Car Hire and Driving in North Cyprus: Everything You Need to Know

Public transport in North Cyprus exists, but it will not take you to an empty beach at sunset or up a mountain to a Crusader castle. Nearly every guest hires a car, and the process is simpler than people expect — with a few local quirks worth knowing.

What it costs

A small automatic in low season starts from roughly £25-30 a day, dropping considerably on a weekly rate. High summer pushes prices up and availability down, so book ahead for July and August. Fuel is cheaper than in the UK or Germany, and distances are short — you will not spend much on either.

Driving is on the left

A legacy of the British period, along with roundabouts and familiar road signs. Most visitors adapt within a day. The two moments to concentrate on are pulling out of a supermarket car park and the first roundabout of each morning. Cars are almost always right-hand drive, so it feels natural to British drivers.

Licences and paperwork

A valid national driving licence from the UK, EU or most other countries is accepted for tourist stays; an international permit is not normally required. You will need to be over 21 (sometimes 25 for larger cars) and to have held the licence for at least a year. Take a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit.

Insurance — read this part

Basic cover is usually included, but the excess can be high and tyres, windscreens and the underside of the car are frequently excluded. Ask specifically:

• What is the excess, and can it be reduced?
• Are tyres and glass covered?
• Is damage on unmade roads covered? (This matters for hillside villas.)
• Is a second driver included?

Cars hired in the north are generally not insured to cross into the south; separate cover is bought at the crossing.

Do you need a 4x4?

Almost never. Main roads are good, and coastal routes are well surfaced. The exception is a villa at the end of a steep unmade track — worth asking about before you book the smallest car available. Most of our holiday villas are on made-up roads.

Fuel, parking and practicalities

• Fuel stations are attended; say the amount or "full" and pay at the car.
• Not every station takes cards late at night — keep some cash.
• Parking in Kyrenia is the only place you will struggle; there are car parks just back from the harbour.
• Speed limits are posted in km/h; radar checks are common on the coast road.
• Drink-driving limits are strict and enforced.

Crossing to the south

Border crossings are straightforward for people, less so for cars. Buy the separate insurance at the crossing point, allow extra time in summer, and check that your hire agreement permits it at all. Many guests park on one side and take a taxi instead.

Our recommendation

Take our included airport transfer on arrival — after a connecting flight, learning a new road in the dark is not the best plan — and have a hire car delivered to the villa the next morning. We arrange this with a local supplier we have used for years, and the car is waiting outside when you wake up. Mention it when you book and we will sort it.