Can a British Driver Use a UK Licence in Cyprus? — Same Left Side, No IDP Needed

Cyprus drives on the left, the same as the United Kingdom. That settles the question most British searchers ask first, and it is the main reason the island is one of the gentler drives you can take on a UK licence. The licence question is almost as short: GOV.UK says you can use a UK photocard driving licence in Cyprus.

Paper licence, photocard, permit

The wrinkle is the paper licence. GOV.UK says that if you still hold the old paper version, you may need to update it to a photocard or obtain the correct version of the international driving permit as well. Check this before you book, not at the rental counter. With a photocard, carry it and your passport; the hire firm will want a card in the driver’s name too. If you want to double check your own case, the Driving Permit Checker takes a minute.

Because Cyprus is an island, “driving to Cyprus from the UK” really means flying and hiring a car. If you ship your own car, GOV.UK says you must display a UK sticker on a UK-based vehicle.

What the same side does not fix

No side switch does not mean no adjustment. GOV.UK states plainly that driving standards in Cyprus are poor, with an increased risk of road deaths compared to the UK. In practice you should expect:

• limits shown in kilometres per hour;
• faster, more impatient local traffic on the motorways;
• mountain roads that suit a slower pace, particularly if you head into the hills;
• heat that makes midday driving tiring.

Limits in two units

The kilometre figures are lower than the British equivalents on rural roads and motorways. A British driver who keeps the habits of a 70 mph motorway will be well over the Cyprus limit of 62 mph, so read the km/h scale on the hire car’s dial from the start.

The drink-drive gap

The Cyprus limit is 0.05, and the UK figure in our records is 0.08. GOV.UK lists drink-driving among the offences that could bring a heavy fine, along with no seat belt, riding a motorbike without a helmet and using a mobile while driving. The simplest rule is not to drink on a day when you are driving.

Fines to know

A seat belt offence is EUR 85. A phone in the hand is EUR 85 plus a penalty point. A red light is EUR 300 plus four points. Speeding is EUR 50-100 for the first band, EUR 150-250 plus three points at 20 over, and EUR 300-500, four points and suspension at 30 over. The Speeding Fine Calculator gives a quick estimate.

Hire car traps

• Crossing to the north. Cars hired in the Republic often have no insurance cover in the north of the island. You will not be allowed through a crossing without the correct insurance documents, though at some crossing points, including Agios Dometios, it is possible to buy cover for the north.
• Mopeds and quad bikes. Hire companies usually provide only third-party insurance, so you pay for any damage, and not paying could lead to arrest.
• Your passport. Rental firms often ask for it as a deposit. GOV.UK says that is illegal, and you should never hand it over.
• Condition. Check the vehicle is roadworthy and has the appropriate safety equipment. A warning triangle is required in the car.

If something goes wrong

Dial 112 for any emergency. Police can also be reached on 199, and in the north the police number is 155. Read the rest on the Cyprus driving guide.

Sources

• GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Cyprus: safety and security (UK photocard licence; paper licence; UK sticker; driving standards; insurance for the north; hire cars and passport deposits): gov.uk