Europe · driving guide
Driving in Cyprus.
They drive on the left. Strongly recommended. Here is what a rental desk and a roadside check will actually ask you for.
Drives on the
Left
Permit
Strongly recommended
Typical minimum age
18
Which side of the road does Cyprus drive on?
Cyprus drives on the left. If you normally drive on the right, the two things that catch people out are roundabouts and the first turn out of the rental car park — both are worth taking slowly. Cars are usually configured with the driver's seat on the right, so the gear selector will be in your other hand.
Do you need an international driving permit in Cyprus?
Usually. Not demanded everywhere, but routinely requested by rental firms, police and insurers. It is not always demanded, but the cost of not having one when it is asked for is a cancelled rental at the airport.
Minimum age to rent a car in Cyprus
Most rental companies in Cyprus will not release a vehicle to anyone under 18, and many apply a young-driver surcharge below 25. Age limits are set by the rental company rather than by law, so they vary between firms at the same airport — check the terms on the booking rather than assuming.
What to carry when driving in Cyprus
Your national driving licence, your international driving permit, the vehicle's rental agreement and insurance documents, and your passport. Keep them together and reachable from the driver's seat — a roadside check goes faster when nothing has to come out of the boot.
Convention status
Cyprus has acceded to the 1949 Geneva convention. That is what makes a permit issued under it readable to an official there.
Questions about driving in Cyprus
Which side of the road do they drive on in Cyprus?
Cyprus drives on the left. Rental cars are configured accordingly, with the driver's seat on the right.
Do I need an international driving permit in Cyprus?
Strongly recommended in Cyprus. Not demanded everywhere, but routinely requested by rental firms, police and insurers. The permit is always carried alongside your national licence.
How old do you have to be to rent a car in Cyprus?
Rental companies in Cyprus generally require drivers to be at least 18, with a surcharge often applied under 25. The limit is set by the company, not by law, so it varies between firms.