Getting a driver's license is an important topic for everyone who lives on the sunny island of Cyprus. Whether you are a natural-born driver or you plan rare trips out of urgent necessity, it is better to get this sorted out sooner rather than later.
A car is a loyal companion for your whole family, ready to cool you down or warm you up when needed, to hide you from the scorching sun in the middle of August and from the pouring rain on a February night. Yes, the air conditioning is probably the most important feature, at least for me. But there are also other reasons to get a license in Cyprus urgently: beautiful roads, unreliability and high cost of taxi services, and long waits between buses. So, let’s get started!
Who can get a license in Cyprus?
In Cyprus, a Category B license can be obtained by every adult resident (18+), if properly prepared, regardless of citizenship, through the Department of Transport. However, when it comes to citizens of non-EU countries, before taking the exam or exchanging an existing driver's license, you must first prove, by presenting documents, you have legally resided on the island for at least 6 months (even if you live longer, you prove exactly the last 6 months). Europeans can immediately drive freely with their licenses, and after 6 months, exchange them for local ones, as the law states. In practice, many drive with their documents for years, but in theory, this can cause serious insurance problems in the event of an accident. So it is better to get a local one and confidently drive around the island.
How to exchange a driver's license for a Cypriot one
Sometimes there is no need at all to get a Cypriot license if you already have one! Here’s a list of the countries whose citizens can exchange them for Cypriot ones after 6 months of residence: Australia, Canada, Georgia, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Great Britain, Ukraine, UAE, USA, Zimbabwe.
The exchange process takes only two weeks, costs about 40 euros, and the old driver's license will have to be surrendered upon receipt of the new ones. To do this, you need to come to the Department of Transport of your city on any working day, and in person submit a package of documents: proof that you have been living in Cyprus for 6 months (utility bills for water or electricity in your name (if not, then in the name of the person who pays and relationship documents), a completed questionnaire Τ.Ο.Μ.7Δ).
The Tests for future drivers in Cyprus
Cypriot residents to obtain a driver's license must pass a two-part exam: theory and practice. They take place on different days, in Greek or English. You can arrange everything and do it yourself, or choose a mentor — a driving instructor, and also a consultant at every step: from practice to filling out questionnaires in Greek. At the same time, 7 driving lessons are mandatory on the island for everyone.
Studying the Rules of the Road
Before proceeding to practice, you must first learn the traffic rules, signs, markings, police signals... Most do this on their own. For those who know Greek, a free electronic textbook is available on the website of the Department of Transport. For those who like to play — the Cyprus Road Signs app. A colorful manual in English is sold in bookstores, and in almost every kiosk — at a price of 5 euros. It is interesting that in Cyprus, people over 17.5 years old are allowed to take the theoretical exam, and over 18 years old for driving. When the theoretical exam is passed to the learner, they give a Provisional license. You can drive in a pair with an instructor or, by getting insurance, with a person who has more than 5 years of driving experience in the same category and is over 25 years old (does not permit you to drive on certain complex roads). At this stage, the costs are 30 euros, not including the rule book.
Learning to Drive and Taking the Practical Test
Having a student license in hand, we sign up for a practical exam and begin to practice driving and maneuvering the car. At the same time, you can use your car. Driving practice in Cyprus is done immediately in the city after instruction, and not on a driving course. At the same time, the minimum number of hours of driving lessons is 7. On average, the preparation process takes at least six months due to the fact that it is sometimes not easy to get to the second part of the test (they take place on different days), the queue can be 3-4 months long due to the Department of Transport’s heavy workload. Sometimes the learner can snag an earlier spot, if someone suddenly refused a previously booked time. Instructors often "hunt" for these openings for a small fee. Based on the results of the exam, they immediately give documents with which you can drive, and you wait two weeks for a plastic card.
How much does the practical exam cost?
Taking into account the cost of lessons (about 175 euros), participation in the practical test (20 euros), renting an instructor's car (150 euros) or your own car (free, plus additional insurance for 25 euros and "learner" stickers in the form of the Greek letter epsilon Ε), a plastic driver's license (40 euros) — the total cost adds up to a considerable sum. On average, people spend 700 euros. But, you must agree, it is much more important to be a confident driver than to stop halfway. By the way, student licenses are canceled after a year. So don't give up if you don't pass the practice on the first try!
An instructor in Cyprus — a mentor and guide to the car world
Private instructors with licence take the place of formal driving schools. What a time-saver! Yes, sometimes they create their own schools, but this format is not so popular. If you find a good teacher, you're halfway there. These road angels will explain all the nuances and local driving quirks, they prepare you morally and physically. They are always busy, it can be difficult to find time, but they do not overcharge prices, about 20 euros per lesson.
The instructor will give a student the exact number of hours they need. If we are talking about serious driving, few people have time to learn from scratch in 7 lessons. For more confident driving, 25 lessons are optimal. At the same time, it is quite acceptable if you personally need 80 lessons and a latte with coconut milk.
The only thing is, if you have previously had enough driving experience in your country, and have been driving in Cyprus for a long time, you may find that the 7 mandatory lessons, which must be spread over a period of at least 21 days, are not all in one go. So, the procedure for obtaining a license on the island through a local instructor:
- We learn the rules at our own pace.
- We find an instructor who signs up and takes you to take the theory. You rehearse. After successful passing, they give you a Student license.
- In the Department of Transport, the instructor helps fill out the questionnaire in Greek and checks the papers: passport, residence permit, water/electricity bills for the last 6 months (if not in your name, then a marriage certificate), a photo of 45 × 35 mm.
- The instructor rehearses with the student the theory and driving skills.
- The instructor or student signs up for the driving exam. After successfully passing, they give temporary paper licenses, and after two weeks, a plastic driver's license.
How the exams are held in Cyprus
So, the exams are very relaxed, without any fuss, in Greek or English. This is especially true for the theoretical part, although the second stage is also relatively calm. Within 1-2 minutes, the examiner asks about signs, police signals and road markings. You immediately understand your result. The second part — the practical driving exam — is stricter and lasts about 30 minutes. Driving is taken in the city and assesses your ability to perform maneuvers, for example, parallel parking. The plus is that you can come in your own car, having previously insured it and stuck on the student stickers. The second option is to rent the car that you studied with an instructor and come with him to the practical exam. By the way, few people fail the first exam, but not everyone passes the second one right away.
It is quite realistic to get a license in Cyprus, if you set such a goal seriously, but it is definitely not two weeks, but a longer process. At all stages, you can enlist the support of an instructor, who in Cyprus is like a godfather to a future driver. Then you will often meet him on the roads and he, sitting in a training car, will be waving and shouting "Kalimera!" to you! And if you suddenly forget that you need to exit the roundabout from the same lane that you entered, call him and for a refresher. Good luck!
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