Car owners in Cyprus have been reminded of the approaching deadline for payment of the road tax. It is possible to renew a vehicle license for 2026 without additional fees only until midnight on March 11. After this date, the payment amount will increase due to a penalty. The warning was published by the Road Transport Department — the authority responsible for vehicle registration and records on the island.
How many vehicles have already renewed the road tax
According to the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, by the beginning of March the license had been renewed for 677,133 vehicles. For comparison, last year on the same date the figure was slightly higher — about 680,670 vehicles.
Despite the slight decrease, authorities expect the traditional surge in payments on the final day. That is why drivers are asked not to postpone renewal until the last hours in order to avoid overloading the online system.
What penalty is imposed for late payment
If a vehicle owner does not renew the road tax on time, an additional fee will have to be paid. It consists of a fixed €10 plus 10 percent of the annual tax amount for the specific vehicle.
Applications for license renewal began as early as January 7. At the same time, vehicle owners can choose a convenient license validity period — for three, six, nine, or twelve months. This system allows drivers to distribute expenses more flexibly.
How to renew road tax in Cyprus
The most convenient way to arrange renewal is to use the online service on the Road Transport Department website. This can be done at any time without visiting government offices. However, before making payment it is important to ensure that the vehicle has a valid technical inspection and up-to-date insurance. Without these documents the system will not allow the procedure to be completed.
It should be taken into account that online renewal is not available for certain categories of transport. This applies to vehicles of diplomatic missions, United Nations vehicles, quarry machinery, special buses for large families, and classic cars with a special license.
What to do if the car is not being used
If the owner does not plan to use the car in 2026, it is necessary to officially notify the transport department about the temporary suspension of its use. Such a declaration can be submitted online. If this is not done, the obligation to pay road tax will remain, even if the car is not actually being used.
In addition, vehicles for which the tax for 2025 was not renewed and immobilization was not declared may be removed from the register of the transport department.
What to do when scrapping a vehicle
If a car has been written off or sent for scrapping, the owner must officially cancel the registration. For this purpose, form RTD 98A must be submitted together with a certificate of destruction issued by a licensed automotive waste recycling company. After confirmation of scrapping, the owner is exempt from paying road tax from the date the vehicle was destroyed.
The transport department also noted that this year notifications about license renewal were not sent to vehicle owners. Therefore, drivers are advised to check payment deadlines themselves and keep their contact details in the department’s system up to date. Timely renewal of road tax is a mandatory condition for legally using a vehicle on the roads of Cyprus. If the deadline is missed, the payment amount will automatically increase.
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Photos: pixabay.com, DOM
