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    Rent a car in Cyprus

    Hertz
    Avis
    SIXT
    Europcar
    Enterprise
    Alamo
    National
    Thrifty
    Goldcar
    Carwiz
    AutoRent Cyprus
    Aercar
    ABBYCAR
    Elephant Rent A Car
    RightCars
    Green Motion
    Optimo Rent
    Autounion
    Get Your Car
    Flizzr
    Finalrentals
    EXER
    AIDA
    DRIVUS
    Ace Rent a Car
    Surprice
    Zezgo

    Driving in Cyprus

    Four things that surprise almost every first-time driver on the island.

    KEEP LEFT
    You drive on the left
    A British legacy, and the biggest adjustment for most visitors. Roundabouts run clockwise and the gearstick sits to your left. Give yourself the first hour on quiet roads before riding around.
    50 100
    KM/H · NOT MPH
    Motorways have a minimum speed
    Signs are in kilometres. Motorways run to 100 km/h with an 80 km/h minimum. Make sure to check the signs on the streets. Google Maps and Waze can also tell you the right speed, but we always recommend checking the signs to be 100% safe.
    ZZM 471
    HIRE PLATE
    Hire cars wear red plates
    Rental vehicles carry distinctive red number plates. Most local drivers read that as a cue to leave you room, though it also means you'll be noticed if you park somewhere you shouldn't.
    CAUGHT ON CAMERA
    Red-light and speed cameras
    Fixed cameras catch both speeding and running a red light, or even stopping past the line. They are common on busy streets and at city intersections, and mobile speed cameras get around too. Be careful and don't speed. Plan your trip on our interactive map and save yourself a ticket.

    Larnaca or Paphos?

    Two airports, opposite ends of the island. The right one is simply the one nearest your first week.

    Larnaca International Airport lit up at night
    LCA · Main gateway

    Larnaca Airport

    The deeper rental market, with more desks and keener prices. The better base for Nicosia, Ayia Napa, Protaras and the Troodos.

    The Paphos International Airport terminal at dusk
    PFO · Quick exit

    Paphos Airport

    Smaller and faster to escape. The obvious choice for Coral Bay, Latsi, the Akamas, the wine villages and Limassol.

    Heading to Limassol or Nicosia? Both sit between the two airports, so choose on price. You can also collect in either city rather than at an airport, which often undercuts the airport desk. One-way rentals between the two airports are usually available for a modest fee.

    Three drives

    Routes where a car isn't convenience. It's the only way in.

    The Akamas coastline looking north along the peninsula
    NORTHWEST
    The Akamas peninsula
    The Blue Lagoon and the tracks past Lara Bay are unsealed and rough. Worth knowing before you book: most rental agreements exclude unsurfaced roads outright, so damage out there may sit outside your cover. Plenty of visitors park at Latsi and take the boat instead, or hire a quad bike or buggy for the tracks.
    Unsealed Half day
    The Troodos mountains looking out across the ridges
    INTERIOR
    The Troodos mountains
    Painted churches, Kykkos monastery, and villages that see two buses a day. Roads are well surfaced but narrow and hairpinned, and the higher passes get real snow in winter.
    Paved Full day
    Sea caves at Cape Greco
    SOUTHEAST
    Cape Greco and the east
    Sea caves, the Konnos Bay overlook, and a string of coves between Ayia Napa and Protaras. Buses reach the main stops in summer only, and every good parking spot is somewhere in between.
    Easy Half day
    Plan the rest of the route on our interactive map, or browse all destinations.

    Five things to check

    Decide these before you're standing at the counter with a queue behind you. Every one of them is easier to settle from the sofa.

    Compare prices →
    01
    The excess, and what covers it
    Cheaper deals carry a higher deductible. An optional full-coverage product covers the excess for damage and theft, plus towing and lockout costs. Read what it includes and decide now, not while you're being upsold at the desk.
    02
    Deposit and card rules
    The security deposit varies by supplier and vehicle, and many need a credit card in the main driver's name. Some take a debit card for payment but still want a credit card for the hold, so check the deposit section specifically, not just payment methods.
    03
    Mileage and fuel policy
    Unlimited mileage matters more here than you'd think, because a Troodos loop plus an Akamas day can put 400 km on the clock in three days. Full-to-full almost always beats paying for a tank up front.
    04
    Where you're allowed to drive
    Two restrictions catch people out: unsurfaced roads, which most agreements exclude, and crossing to the north, which many suppliers prohibit or require separate arrangements for. If either is in your plan, get it confirmed in writing first.
    05
    The walk-around before you leave
    Photograph every panel, the wheels, the windscreen and the fuel gauge before you pull away, and make sure existing marks are on the sheet you sign. Two minutes in the car park settles most disputes at drop-off.

    Rental terms, prices and conditions are set by the rental companies and can change at any time, so always read the Rental Conditions for your specific booking. Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. See our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy.