Cyprus is one of only four EU countries that drives on the LEFT (UK side) – the single biggest surprise for visitors from continental Europe or the US. Rental cars carry RED licence plates (white plates mean the operator is not licensed). Economy weekly rates run €70–140 (~$76–153) low season to €200–420 (~$218–458) summer; automatics add €10–20/day and sell out 2+ months ahead. Petrol 95 is €1.55/L (~$1.69), diesel €1.89/L (~$2.06) – unusually for Europe, diesel is more expensive. Cyprus motorways (A1, A2, A3, A5, A6, A9) are all toll-free. Petsas is the only major operator that legally permits crossing into Northern Cyprus with their own insurance – for every other rental, park south and cross on foot at Ledra Street.
A rental car is the best way to combine Cyprus's beaches, Troodos mountains and historic sites in one trip.
Cyprus has high seasonality – summer rates can be 4–5 times the winter price for the same car. Verified from a fresh DiscoverCars search for Larnaca pickup.
| Season | Economy manual /week | Automatic compact /week | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (Nov–Mar) | €70–140 | €180–280 | Lowest demand |
| Shoulder (Apr–May, Oct) | €100–210 | €220–340 | Best weather |
| Peak (Jun–Sep) | €200–420 | €330–595 | Book 2+ months ahead |
Cyprus is one of only four EU countries that drives on the left (with Ireland, Malta and the UK pre-2020). The steering wheel is on the right; the gear lever on your left. Roundabouts are taken clockwise. Pay attention at junctions: give way to traffic coming from your right.
Rental cars are identified by RED licence plates (the historic Z prefix was phased out in 2013). If a car offered as a rental has WHITE plates, the operator is not legally registered – walk away.
Minimum age is 21, licence held minimum 2–3 years. EU/UK/EEA licences are accepted directly for stays up to 30 days; non-EU visitors should carry an International Driving Permit.
Local Cypriot operators consistently outperform the international chains on price and service.
Oldest local operator and the only major company that legally insures cross-border drives into Northern Cyprus. Cars at LCA, PFO, Limassol, Nicosia.
Highest-rated local on DiscoverCars (9.0/10 at LCA, 9.1/10 at PFO). WhatsApp meet-and-greet pickup. Debit cards accepted.
Family-run Limassol operator with competitive long-term rates. Particularly strong for multi-week stays at south coast resorts.
Multi-branch operator with flexible pickup and drop-off across the island. Solid for combining resorts.
Full presence on-airport and in city centres. Premium fleet, slightly pricier (~€85–130/day peak economy).
Standard Hertz product. Mixed reviews on TripAdvisor. Best if you want loyalty points or a familiar brand.
Low headline rates but flagged for surprise insurance upsells and long airport waits. If you book, bring third-party excess insurance.
Good DiscoverCars score but parent Green Motion has well-documented disputes around damage claims. Use with full third-party cover and a walk-around video.
Trustpilot scores – Cyprus operators
May 2026 verified
Default CDW excess €500–2,000 depending on car class. Counter Super CDW costs €10–30/day. Third-party annual excess policies (RentalCover, iCarHireInsurance) cost €40–60/year and cover items rental policies exclude: tyres, windscreen, undercarriage, roof, lost keys, fuel contamination.
Petrol 95: €1.55/L (~$1.69), diesel: €1.89/L (~$2.06) per GlobalPetrolPrices May 2026. Unusually for Europe, diesel is MORE expensive than petrol – a petrol economy car is usually cheaper to fuel than a diesel.
None. Cyprus has zero toll roads, bridges or tunnels. All six motorways are entirely toll-free.
Motorways: 100 km/h max, 65 km/h min. Rural roads: 80 km/h. Urban: 50 km/h. Police enforce mobile-phone use and speeding strictly.
Well-paved on main routes but narrow, winding and 1,500 m+ altitude. Black ice possible December–March, especially near Amiandos. Snow chains advisable above 1,200 m in winter.
Most southern Cypriot rental contracts prohibit crossing into the north because the insurance is invalid past the Green Line. Petsas is the ONLY major operator that explicitly permits crossings with their own insurance cover. Otherwise: park in the south and cross on foot at Ledra Street (Nicosia), or buy separate Turkish-side traffic insurance at the checkpoint (~€25–30/week, third-party only).
The LEFT, like the UK and Ireland. The steering wheel is on the right of the car. Give way to traffic coming from your right at junctions and roundabouts.
No. Cyprus has zero toll roads, bridges or tunnels. All six motorways are completely free.
Most rental contracts prohibit it because insurance is invalid past the Green Line. A. Petsas & Sons is the only major operator that lets you cross with their own insurance.
Red plates identify a vehicle as a legally licensed rental car. If a rental has white plates, the operator is not registered.
Petrol 95 averages €1.55/L and diesel €1.89/L per GlobalPetrolPrices May 2026. Unusually for Europe, diesel is more expensive than petrol.
EU, UK and EEA licence holders do NOT need an IDP for stays up to 30 days. Non-EU visitors should carry an IDP alongside their home licence.
Yes – July–August automatics can hit €330–595/week and sell out 2–3 months ahead. Prefer May/June or September/October for the best balance.
Disclosure: Auto Jardim participates in the DiscoverCars affiliate programme.
Sources verified May 2026: GlobalPetrolPrices, Trustpilot, DiscoverCars, RentalCover, operator websites.
