Driving in Cyprus: A UK Tourist's Guide
Cyprus drives on the left as a former British colony, so the roads feel familiar to UK motorists — and your standard UK photocard licence is valid here with no International Driving Permit needed.
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Driving on the Left in Cyprus
As a former British colony, Cyprus drives on the left-hand side of the road, which makes the switch from a UK car remarkably easy: steering wheels are on the right, and you give way to traffic from the right at roundabouts.
Whether you collect a car via Paphos Airport car hire or have one delivered to your villa, a standard UK photocard licence is valid — there is no need to buy an International Driving Permit (IDP) before your holiday.
- Drive on the left and overtake on the right.
- Give way to traffic approaching from your right at roundabouts.
- Distances and speed limits are posted in kilometres and km/h, not miles.
- Payments are in euros, and there are no toll roads anywhere on the island.
- Local driving can be assertive, so drive defensively and indicate early.
Speed Limits & Camera Fines
Speed limits are set in kilometres per hour and strictly enforced. Motorways have a maximum of 100 km/h but also a mandatory minimum of 65 km/h to keep traffic flowing safely.
| Road type | Maximum limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Motorways | 100 km/h | Minimum speed of 65 km/h applies |
| Open / rural roads | 80 km/h | Single-carriageway routes outside towns |
| Urban / built-up areas | 50 km/h | Standard town limit unless signed otherwise |
| School / high-density zones | 30 km/h | Often signed near schools and residential areas |
Cyprus runs an island-wide network of fixed and mobile cameras catching speeding, red-light and mobile-phone offences. Speeding fines are proportional to how far over the limit you are.
- Up to 30% over: about €1 per km/h over, plus 1 penalty point.
- 30% to 50% over: about €2 per km/h over, plus 2 penalty points.
- 50% to 75% over: about €3 per km/h over, plus 3 penalty points.
- More than 75% over: straight to court — a fine up to €4,000, licence suspension or imprisonment.
Motorway cameras generally trigger around 121 km/h. A camera citation is posted to your hire firm, which pays it and charges your card plus an administration fee of about €30 to €50. You can self-check pending fines at the official cycamerasystem.com.cy portal, and pay promptly via the JCC Smart gateway or police.gov.cy — late payment adds a 50% surcharge, and an unpaid fine can become a court warrant flagged at passport control.
Drink-Driving, Phones & Penalty Points
Cyprus takes a firm line on impaired and distracted driving. If you are touring the local wine villages on our list of things to do around Coral Bay, always nominate a teetotal designated driver.
- Standard drink-drive limit: 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml of breath (0.05% BAC); fines scale from about €100 up to immediate suspension.
- Novice / professional limit: 9 micrograms per 100 ml of breath (0.02% BAC) for drivers with a licence under 3 years.
- Handheld mobile phone: about €150, doubling to about €300 for a repeat offence within three years.
- Seatbelt: about €150 per unrestrained occupant, front or rear.
- Driving without free hands: about €85 for eating or holding a drink while driving.
Police breath-test routinely, especially on weekend afternoons. The penalty-points ceiling is 16 (raised in February 2025) and points reset after three years. Too many points, or refusing a breath test, can mean immediate licence suspension and court action.
Child Seats & Mandatory Equipment
Restraining every passenger is a legal requirement, with the rules set by a child's height and age in line with European standards. Only ECE R44/04 or ECE R129 (i-Size) certified child seats are legal.
- Under 135 cm: must use a child seat or booster suitable for their age and weight.
- 135 cm to 150 cm: may use an adult seatbelt, though a high-back booster is still recommended.
- Under 5 years old: not permitted in the front seat under any circumstances.
- Rear-facing seat in front: any active passenger airbag must be switched off first.
- Penalty: a child not properly restrained carries about a €150 fine and 3 penalty points.
Every vehicle, including hire cars, must carry certain emergency kit. Firms supply it, but it is your responsibility to check it is present before you drive away.
- Two red warning triangles, placed behind the car in a breakdown.
- One reflective hi-vis jacket, kept inside the cabin — not in the boot.
- A first-aid kit and fire extinguisher are recommended but not compulsory for hire cars.
Roads, Fuel & Local Hazards
The toll-free A6 motorway links Paphos to Limassol over 66 km, passing through the twin 950-metre Sotira tunnels in the British Sovereign Base Area and across a tall viaduct near Petra tou Romiou. Cameras are active along the route, especially around the Pissouri interchange.
Fuel is dearest in the Paphos district — around €1.55 a litre for unleaded 95 and €1.73 for diesel (mid-2026). Stations are full-service by day but switch to automated self-service after about 18:00 and all day Sunday, placing a pre-authorisation hold of about €60 on your card that clears once the real amount settles.
| When | Service | Payment note |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime (before 18:00) | Full-service, staffed | Pay the attendant directly |
| Evening (after 18:00) | Automated self-service kiosk | ~€60 card pre-authorisation hold |
| Sundays & holidays | Automated self-service kiosk | ~€60 card pre-authorisation hold |
Off the main routes, the rural roads near Coral Bay, Peyia and the Akamas carry their own hazards. Read our Akamas Peninsula 4x4 guide before taking a standard hire car onto rough, unpaved terrain.
- Unlit rural roads with no street lighting at night.
- Goats and other livestock wandering onto open hill roads.
- Sharp, blind bends through narrow hill villages.
- Flash flooding of low-lying or unsealed roads after heavy rain.
- Loose, sharp stones that can easily damage tyres.
Ready to explore Cyprus safely? Search and compare car hire deals to secure the right vehicle for your holiday, or head back to the Coral Bay car hire homepage to compare local and airport providers.
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