Cyprus is one of the easiest places in the Mediterranean to explore by car — distances are short, the roads are good, and a rental gives you the freedom to reach beaches, mountain villages and archaeological sites that buses simply don't serve. If it's your first time driving here, a few local rules are worth knowing before you pick up the keys.
Which side of the road do you drive on?
Cyprus drives on the left, a legacy of its time under British administration, and cars are right-hand drive. If you're used to driving on the right, give yourself a few minutes to adjust in the car park before setting off. The two things that catch visitors out most are roundabouts — you give way to traffic coming from your right, which is already on the roundabout — and remembering to keep left after a junction or a fuel stop.
What licence can you use?
Visitors can drive on a full, valid licence from their home country for the length of a normal tourist stay. Licences in the Latin alphabet (EU/UK and many others) are accepted as-is; if yours is in another script, bring an International Driving Permit alongside it. You'll also need your passport or ID and the card you booked with. Most rentals, including ours, ask that you've held your licence for at least two years and are 21 or over.
Speed limits and signs
Everything in Cyprus is in kilometres. Typical limits are 100 km/h on motorways, 80 km/h on open roads and 50 km/h in towns, unless a sign says otherwise. Seatbelts are compulsory front and back, using a handheld phone while driving is illegal, and the drink-drive limit is low — if you're drinking, don't drive. Motorway exits and major signs are shown in both Greek and English, so navigation is straightforward.
Parking, fuel and tolls
In town, a single white or blue line usually means paid or time-limited parking, while double yellow lines mean no parking — pay-and-display machines and parking apps are common in Nicosia. Fuel stations are plentiful; many switch to automated card pumps in the evening, so keep a card handy for late fill-ups. One piece of good news for your budget: there are no road tolls anywhere in Cyprus.
Renting a car the easy way
With the basics covered, the rest is simple. Browse our car rental fleet in Cyprus, pick your dates, and collect at our Nicosia office— insurance and VAT are included, with no airport queues. Staying longer than a few weeks? It's often cheaper to look at long-term car leasing in Nicosia instead of repeat daily rentals.