€150 fine

£200 fine and 6 penalty points

Motorway tolls

None

None, except a few roads and crossings

Eating or drinking at the wheel

Offence, €85

Only if it makes you drive carelessly

Road signs

Greek and English

English (Welsh too in Wales)

The verdict

The two traps for UK drivers are the lower limits in km/h and the 0.05% drink-drive limit, which is stricter than England's. A single large glass of wine can put you over.

Road rules and fines

Cyprus police can issue fines on the spot, but you pay them online or at the address given, not at the roadside. Speeding fines are worked out by how far over the limit you were.

Rules that catch UK drivers

Seatbelts in every seat. Fine from €150.
Children: under 12 and under 150 cm need a proper child seat or restraint. Under 5s can't sit in the front.
Mobile phones: hand-held use costs €150.
Eating or drinking at the wheel is an offence (€85). Yes, including your morning coffee.
Smoking in the car is fined €85.
Warning triangle: carry one; not having it costs €20. Sixt's guide says two are compulsory, so carry two to be safe.
Radar detectors are banned.
Horn: banned between 22:00 and 06:00 and near hospitals.

Speeding fines

Up to 30% over the limit, the fine is €1 per km/h over. Between 31% and 50% over, it rises to €3 per km/h, and between 51% and 75% over to €5 per km/h. More than 75% over the limit goes to court.

Worked example: 80 km/h in a 50 km/h zone is 60% over, so 30 × €5 = €150. The same 30 km/h over on a 100 km/h motorway is only 30% over, so it's €30. Speeding in town costs far more than on the motorway.

Common traffic fines in Cyprus

Figures as reported by the RAC's 2026 Cyprus guide. Serious offences go to court.

Offence	Fine
Speeding, up to 30% over	€1 per km/h over
Speeding, 31–50% over	€3 per km/h over
Speeding, 51–75% over	€5 per km/h over
Speeding, more than 75% over	Court
Running a red light	€300
Using a hand-held mobile phone	€150
Not wearing a seatbelt	€150+
Drink driving	€125–500+, or court
Parking offence	€85+
Eating, drinking or smoking while driving	€85
Failing to stop for pedestrians	€85
No warning triangle	€20

Can I drive in Cyprus on a UK licence?

Yes, for a limited time. GOV.UK's Living in Cyprus guidance (updated February 2026) says you can drive in Cyprus using a UK licence for up to 6 months. To keep driving after that, you must exchange it for a Cypriot licence.

Couple standing by a parked car in a lay-by above the Akamas coast — A pull-in above the Akamas coast.

Visitors on holiday can drive on a UK photocard licence without an International Driving Permit. The 6-month clock matters once you live here.

Do you need a driving test?

No. The UK is on the list of countries whose licences Cyprus recognises as equivalent, so a UK licence is exchanged without a theory or practical test. You hand in your UK licence and the Road Transport Department sends it back to the DVLA.

The 185-day rule

The Road Transport Department asks foreign applicants to show they have lived in Cyprus for at least 185 days, with an ARC and residence permit for non-EU citizens. That sits very close to the 6-month deadline. Ask the Paphos District Driver Examiner Office when you can book, and apply as early as they'll accept.

Watch out

Sources disagree: check before you rely on a test-free exchange

GOV.UK and Cypriot press coverage in June 2026 both say UK licences are exchanged in Cyprus without a test. At least one local law-firm guide says UK holders must sit Cyprus tests. We've gone with the official UK government guidance, but ask the Road Transport Department to confirm when you book.

Documents for a UK licence exchange

Take originals and photocopies. Form TOM 7D is on the Road Transport Department website.

0 of 9 done

Progress saves in this browser.

Application form TOM 7D, completed
Recent photo, 45 × 35 mm
Passport (original and copy of the photo page)
Alien Registration Certificate (ARC) and residence permit (original and copy)
UK photocard licence (original and copies of both sides)
DVLA or DVA check codeGenerate it online shortly before your appointment; codes expire.
Proof of normal residence, e.g. lease and utility bills
Medical fitness certificate if you're 70 or overAlso needed for lorry and bus categories (C, D and related).
€40 fee (nothing to pay if you're 65 or over)

How to exchange a UK driving licence in Cyprus

1
Get your residence permit and ARC
Months 1–5
The Road Transport Department needs your ARC and residence permit. UK-only passport holders get these through their temporary residence, Category F, employment or digital nomad application. You'll also need the ARC to register for GESY healthcare in Cyprus.
2
Book with the Paphos District Driver Examiner Office
Around month 5
Applications are made in person at the district office. Check the booking system and document-submission hours before you go.
3
Generate your DVLA check code
A few days before
Use the GOV.UK View or share your driving licence service to create a check code, so Cyprus can confirm your UK entitlement.
4
Submit and pay
Appointment day
Hand in the documents and your UK licence and pay €40 (free at 65+). Local guides report a temporary paper licence within 2–3 days.
5
Collect your Cypriot licence
15 days to 1 month
Processing typically takes 15 days to a month. You'll usually get an SMS when the card is ready.

Transport help

Moving a car, or need help with the licence exchange?

We'll introduce you to a vetted Paphos partner who handles customs clearance, RTD registration and licence paperwork. Free introduction; the partner quotes any fee before you commit.

Check whether your car qualifies for duty-free import
Customs broker and RTD registration handled
Licence exchange timing planned around your permit

Founder-led. Replies within one working day.

Quiet coast road north of Coral Bay at sunset with a single car in the distance — The coast road north of Coral Bay at sunset.

Road tax and MOT

Every car on Cyprus roads needs road tax (the circulation licence), insurance and a valid roadworthiness test, known locally as the MOT or TOM test. You can't renew road tax without a valid MOT and insurance on the system.

Road tax

Road tax runs on the calendar year. You can pay for 12, 9, 6 or 3 months. Pay online at rtd.mcw.gov.cy, through your bank, or at a Road Transport Department office. The usual penalty-free window runs from 1 January to 11 March; late payment costs €10 plus 10% of the tax. Leave it unpaid for a year and 70 days and the registration is cancelled.

How much you pay depends on when the car was first registered:

First registered	Road tax based on
Before 2014	Engine size (cc)
2014–2018	CO₂ emissions
2019 onwards	CO₂ emissions and age

The annual maximum is €1,500. Electric cars pay little or nothing.

MOT

A new car's first test is due four years after registration, then every two years. A standard car test costs about €35–45.

Should you bring your car or buy in Cyprus?

For most UK movers, buying in Cyprus is simpler. Bringing a car makes sense when you've owned it for 6+ months, it's relatively new, and you qualify for transfer-of-residence relief.

The costs without relief

Cars made in the UK with a valid statement on origin pay 0% import duty under the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Cars without proof of UK or EU origin pay 10% on the customs value (cost, insurance and freight). Either way, 19% VAT is charged on the customs value plus any duty.

Small cars parked under eucalyptus trees on a quiet residential street in Paphos — A quiet residential street in Paphos.

On a €20,000 car with no relief and no origin proof, that's €2,000 duty plus €4,180 VAT before shipping and registration.

Transfer-of-residence relief

Cyprus Customs waives import duty and VAT on one private car per person who holds a driving licence, if:

you've owned and used it for at least 6 months before moving;
you lived outside the EU for at least 12 months before moving;
you import it within 12 months of setting up home in Cyprus; and
you don't sell, lend, hire out or pledge it for 12 months after clearance without Customs' approval.

You apply on form Απ. 2 at a Customs district office. Customs can let you drive the car for one month on form C.104O while it decides.

Check registration before you ship

Cyprus Customs tells importers to ask the Road Transport Department before shipping whether a used car from outside the EU can be registered. Import agents report that cars over 5 years old are generally refused unless you're transferring residence. Registration also needs a Cyprus MOT and an RTD CO₂ certificate, and the RTD charges one-off registration fees on top.

One more rule from GOV.UK: you can't import a vehicle into the Republic of Cyprus through the north. The authorities may seize it.

What shipping a UK car to Paphos costs

Typical one-off costs for a family car, 2026. Your car's value, origin and emissions change the totals.

Import duty0% with UK origin proof or relief; 10% otherwise (€20k car)

€0–2,000

Import VAT at 19%0% under transfer-of-residence relief

€0–4,180

Shipping, UK to Limassol (RoRo)About £901–1,226, 18–21 days

€1,050–1,430

Port and clearing agent fees

€390–520

RTD registration and platesPlus any emissions-based registration charge

€150–250

Cyprus MOT

€35–45

Total one-off

€1,625 – €8,425

Duty and VAT rules from Cyprus Customs. Shipping and agent costs from UK and Cyprus import agents; sterling converted at roughly €1.17. Get written quotes.

Fuel, tolls and mountain roads

Cyprus has no motorway tolls. The A1 from Nicosia to Limassol and the A6 on to Paphos are free to use, whatever older car-hire blogs say about toll tags.

Fuel

Petrol stations sell 95 and 98 unleaded and diesel. There's no LPG for cars, and carrying spare petrol in cans is forbidden. Many stations have automatic pumps, and these accept international cards. In rural villages, carry some cash as back-up.

Winding Troodos mountain road through pine forest with snow on the verges in January — Snow on the Troodos roads in January.

Mountain driving

The Troodos roads are narrow and winding, and they can see snow and ice in winter. Snow chains are permitted on mountain roads in winter. From Paphos, allow extra time on the village roads up into the hills.

Emergencies

Call 112 for police, ambulance or fire. The British High Commission in Nicosia is on +357 22 861100 if you're in serious trouble.

Your first week behind the wheel

Most UK drivers settle in within a day. The adjustments are the ones in the comparison table above: think in km/h, keep your speed down through villages, and expect other drivers to pull out late. Use a hire car for the first few weeks while you decide whether to import your own car or buy locally.

Insurance and the north

You need at least third-party insurance from an insurer recognised in Cyprus, paid most easily from a Cyprus bank account. A UK policy's European cover is designed for trips, not residence, so switch to a Cypriot policy once you live here.

Cyprus-registered cars can cross into the north at the checkpoints, but Republic of Cyprus policies don't normally cover you there. Drivers usually buy separate short-term insurance at the crossing. Rental cars often aren't allowed across at all; check the contract.

For the bigger picture of your first months, see our settling-in hub and the move timeline tool, and for Paphos public transport and taxis, see our transport services.

Petra tou Romiou sea stack and pebble beach seen from the old coast road — Petra tou Romiou, on the old road from Paphos to Limassol.

Driving in Cyprus: frequently asked questions

The left, the same as the UK. You overtake on the right and go clockwise round roundabouts. This applies in the north as well as the Republic.

Bringing your car?

Find out if your car qualifies for duty-free import before you ship it

A vetted customs partner checks the origin, age and relief rules for your car and gives you a written estimate. The introduction is free.

Get car import help Get my relocation plan

Sources checked for this page

1.GOV.UK — Living in Cyprus (updated 5 February 2026)Government
2.Road Transport Department — Conversion of a foreign driving licenceGovernment
3.Cyprus Customs and Excise — Vehicles from the United KingdomGovernment
4.Cyprus Customs and Excise — Vehicles from outside the EU under reliefGovernment
5.Cyprus Customs and Excise — Guide: Transfer of normal residence from outside the EU (Dec 2024)Government
6.RAC — Driving in Cyprus (2026)Professional
7.Politis — Driving in Cyprus: do you need a local licence? (June 2026)Professional
8.Road Transport Department — Road tax renewal portalGovernment
9.GOV.UK — View or share your driving licence information (check code)Government
10.Sixt — Driving tips in CyprusProfessional
11.GOV.UK — Speed limitsGovernment
12.GOV.UK — The drink drive limitGovernment
13.GOV.UK — Using mobile phones when driving: the lawGovernment

Written by

Jason

Founder, Paphos Advisor

British founder who moved his family from the UK to Paphos in 2025. I write down what I learned doing it properly — the tax, the residency and the living-here detail — and introduce people to the specialists I’d use myself.

How I research and fact-check