Quick answer
Since Brexit, a car from the UK is a non-EU import in Cyprus. It can be registered only if it is under five years old on arrival (counted from first registration), unless you are moving your residence to Cyprus, and it normally pays 10% import duty plus 19% VAT on its value, shipping and insurance. If you lived outside the EU for at least 12 months and owned and used the car for at least six months, transfer-of-residence relief can remove both, using Customs form Απ. 2. You tell the DVLA the car has been permanently exported, ship it to Limassol or Larnaca, clear it through Customs (which issues form C72A), then pass the roadworthiness test, insure it and register it with the Road Transport Department for about €150.
- UK passenger cars must be under five years old on arrival in Cyprus to be registered, unless you are transferring your residence.
- Without relief: 10% duty (0% if UK origin is proven) plus 19% VAT on the car's value, shipping and insurance.
- Transfer-of-residence relief: 12 months living outside the EU, six months owning and using the car, import within 12 months of moving; apply with Customs form Απ. 2.
- The V5C must show a type-approval number at point K; otherwise the car needs a Single Vehicle Approval in Cyprus.
- After Customs issues form C72A: roadworthiness test (about €40), Cyprus insurance, CO2 check and registration with the RTD (about €150).
Bringing your own car from the UK can make the move to Cyprus easier, and Cyprus drives on the left, so a right-hand-drive British car feels at home on the roads here. Since Brexit, though, the UK counts as a "third country": there are age rules, customs paperwork and, unless you are moving your home here, duty and VAT to pay. This guide takes you through every step, in order.
Moving from an EU country instead? See bringing your car to Cyprus from the EU. Once the car is through Customs, our guide to registering an imported car explains the Road Transport Department side, with every form explained in English.
First: is it worth it?
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Age | Cars over five years old (from first registration) can't be registered, unless you are transferring your residence and the RTD approves it |
| Type approval | The V5C needs a type-approval number at point K; if not, you need a Single Vehicle Approval in Cyprus |
| Duty and VAT | Up to about 31% of the car's value, shipping and insurance, unless you qualify for relief |
| Running costs | Road tax in Cyprus is based on CO2; check it before you ship a big engine |
| Resale | A car imported with relief can't be sold for 12 months without Customs approval |
As a rough guide, shipping, port fees, the test and registration add €1,250–€3,500 before any duty or VAT. For a car that is cheap to replace, buying in Cyprus is often simpler.
The five-year rule
A passenger car from the UK can be registered only if it is no more than five years old on the date it arrives at a Cyprus port, counted from its first registration as new anywhere. This was set out by the Cyprus government when the Brexit transition ended.
The main exception is a move of residence: under transfer-of-residence relief, older cars can be registered, but you need prior approval from the Road Transport Department. Ask for it before you ship. Classic cars over 25 years old can be registered as historic vehicles with a FIVA certificate.
Duty and VAT
| Your situation | Import duty | VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Moving your residence, relief granted | None | None |
| Car of proven UK origin (with a statement of origin) | 0% | 19% |
| Any other car from the UK | 10% | 19% |
Duty and VAT are calculated on the customs value: the car's value plus shipping and insurance to Cyprus. VAT is charged on that value plus the duty. Cyprus abolished excise duty on cars in 2019.
Example: a car worth €15,000 with €1,200 of shipping and €150 of insurance has a customs value of €16,350. Duty at 10% is €1,635 and VAT at 19% of €17,985 is €3,417: €5,052 in total. With relief, nothing.
Most UK-bought cars were built outside the UK, so the 0% rate for UK origin rarely applies. Ask your agent before counting on it.
Transfer-of-residence relief: do you qualify?
You can bring one car per person free of duty and VAT when you move your normal residence to Cyprus, if:
- you lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months before the move;
- you owned and used the car there for at least six months before you moved (time the car was unused, uninsured or on the ship doesn't count);
- you import it within 12 months of moving (or up to six months before, with a guarantee);
- it is for your own personal use.
In return, you can't sell, lend, hire out or pledge the car for 12 months without the approval of the Director of Customs, or the duty and VAT become payable. Some agents mention longer periods; check the current rule when you apply.
Step by step
1. Before you leave the UK
- Collect your documents: the original V5C in your name, purchase invoice, at least six months of insurance certificates in your name, and proof of where you lived (council tax, utility bills, employment or tenancy ending).
- Check point K on the V5C for the type-approval number.
- Note the CO2 figure (point V.7 on the V5C); it sets your Cyprus road tax.
- Tell the DVLA the car is permanently exported: fill in the permanent export section of the V5C and send it to the DVLA, keeping the rest of the document with the car.
- Get an EORI number if your customs agent asks for one; agents can usually arrange this.
2. Ship the car
Most UK cars travel by roll-on/roll-off ship (RoRo) or in a container to Limassol (sometimes Larnaca). Expect about 10–20 days at sea and roughly €700–€1,800, plus €390–€520 in port and clearance fees at Limassol. Personal belongings are usually allowed only in a container. Insure the car for the journey; marine cover isn't motor insurance.
3. Apply for relief (if you are moving here)
Book an appointment at your district Customs office and submit Form Απ. 2 with your proof of residence and use. Don't sign it at home: you sign it in front of the Customs officer. While Customs decides, you can be allowed to drive the car for a short time under Form C.104O. (Both forms are explained in our registration guide.)
4. Clear the car through Customs
When the ship arrives, you or your customs agent lodge the customs declaration with the V5C, invoice and bill of lading. Customs checks the papers (and sometimes the car), you pay any duty and VAT, and Customs issues form C72A, which you need for registration. Port storage charges start from the day the car is unloaded, so have the papers ready.
5. Register the car
With the C72A, register the car with the Road Transport Department (RTD) straight away; agents advise within about 10 days. The steps are:
- Roadworthiness test at an RTD-approved centre (about €40); a Single Vehicle Approval if the V5C has no type approval.
- CO2 and identity check at the RTD vehicle examination centre.
- Cyprus motor insurance in force from the day the plates are issued (see our car insurance guide).
- Registration at the RTD (about €150), then Cypriot number plates and road tax.
Registration usually takes two to three working days. The whole process, from shipping to plates, typically takes four to ten weeks.
6. Exchange your driving licence
If you live in Cyprus, you must also exchange your UK licence for a Cypriot one within six months, without a test. See how to exchange your driving licence.
Costs at a glance
| Item | Typical cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| Shipping UK → Limassol | €700–€1,800 |
| Port and clearance fees | €390–€520 |
| Customs agent | €120–€400 |
| Duty and VAT (no relief) | 10% + 19% of the customs value |
| Roadworthiness test | About €40 |
| Registration | About €150 |
| Road tax | Based on CO2, yearly |
Common mistakes
- Shipping a car over five years old without relief or RTD approval: it may never be registered.
- Selling the car in the first year after importing it with relief.
- No proof of six months' use: keep insurance certificates and the V5C dates.
- Forgetting the DVLA: you may keep getting UK reminders.
- No Cyprus insurance on plate day: the RTD won't issue plates.
What to do next
- Check the age, point K and CO2 figure on your V5C.
- Get two quotes from shippers and ask whether they include a Cyprus customs agent.
- Read registering an imported car in Cyprus for the documents and forms.
- Find a customs agent or car services in our business directory.
This guide is general information, not legal or customs advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with Cyprus Customs and the Road Transport Department before you ship.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my UK car to Cyprus?
Yes, if it is under five years old on arrival (from its first registration), or of any age if you are transferring your normal residence to Cyprus and the Road Transport Department approves it. It must then be cleared through Customs and registered on Cypriot plates.
How much does it cost to import a car from the UK to Cyprus?
Without relief, expect 10% import duty (0% if the car qualifies as UK origin) and 19% VAT on the customs value, which is the car's value plus shipping and insurance. Add shipping (roughly €700–€1,800), port and agent fees, the roadworthiness test (about €40) and registration (about €150).
Do I pay duty and VAT if I am moving to Cyprus?
Not if you qualify for transfer-of-residence relief: you lived outside the EU for at least 12 months, owned and used the car there for at least six months, and import it within 12 months of moving. You apply on Customs form Απ. 2 and must not sell, lend or hire out the car for 12 months without Customs approval.
How long can I drive my UK car in Cyprus on UK plates?
Only temporarily: Customs can allow a visitor's car for up to six months in a 12-month period with Cyprus insurance. Residents must register the car locally, and while a relief application is processed you drive under Customs form C.104O.
What do I do with the V5C?
Fill in the permanent export section and send it to the DVLA, keeping the rest of the document. Keep the original V5C with the car: Cyprus Customs and the Road Transport Department need it.
Useful resources
- Press and Information Office – Registration of vehicles from the United Kingdom (19 January 2021)
- Cyprus Customs – Form Απ. 2, Transfer of normal residence from a country outside the EU (PDF)
- Cyprus Customs – Guide to transfer of normal residence from outside the EU (2024, PDF)
- GOV.UK – Taking vehicles out of the UK for 12 months or more
- Gov.cy – Registration of motor vehicle
- Gov.cy – Single vehicle type approval certificate
- Auto Shippers – Cyprus car import guide
- Ship Cars – Shipping a car from the UK to Cyprus
