Renting a car in Cyprus offers you true transportation freedom. Cyprus has no toll roads, its main highways are well-maintained, and the road surfaces are smooth. This makes for a convenient and enjoyable driving experience on the island.
Conditions for Renting a Car in Cyprus
Driver's Age: Car rental in Cyprus assumes that the driver's age will not be less than 25 and not more than 70 years old. The driving experience is at least 3 years. In private hire offices, these requirements are often lowered to 18-70 years old and 2 years of experience.
What's Included: A week's car rental provides unlimited mileage but does not include insurance, VAT (15%), and the cost of a full tank of gasoline. The car can be returned with an empty tank without any problems.
Prices for car rental in Cyprus are not too big. On average, the cost of renting starts from 35 EUR, and it's even cheaper on the Turkish part of the island.
In Cyprus, the speed limits for cars and motorcycles are as follows:
- In populated areas: 50 km/h
- Outside populated areas: 80 km/h
- On a highway: 100 km/h
For vehicles with a trailer, the speed limits are the same:
- In populated areas: 50 km/h
- Outside populated areas: 80 km/h
- On a highway: 100 km/h
Please note that the minimum speed on the highway is 65 km/h. All speed limits in Cyprus are indicated in kilometers per hour. The country follows left-hand drive, and wearing seat belts is mandatory for both drivers and passengers in all seats. It's also important to be aware that it's illegal to drive a rental car between the two different parts of Cyprus (Turkish and Greek).
Here's additional information for motorists in Cyprus:
Parking:
- Parking in central city areas costs approximately 0.4-0.6 EUR per hour on weekdays during business hours.
- Parking for disabled people is free of charge.
- Parking and stopping in the area of the double yellow line is prohibited.
- Parking for loading/unloading is allowed in the area of the single yellow line, but parking is prohibited at all times.
- Near beaches, parking is often free.
Fines:
- Fines for traffic violations in Cyprus are high and strictly enforced.
- Invalid parking: Vehicles must be parked only in the direction of traffic at all times. Failure to comply with this rule results in a fine of 85 EUR.
- Alcohol intoxication: If your blood alcohol level is between 1.26% and 1.6%, you will be fined 300 EUR. You may also be detained until someone sober can drive you and your car.
- Safety belts: The use of seat belts is compulsory for both front and rear seat passengers. The fine for violation is 85 EUR.
- Talking on the phone while driving: It is prohibited to use a telephone communication device without a hands-free system while driving. The fine for violation is 85 EUR.
Filling Stations and Petrol Prices in Cyprus
Fuel stations are typically open during the following hours:
- Monday through Friday: 06:00 to 18:00
- Saturday: 06:00 to 16:00
(In rural areas, some stations may also be open on Sundays and public holidays from 06:00 to 18:00).
Gas stations equipped with automatic cash registers are open 24 hours a day in the capital area and along the coast.
The cost of a liter of gasoline in Cyprus varies depending on the type:
- 95 - €1.34
- 98 - €1.37
- Euro diesel - €1.29
