On the island of Aphrodite, a private car is not a luxury, but an absolute necessity. Using public transport on a daily basis is not convenient due to the long gaps in the timetable and the climate.
This is why many people have a private car. With the vehicle on the island and all the necessary documents, the procedure takes a maximum of 15 minutes.
It should be noted that both residents and non-residents can buy a car in Cyprus. Therefore, there is no urgent need to constantly rent a car while waiting for a residence card. You can buy your own car with all the necessary features. There is no need to prove your source of income, even if you are buying a luxury sports car.
Buying a new car
For those who prefer a new car, there are several options. Firstly, there are the official dealerships, which are located all over the island. They are convenient because you can buy a car in instalments or on credit and then sell it back to the same dealer after a few years of use. There are also local online shops that work with official dealers in the UK, Ireland and Japan and can communicate in the buyer's language. The difference lies in how long you have to wait for the car: a few months or a whole year, and in the payment methods.
Before taking possession of a vehicle bought from a dealer, the buyer must provide proof of insurance cover and payment of road tax. For those who are unfamiliar with this, sellers are happy to help with the paperwork for a small commission.
Incidentally, the amount of annual road tax in Cyprus is linked to the age of the car and the amount of CO2 it produces. In this respect, it is worth looking at fuel-efficient electric cars and hybrids. What's more, from 2035 it will be illegal to register fossil-fuelled cars in Cyprus, as in the rest of the EU.
Buying a used car
If you don't have time to wait for a new car, you can rent or buy a used one. If you don't need transport, you can complete the purchase in as little as a day. The catch is that even used cars are expensive in Cyprus due to historically high customs duties. Duty paid vehicles imported from abroad are available for purchase by any resident.
Selling a vehicle brought into Cyprus with and without excise duty and VAT
When selling a vehicle in Cyprus that was imported with an exemption from excise duty and VAT, the seller (or buyer) must pay duty and VAT on the value of the vehicle if it is sold within 10 years of importation. Duty and VAT are calculated on the value of the vehicle at the time of importation less annual depreciation. For the dealer, this may make it difficult to sell the vehicle at a favourable price.
Change of ownership after purchase
To change the name of the owner of a car, you must complete a TOM 9B form and submit it to the Department of Transport. A copy of the TOM 9B form and instructions on how to complete it can be found on the Department's website or at their office.
The following documents are required for this transaction:
- Identity documents (passport or Cyprus Resident Card) for both the buyer and the seller.
- MOT certificate
- Proof of insurance for the buyer.
This document must be signed by both the seller and the buyer of the vehicle. Change of ownership forms are available in English and Greek and can be completed at the local Citizen Services Centre (Citizen Services Centre Κέντρο Εξυπηρέτησης του Πολίτη).
If the buyer and seller arrive with all the necessary documents, the new registration document will be issued very quickly, at least on the same day. If the application and supporting documents are sent to the Department of Transport (TOM), the buyer must return to the department's office about a week later to receive the new registration document.
Changing the address on the registration documents
The change of address procedure can be done online or at any local TOM office or Citizens Service Centre, unless the change needs to be recorded on the registration document, which can only be done at the Nicosia TOM offices. The vehicle registration document and proof of the new address are required.
To update your address online, you must go to the official website of the Department of Road Transport.
In general, almost all models of world cars are available in Cyprus today. Fuel prices are high, rising and falling from time to time, and the number of electric filling stations is increasing every year. The average Cypriot family has a couple of cars, but at the same time there is almost no traffic congestion on the roads and driving is a pleasure.
Choose from a wide range of cars on the DOMCar website
Photos: DOM, pixabay.com
