Driving and getting a car in Cyprus

Outside the town centres, Cyprus is built around the car. Public buses run, and ride-hailing apps — Bolt, CabCY and nTaxi rather than Uber — cover the cities, but to reach a village taverna or a quiet beach you will want your own wheels. The good news: distances are small and the roads are good.

The first thing to know

Cyprus drives on the LEFT, a legacy of its history. EU driving licences are valid; many non-EU licences can be used for a period and then exchanged. Give yourself a day or two to adjust, especially at roundabouts.

Rent, buy or import

Most newcomers start with a rental while they settle, which also buys time to decide what you actually need. When you are ready, you can buy locally or import a vehicle — importing has its own paperwork and, for cars from outside the island, taxes worth checking first. A short chat with a rental firm or dealer saves a lot of guesswork.

Tell our concierge which airport you land at, your dates and roughly what you need — a runaround for the city or something for family trips — and we will line up a reliable rental, with airport pickup, from a company that actually serves your area.