Department of Transport

Department of Road Transport Website

Department of Road Transport Website can be found at this link.

I recommend you use the Chrome or Edge browser and set it to translate Greek into the language of your choice.

Most of the English section of the website is under construction and has been for a number of years.

The Cyprus Highway Code

The Highway Code is available in book shops and is fully illustrated.

It can be downloaded, in Greek only, pdf here.

There is also a PowerPoint presentation, also in Greek, which can be downloaded here.

Some of it is similar to the UK Highway Code but with the updates to the UK version, there are now some major differences.
Many of the differences between the two Codes are outlined within this site.

The Highway Code can be used to assist a prosecution.

Driving Licence Renewal on Reaching 70 years of Age

The information in this page refers to FULL non-vocational driving licences.

The earliest a driving licence renewal application can be made is within the last month before the expiry of the old one.

The following applies to all non Cypriot Citizens.

Application would normally be made in person at the District Offices of the District Offices of the Department of Transport, CSC or the Post Office CSC at District Post Offices, with the documents shown below. I would recommend the Citizen Service Centers or the Post Office CSC .

You will require:
1) A completed TOM 7 application form – only available in Greek.
The form is is available and an English translation of the main headings can be downloaded here.

2) A form TOM 153 signed by your doctor, stating that you are fit to drive.

A photograph will usually be taken by a member of staff.
OR
If the person is not applying in person then two recent photographs which are 45mm in height by 35mm in width and complies with passport photograph standards are required. The photographs have to be certified by the relevent community leader and at the same time, a written authorization must be submitted by the applicant to the authorized person to act as their representative.

  1. Aliens Registration/Residents Permit and a copy. (MEU1/MEU2/MEU3)
  2. Produce evidence that you have been resident in Cyprus with six months of utility bills. EAC bill is strongly recomended, others may not be accepted. EAC customer service will issue to you a statement which is acceptable.
  3. If the applicant is a married woman and the utility bills are in her husband’s name, she will need to take her marriage certificate and a copy. If the applicant is co-habiting and the utility bills are in the name of another party, both may need to swear an affidavit to the effect that they are partners residing at the address. This may be in court or other authorized person. (To speed up court processes sworn statements have been outsourced to lawyers or Citizen Service Centers).
  4. Passport and a copy of the page with the holders details on it
  5. The licence is free

Drivers will be issued with a temporary paper licence. The temporary license will entitle the holder to DRIVE ONLY IN THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS until the arrival of the photo-card licence.

You will be notified by text when they are available for collection at the place nominated by you

The licence is normally valid for three years.

If you don’t have a Cyprus licence then additional documents are required and are listed on the driving licence information page.

Residency Requirements

Only Cyprus residents who can prove they have lived in the country for six months are eligible to apply for any Cyprus Driving Licence or take any Cyprus Driving Test.

Importing a used vehicle

Customs formalities when importing a vehicle

The Customs and Excise website now has all the customs information that you will require to import a vehicle into Cyprus from within the EU and third countries.

Registering the vehicle with the Department of Road Transport.

Details of how to register an imported used vehicle with the Department of Road Transport can be found  here in Greek.

I  recomend you use Google Translate in Google Chrome to translate the page to your language.

There is a standard registration fee of €150 for most private vehicles.

The article below may be of help.

Used imported vehicles require

A Vehicle Test Certificate (MOT – Roadworthiness).

All vehicles require

Insurance.

If your vehicle is fitted with a speedometer marked only in miles per hour (MPH), it may have to be replaced by one marked in kilometers per hour (kph).

Road Tax – Circulation Licence

A circulation licence is required to drive a vehicle on a public road. 

There is the option to buy a licence that is valid for 3, 6, 9 or 12 months.

Do Not Display Any Tax Disc
As of the 12th of March, 2010, the writing, attaching or displaying of any object on the windscreen of a vehicle is prohibited. This includes tax discs.

When to renew your road tax

Road tax can be renewed from the end of the first week of January until a date around the middle of March each year without penalty. Historically the cut off date has often been extended. Any changes are published locally and in the news section of this site.

From the March cut off date the police will prosecute. After the cut off date a fine of €10 + 10% of the rate of tax for the vehicle will be levied on renewal. If the tax is not renewed for a full year, further penalties apply.

Paying by Instalments

Road tax can be paid in monthly instalments on application. Failure to keep up the payments will result in revocation of the licence. Road Tax arrears can also be paid in instalments.
Road tax can also be paid in instalments of three, six and nine months, as well as the full twelve months. This can be done  through the methods outlined below.

A circulation licence cannot be renewed if the vehicle requires, but does not have, a current Biennial Vehicle Inspection Certificate (MOT). This information is logged on the DoRT database. If the MOT expires during the currency of the circulation licence, and is not renewed, the circulation licence becomes invalid and you are likely to be prosecuted for both offences.

How to renew your Road Tax

Renewal online at JCCsmart.com and internet banking.

You will be required to log on or register with JCCsmart.com with your email and a password. The site is in Greek and English.

  1. You will require the following details:
  2. Registration Document (Log Book).
  3. Credit card.
  4. The owners’ reference number is the last three digits of your ID, Alien Card or Passport number. This is the one shown on owner section of the logbook for that vehicle under I.C. No. or [C.9] on the newer Greek language log books.

You are able to pay for 3, 6, 9, or 12 months.

Insurance certificate number may be required if cover commenced recently and has not yet been entered onto the database.

District Post Offices and Citizens Service Centers.

You will require:

  1. Cash for the sum required.
  2. Registration Document (Log Book).
  3. The last three digits of your ID, Alien Card or Passport number. This is the one shown on the logbook.
  4. Insurance certificate may be required if cover commenced recently and has not yet been entered onto the database.
Renew at Department of Transport Offices.

You can apply at the local Department of Road Transport.

You will require:

  1. The application form TOM 8
  2. Cash for the sum required.
  3. Registration Document (Log Book).
  4. Insurance certificate may be required if cover commenced recently and has not yet been entered onto the database.

If your vehicle is going to be off the road. (S.O.R.N.)

If you are not going to use your car, going to the UK on an extended stay for example, you can obtain a rebate of some of the road tax unused during your absence or delay having to renew your road tax.

Before you go away,

Or as soon as the vehicle is off the road, fill in a form TOM 12 and take it with your log book to the Department of Transport Offices or Citizen Service Centers.
You will have to nominate a place, off the road, where it will be kept during your absence so that it can be inspected.

I have been informed of a change in procedure in that;
You should now take your bank IBAN number with you as any refund  is paid directly into your account. On your return re-tax the vehicle.

The notification cannot be backdated and is similar to the Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) in the UK.

You can download a printable form TOM 12 for completion and an English translation of form pdfhere.

Road Tax 2019

Changes in road tax rates applicable to vehicles registered in the Republic after the law comes into force at the beginning of 2019.

The changes will see a rise in the road tax of passenger vehicles with high CO2 emissions and a rise in the road tax of newly registered passenger vehicles and vans according to their age.

Road tax for those two vehicle categories will take into consideration the combined cycle CO2 emissions – euros per gramme per kilometre.

  1. For 120 gr/km the tax will €0.50 per gr/km, or €60;
  2. between 120 and 150, €3;
  3. 150 to 180, €6;
  4. over 180, €12.

Annual road tax cannot exceed €1,500.

On top of this, road tax charged on used vehicles imported after the law comes into force will also include additional charges based on their age.

  1. No charges will be imposed on used cars, petrol or diesel, up to one-year-old;
  2. between one and two, zero for petrol and €100 for diesel;
  3. two to three, €50 for petrol and €200 for diesel;
  4. three to four €100 and €300;
  5. four to five, €250 and €500;
  6. five to eight, €500 to €1,000;
  7. eight to 10, €750 and €1,500;
  8. over 10, €1,000 and €2,000.

Pick-up trucks and larger vans.

Vehicles designed to carry goods with a gross weight of less than 3501, that is pick-up trucks and larger vans, the way the tax is calculated has changed. It is now calculated at .05 cents per cc up to 1650cc and .10 cents for 1651cc and above plus the appropriate special fee in each case. A cap of €299 has been reinstated. Those that have paid over that sum will be refunded the difference.

Is Personal Attendance Required?

Most applications to the Department of Transport require personal attendance either at their own offices or at the Citizen Service Centers.

If the task can be carried out by an person authorized in writing, online, by email or by post it will normally say so in the article.

If you are not able to attend you should contact one of the companies who advertise as being able to carry these tasks on your behalf for a fee, or contact your local CSC or the Department of Transport directly for guidance.

Department of Road Transport Forms

The Department of Transport add a suffix at each form change, A to B, B to Γ, Γ το Δ etc. If you come accross an updated form you should use it. Please me know here.

Click this link regarding personal attendance with the forms.
Driving Licence Application Form – TOM 7D.
Download TOM 7 print and complete
TOM 7 English Guide
Medical Form – TOM 153E – Required with driving licence application if over 70 years, drivers with disabilities and applications for licences in categories C, C + E, D, D + E, subcategories C1, C1 + E, D1, D1 + E, and special classes G, H, I.
Download TOM 153E print for Doctor to complete
Replacement of Document on loss or theft etc. – TOM 46B.
Download TOM 46 print and completeTOM 46 English Guide
Road Tax Suspension Form – TOM 12. Use when vehicle not in use and off road (In UK called a SORN)
Download TOM 12 print and completeTOM 12 English Guide
Change of ownership of vehicle – TOM 9B
Download TOM 9 print and completeTOM 9 English Guide

   A pdf reader is required to read these forms

Document Replacement

To apply for a duplicate or replacement of any Department of Road Transport document on loss, theft or defacement.

There is a fee which varies depending on the document being replaced.

You require:

Completed form TOM 46.

For replacement Driving Licence, a Form TOM 7 and TOM 46 ARE REQUIRED – the officer of the Department may be able to take our photograph. If not, two recent passport size photographs (40x35mm)
The Fee is € 40.

Take the completed forms to your district Transport Department Office or CSC.

You can download a printable form for completion and an English translation pdfhere.

If your current EU or National licence is lost or stolen, it has to be replaced in your country of current residence. The replacement will be based on the information or proof supplied from the issuing Country. (Article 8(5) of Directive 91/439/EEC).

Motorcycle Test – Cyprus

Only Cyprus residents who can prove they have lived in the country for six months are eligible to apply for a Cyprus provisional learner driving licence and take a Cyprus Driving Test. This to comply with EU Directives.

EU provisional / learner / student licences are valid and can be used to drive and book a test providing you are old enough to drive in Cyprus.

Driving Test Application

Form T.O.M. 25B is available and an English translation with full instructions can be downloaded here.

The test fee is €20.

It is possible to pay an extra €34.17 to take the test out of hours. This is to pay the examiner to work overtime. The test will be in the afternoon, after normal working hours. However, 21 days must elapse between the issue of a provisional licence and the test.

If you fail the test an interval of 30 days must elapse before it can be retaken.

You may also book your test online.

Download the website details and instructions here (The instructions and the site are currently in Greek Only)

Taking the riding test in your own, or non driving school motorcycle.

You will be required to produce:

  1. Driving Licence.
  2. Insurance certificate. This is an extra insurance certificate which specifically covers your use of the vehicle on the day of the test and for the purpose of taking the motorcycle test.
  3. The vehicle must display E plates front and rear.

The Cyprus Motorcycle Test:

Consists of a short verbal theory test, in Greek or English, on traffic signs and the highway code, similar to that taken when applying for a provisional licence.

A practical test of skills and behaviour for motorcycles was introduced whereby the examiner would follow the student. However this was abandoned in most cases very quickly after its introduction. Therefore the test in Cyprus does not include an on road element in most cases.

The test therefore usually involves driving in the confines of the driving test center, slowly around a circuit of cones. You will be expected to carry out an emergency stop.

Opinion:- The test is totally inadequate for current road and traffic conditions and cannot be described as a test of skills and behaviour.

The Department of Transport has failed in their duty to ensure that the test is suitable for today’s traffic conditions. Until the matter is addressed the death toll will continue to rise. It is no surprise that the death rate is so high amongst motorcyclists in Cyprus.

Hiring a motorcycle for learner rider training or the motorcycle test.

To take the motorcycle test you must be in possession or have use of a suitable motorcycle. It is now legal to hire a motorcycle for the purpose of taking the test.

The test is specific to the category of the motorcycle on which the test is taken, that is A1, A2, A.

If you take your test on an automatic motorcycle or ATV and pass, you will only be able to drive automatics on your full licence. A pass on a motorcycle or ATV with a manual gearbox will enable you to drive manual and automatics.

Motor Scooters

Are not a category but are either motorcycles or mopeds depending on their engine size and specification.

Changes to the Theory Test

The Department of Transport have put out to tender for the supply of computers required for adopting a UK style driving theory test for Cyprus. This has been promised for years and has yet to happen.