Car rental in Cyprus: Complete guide and key tips for travelers

The captivating Mediterranean island of Cyprus is known for its rich history, stunning landscapes and warm hospitality. Travelers can explore ancient sites, like the Tombs of the Kings, relax on beautiful beaches, such as Nissi Beach, and enjoy the gastronomy of this unique country. Cyprus also boasts charming villages, vivid cities, like Limassol and Nicosia, and scenic mountains perfect for hiking. 

With car hire in Cyprus, you can take the full out of this amazing destination. Read further the ultimate car rental guide for Cyprus and get ready for your unforgettable vacations!

Car hire in Cyprus is a simple procedure. The step-by-step rental process consists of the following:

1. Choose from Abbycar’s easy platform or in person in one of our rental locations the car type that meets your criteria according to your needs, travel plan and budget.
2. Provide a valid driving license, passport or ID and credit card.
3. A deposit amount will be blocked in your credit card, but not charged. This deposit will be charged only in case of damage.
4. You take the car after inspecting its situation and take photos to prove the existence of any pre-existing damage. You should also check the mileage and gas mileage.
5. You return the car at the drop-off point.

The required documents you need to rent a car in Cyprus are:

• Driving license (International Driving Permit for foreign non-EU drivers)
• Passport or ID
• Credit card under the main driver’s name.

The best practices for renting a car in Cyprus are:

• Obtain an International Driving Permit: It is required along with your national license if you are a foreign driver outside EU.
• Book in advance: Make the reservation early, especially in high season.
• Choose the right car: A small car to easily find parking is the best option. Otherwise, if you want to do long road trips, a compact car or an SUV is ideal.
• Best insurance: There are many options for car rental insurance in Cyprus (See below for more information). It is wiser to choose an insurance with wide coverage and low deductible, including theft protection.
• Check the car before pick-up: Inspect the rental car for damages before taking it. Take photos to prove its prior condition.
• Fill up the tank: The tank must be full before returning the car to avoid extra charges. The most common policy is “same to same”, meaning you should return the car with the same amount of fuel as when you took it.
• Understand the rental agreement: Read thoroughly the Terms & Conditions and keep the contract.
• Get familiar with driving rules in Cyprus: In Cyprus, unlike the countries of continental Europe, drivers drive on the left side of the road. If you are not familiar with this rule, you should be very careful and drive slowly.
• Respect the speed limits: They are within city 50 km/h, outside city 80 km/h and on motorways 100 km/h.

The minimum age is 24 years old and the maximum age is 70 years old.

The best tips for car hire in Cyprus, especially if you are a young driver, are:

• Additional fee: Please inform us about your age before your arrival to check whether there are additional fees.
• Choose the right car: Especially if you are an inexperienced driver, a 4X4 car is the safest option to explore areas outside major cities.
• Drive safely: Follow the speed limits and be careful with local driving habits​.
• Follow the driving rules for tourists in Cyprus: Drive slowly and cautiously if you are not familiar with driving on the left side of the road.

Abbycar is one of the car rental companies in Cyprus that accept debit card and cash as an alternative payment method.

However, keep in mind the following tips for car rental in Cyprus with no deposit: 

• Inform the rental office before your arrival about your desire to pay without a credit card.
• Ensure you have sufficient fund for the security deposit.
• You can pay only with Visa and MasterCard.
• Not the entire car fleet is available for car rental without credit card, so it is important to be informed about the car hire options in Cyprus without credit card.

Plus, you should keep in mind that there are some terms and conditions for car rental without credit card in Cyprus. The most important are:

• Age restrictions: There are car rental age restrictions to rent a car in Cyprus and pay by cash or with debit card.
• Insurance coverage: You may be required to buy extra insurance with wide coverage, such as Super Collision Damage Waiver that eliminates the deposit amount.
• Geographic restrictions: Driving the rental car outside the city or country might be prohibited or require additional fees and permissions, especially with no credit card.

Renting a car in Cyprus has many advantages, especially if you rent a car in major cities, like Nicosia, Limassol or Larnaca.

The pros of renting a car in Cyprus are:

• Flexibility to travel at your own pace and see as many points of interest as you want.
• Convenience and avoidance of overcrowded public transportation, especially in the high season.
• Opportunity to travel easily and conveniently with kids, pets etc. as well as carry equipment for outdoor activities.
• Exploration of off-the-track-path places that are not accessible by public transportation, such as Avakas Gorge, Kantara Castle, Caledonia Waterfalls and Akamas Peninsula.

The cons of renting a car in Cyprus are:

• Heavy traffic in rush hours in tourist destinations and major cities and tourist resorts, like Larnaca, Limassol, Pafos and Agia Napa.
• Expensive parking
• Stressful driving style
• High travel cost (including car rental, fuel and insurance).

However, keep in mind that Abbycar offers cheap car hire in Cyprus, providing discounts and the best car rental deals to find the most suitable car according to your budget.

Other transportation options you have:

• Public buses: Public buses are the most common form of public transportation in Cyprus. They are cheap, but they don’t reach remote locations and have limited schedules.
• Taxis: Taxis are widely available in Cyprus. They offer a convenient but more expensive alternative to buses. If you do many and long routes, car rental is more cost-effective.
• Bicycles: Cyprus has a growing number of cycling routes, especially in cities like Nicosia and Limassol, as well as scenic rural areas. Biking is a popular way to explore the island and bike rentals are widely available. However, during the high season, due to the heavy traffic, biking is not the safest option. Plus, in summer, the weather is too hot to bike, especially in the noon and afternoon.
• Motorcycles: Renting a motorcycle or scooter is a popular option, especially for exploring the coastal areas and smaller towns. Though it is a common choice for solo travelers or couples, you should be very careful with road conditions and dangerous driving habits.
• Tourist Buses: In major tourist areas, there are hop-on & hop-off buses for the key attractions inside the city. However, they don’t do routes outside the city.

If you are wondering whether to rent a car in Cyprus or not, here is our situational advice for travelers:

• Short trip: If you plan to stay 1-2 days in a major city or resort, car rental is not necessary, and you can see many points of interest by bus.
• Long stay: If you stay longer than 3 days, you have the time to visit historical and natural sites outside the cities, such as Avakas Gorge, Kantara Castle, Caledonia Waterfalls and Akamas Peninsula, so it is better to rent a car in order to get the full out of the experience in Cyprus.
• Road trips: If you want to make road trips and discover the whole island, then car rental is the only option you have. The most popular road trips in Cyprus are Troodos Mountains, Lefkara Village and surroundings, Five Finger Mountains and Agia Napa coastal drive.

The vehicle rental insurance in Cyprus is mandatory and you can choose wider coverage according to your needs.

The car rental insurance options in Cyprus and their coverage details are:

• Collision Damage Waiver: This type covers the financial liability for damage to the rental car, but it includes a deductible. This is the amount, which is blocked in your credit card.
• Theft Protection: It covers the rental car in case of theft.
• Third-Party Liability Insurance: It covers damage to other people’s property and injuries to others.
• Personal Accident Insurance: It covers medical expenses for the driver and passengers in case of an accident.
• Super Collision Damage Waiver: This type covers all damages to rental car and others, so it reduces or eliminates the deductible. If it eliminates the deductible, you are not obliged to provide a credit card, as no security amount is blocked.
• Roadside Assistance: Road assistance provides help 24/7 in case of emergency.

These types of insurance can be offered both individually and in packages. The mandatory basic coverage includes Third-Party Liability Insurance and Collision Damage Waiver. Additional coverage is not mandatory, but you may find it useful, especially if you drive in a place you are not familiar with or you are an inexperienced driver.

Abbycar has the best car rental deals in Cyprus, with worldwide reputation and great variety in new and modern vehicles, 24/7 road assistance and excellent customer service.

Explore the sights of Cyprus with Abbycar easily, safely and on a budget!