Destinations / Cyprus
Driving in Cyprus as a visitor
Often optional, depending on your licence and rental company. Unusually for the EU, Cyprus drives on the left; visitors can use a valid foreign licence, with an IDP advised for non-Latin-script holders.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Cyprus expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Left |
| Emergency number | 112 |
| Top speed limit | 100 km/h motorways |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Check the desk policy for your issuing country and licence script. A translation accompanies the licence and never replaces an official permit. |
| Booklet format they know | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in EUR. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Seatbelts | Seatbelts mandatory; no phone use while driving. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.05% alcohol limit; 0.02% for new drivers. |
| Speed | Speed limits in km/h. |
On the road in Cyprus
At the pump
Stations sell unleaded 95 and 98 petrol and diesel and are common in towns and on highways; cards are widely accepted. Many pumps switch to automated self-service after hours requiring a chip-and-PIN card, so carry one or some cash.
After a crash
Drive on the LEFT here. Call 112 for emergencies and report the accident to the police; for any injury, or where drivers disagree on fault, wait for police - do not move vehicles until they attend, and exchange details and photograph the scene.
Sources: autoeurope.co.uk · cyprus-mail.com · tyremap.com · getmancar.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Cyprus?
Often optional, depending on your licence and rental company. Unusually for the EU, Cyprus drives on the left; visitors can use a valid foreign licence, with an IDP advised for non-Latin-script holders.
Which translation format is used for Cyprus?
Cyprus uses the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in Cyprus ask for a translation?
Rental cars carry red 'Z' plates; an IDP helps non-EU drivers.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Cyprus?
The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay, 30 minutes as standard and 5 with Express.
Also in Europe
Driving on to another country on the same trip? Each page states what that destination expects.