Guide to Driving in Paphos, Cyprus

Cyprus, the 3rd biggest island in the Mediterranean, is a great island to explore, and this guide will give you information, driving tips and recommended places to visit that are within an hour of Paphos Town. A two-lane motorway connects Paphos with Larnaca and the capital of Nicosia. Other towns are accessible by very good A roads, and smaller roads connect the more remote areas of the island. Many of the driving laws in Cyprus are similar to the UK and other countries. 

Summary of Rules and Regulations:
* Drive on the left-hand side of the road and overtake on the right
* Keep with you your driving licence, passport and car hire rental agreement or insurance. 
* All passengers must wear a seat belt
* Children under the age of 5 must not sit in the front passenger seat. Children aged between 5 and 10 can sit in the front seat if an appropriate child seat belt is fitted
* Eating and drinking while driving is prohibited
* The maximum legal level of alcohol in the blood is 0.05% and is even lower for drivers who have held a full licence for less than 3 years
* Using a mobile phone while driving is considered a serious offence with potential fines and penalty points
* Smoking in a car with a person who is under 16 years old is prohibited and is subject to a fine
* Horns should not be used at any time in residential areas except in an emergency
* Emergency contact numbers are 112 and 199 for the Police. There will also be a breakdown contact number in your car rental confirmation

Driving Licence Requirements
It is essential that you have a full, valid driving license to hire a car in Cyprus and that you have held this license for at least 1 year (3 years if you are under 25)
Drivers can drive with a current, valid:
EU driving licence – until it expires.
The driving licences from the countries listed below are valid for visitors for a maximum of 90 days:
Australia-Canada-Georgia-Iceland-Japan-Liechtenstein-New Zealand-Norway-Russia-Serbia-South Africa-South Korea-Switzerland-UK-Ukraine-United Arab Emirates-USA-Zimbabwe
Drivers from other countries need to have an International Driving Permit (IDP) together with a current, valid domestic driving licence – usually until the IDP expires.
A current passport is also required. When booking with Paphos Car Rental, all the required documents are uploaded online and checked before you collect the car, so as to avoid any paperwork issues when you arrive. We are the only car rental company to offer this service 

Renting a Car in Cyprus
This varies from company to company. With Paphos Car Rental, you can drive a vehicle from the age of 30 to 80 with a full licence. This is with full insurance with no excess or security deposit. If you are younger or older, conditions apply.

Speed Limits
The speed limit on the motorway is 100kmh. On other roads, the speed limit is 65-80 kmh on rural roads outside city limits, 50kmh in built up areas, reducing to 30kmh near schools,etc. There may also be other speed limit signs to determine otherwise. Road signs are in greek and English. Cyprus has speed cameras, especially on motorways.

Fines
Drivers remain responsible for any parking or speeding fines that may occur while renting a hire car. If you receive a ticket while you are in Cyprus, payment should be made to the local relevant authorities before leaving the island. Some fixed traffic cameras (usually at a crossroads) do not issue fines for 2-3 months after the offence. Unpaid fines can be pursued overseas by Cypriot authorities and may incur further penalties for any delay in payment. You will be emailed any fines that are received. 

Parking
Many of the parking spaces in Paphos are smart parking that require a small payment. You can download the app for this on Google Play or App Store

Fuel Stations
These are usually fully open from 7am to 8pm on weekdays and Saturdays. Most stations are manned 24 hours and accept credit or debit cards. 

Visiting North Cyprus
At the border, the car hire insurance becomes invalid, and it is only possible to take out 3rd party insurance to drive in North Cyprus. Because of this, many car hire companies do not allow renters to take the car to the North. It is possible to park near the border and walk through one of the crossings

Simple Booking Process & Payment Options

Our state-of-the-art booking system makes hiring a car in Paphos straightforward:

  • No Security Deposit Required - on all our car hire bookings
  • No Insurance Excess - this is zero if you are aged 30 to 79
  • Multiple Payment Methods - You can pay in either GBP (£) or EUR (€) by bank transfer, debit or credit card, or by Revolut
  • No Credit Card Required - Book without providing credit card details
  • Minimal Booking Deposit - Refundable up to 14 days before. No deposit is needed for repeat customers
  • Enhanced Security - You pay direct with our merchant so we never see or store your card details
  • Paperwork Completed Online - All documents are uploaded in advance
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