Car Breakdown Emergency Service Roads and Motorways Driving Licence Car Insurance Petrol Parking Facilities

"Mini" Guide for Drivers Car Rental Cyprus Automobile Assoc. Motorcycling Rental of Motorcycles HitchHiking

Car Breakdown Emergency Service

Private companies offer 24hrs breakdown service all over the island.

In case of emergency on the Motorway, the drivers may use the emergency phones. Through the operator they can contact any of the car breakdown service (specifying the company of their choice)
Addresslist

Roads and Motorways

As regular transport service is not available to remote areas where many places of interest are to be found, driving in Cyprus is most advisable.
Fairly good surfaced roads complying with International traffic requirements, link the towns and the various villages.
Four-lane motorways connect the capital, Nicosia with the coastal towns of Limassol and Larnaka.
Minor roads and forest roads are still largely unsurfaced but in good to fair condition. Appropriate care should be taken when using these roads, especially during wet weather.
Visitors wishing to bring their car to Cyprus can do so, provided the car has a valid registration licence of its country of origin. In such a case, the car can circulate in Cyprus for a period of 3 months.

Driving Licence

Visitors can drive in Cyprus, as long as they are in possession of either a valid International driving licence, or of their National driving licence, provided this is valid for the class of vehicle they wish to drive.
Annual Cyprus Driving Licence: C£5.
Temporary Driving Licence for visitors only: C£3 (for a period of six months).

Car Insurance

The Green insurance card is not accepted in Cyprus. A visitor must be either in possession of an insurance issued by an insurance company authorised to transact motor insurance business in Cyprus or obtain insurance cover upon arrival at Limassol, and Larnaka Ports. By law it is compulsory to insure against full third party. However full comprehensive insurance is advisable.

Petrol

Motor fuel and unleaded petrol may be bought in unlimited quantities at petrol stations. Brands available are: B.P., Mobil, Esso, Lina, Petrolina and Shell. Petrol is sold by the litre and is charged as follows: (8% VAT included)

• Premium petrol (super) is currently 36,7 cents per litre
• Unleaded petrol costs: 36,7 cents per litre
• Regular grade costs: 34,6 cents per litre
• Diesel Oil sells at 10,8 cents per litre

Opening hours:
Monday-Friday: 06:00-18:00 hrs
Saturday: 06:00-16:00 hrs

On Sundays and Public Holidays, petrol stations in rural areas may open from 06:00-18:00 hrs.

Petrol stations in Nicosia and all seaside areas are equipped with petrol vending machines, accepting bank notes and operating on a weekly 24-hour basis.

Certain Petrol Stations provide self-service facilities.

Parking Facilities

Parking places (municipal and private) are found in town-centres, charging approximately 30-50 cents for a half day's parking.

Parking metres in the centre of towns may be used on payment of one 20-cents coin per hour, on week days, during office hours. Parking metres do not operate on Saturday afternoons, Sundays and Public Holidays.

Where a double yellow line is painted parallel to the kerb, parking and waiting are prohibited at all times.

If the yellow line is single, loading and unloading is allowed but parking is prohibited at all times.

"Mini" Guide for Drivers

• Traffic moves on the LEFT hand-side of the road, NOT on the right.
• International road traffic signs are in use, and placed along the roads and highways, on the left hand-side.
• Distances and road speed limits are displayed in kilometres and kilometre-per hour (km/h) respectively.
• The maximum speed limit on the motorways is 100 km/h and the lower speed limit is 65 km/h. On all other roads the general speed limit is 80 km/h, unless a lower one is indicated. Within the towns and villages it applies the 50 km/h speed limit.
• The use of seat-belts for front seat passengers is compulsory.
• Children under the age of five MUST NOT, under any circumstances sit in the front passenger seat.
• Children from five to ten years old may occupy the front passenger seat only if an appropriate child's seat belt has been fitted.
• It is advisable to stay away from the centre of the towns during rush hours i.e. between 07:30-08:00 / 13:00-13:30 and in late afternoon 17:00-18:00 in winter, or (1 8:00-19:00 in summer).
• It is advisable to avoid, if possible, driving due west in the late afternoon, as the glare of the setting sun can be unpleasant and potentially dangerous.
• Because of the sometimes intense brightness of the clear Mediterranean sky, drivers are advised to wear sunglasses.
• Roundabouts: Vehicles in the roundabout have right of way.
• The cars from the right have right of way
• DRIVING WITH ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION ABOVE THE PRESCRIBED LIMIT: Driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle or pedal cycle with alcohol concentration in breath or blood above the prescribed limit, is an offence. The prescribed limit in breath is 39 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The prescribed limit in blood is 90 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

Car Rentals - Hire Cars

Self-drive car rental firms have off ices in all towns, as well as at the Larnaka International Airport.

To view a list of firms supplying self drive cars, please click here

"Self-drive cars are also known as Z cars because their registration number, which is shown on red plates, starts with the letter "Z'.

• Rates vary according to the number of days of rent, period of the year and extras.
  - Summer Rates are in effect as from April 1 - Oct 31
  - Reduced Winter Rates are in effect as from Nov.1 - March 31
• In case of damages to a car, the customer is responsible for the first C£300 for the categories A, B and C and the first C£500 for the categories D, E and F.
• Unlimited kilometres.
• The car can be delivered and collected at the airports by prior arrangement.
• The car is usually delivered to the customer with a full tank paid for by the customer. When the car is returned, the customer receives a refund according to the amount of petrol left in the tank, unless stated otherwise in the contract.
• It should be noted that owing to insurance regulations, some companies do not hire cars to persons under 21 years of age.
• Customers should read all the information on the rental car agreement and demand fulfilment of all their rights when they rent a car.

We are able to make arrangements for your car hire, offering special rates. Just fill in our Car Hire Form and let us take care of everything.

Cyprus Automobile Association

The Association is the only organisation in Cyprus which is member of the two International Federations:
A.I.T. (ALLIANCE INTERNATIONALE DE TOURISME)
F.I.A. (FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE AUTOMOBILE)

to which belong all the recognised automobile associations the world.

The association offers to its members the following service Towing / Breakdown Assistance, Battery Problems, Tyre Problems, insurance Services, Travel Services (Disc on air/sea tickets, hotel reservations (inland), Touring information, Technical advice, Legal advice.

Cyprus Automobile Association
12, Chr. Mylona, 2014 Nicosia
P.O.Box 2279, 1519 Nicosia
Tel: (02) 313233 Fax: (02) 313482

Motorcycles

When driving a motorcycle in Cyprus please have in mind the following:

• The motorcyclist and the passenger must always wear a crash helmet when travelling in non-built up areas. However it is advisable to wear the crash helmet even in built-up areas,
• Motorcyclist driving an auto-cycle (less than 50cc) cannot carry any passenger over 12 years old.
• It is strictiy forbidden to drive racing-motor-cycles within the boundaries of all coastal holiday resorts and Nicosia between 20:00 hrs and 06:00 hrs. One may contact the Area Police Division for further guidance as to in which areas motor-cycling is forbidden.

Rental of Motorcycles

lf the customer wishes a full-comprehensive insurance cover, the premium is added to the motorcycle rental tariff.

Approximate prices for hired motorcycles:
C£3,00 - 5,00 for motorcycles up to 70cc. (unlimited kilometres)
C£4,00 - 8,00 for motor-cycles over 70cc. (unlimited kilometres)

Extra charge for insurance cover approximately:
C£1,50 - C£3,00 per day.

The International motorcycle driving licence is valid in Cyprus.
Visitors may also drive vehicles using the motorcycle driving licence, provided this is valid in their own country for the class of vehicle they wish to drive.
Otherwise, temporary Motor-Cycle Driving licences can be obtained from the District Police Stations at C£1,00 period of 6 months.
17 years old persons may not drive any vehicles, other than the auto-cycles (49cc). Persons over 18 years old drive motorcycles of any category.

Hitch – Hiking

HitchHiking is not prohibited or restricted in Cyprus, but certainly it is not one of the "regular means of transportation" and bears a potential risk. Hitch-Hiking can be tiresome in the hot summer months, but may turn out to be a great pleasure as Cypriot hospitality is legendary and hikers will certainly experience the friendliness and simplicity of Cypriots, especially among the village folk. Hikers are advised to wear sunhats and sunglasses in summer, as common sense protection, while waiting for their free ride. HitchHikers should always remember to keep to the left-hand side of the road, as driving in Cyprus moves on the left.