Quick answer
To register an imported car in Cyprus you first clear it through Customs, which issues form C72A, then pass a roadworthiness test at an approved centre (about €40), have the CO2 and identity checks done at the Road Transport Department (RTD) vehicle examination centre, take out Cyprus motor insurance and apply for registration (about €150). You receive a Cypriot registration certificate and number plates, then pay road tax based on CO2. You need the original foreign registration document, the invoice, shipping and customs papers, a CO2 or conformity document and, for a car moved under transfer-of-residence relief, Customs form Απ. 2. Documents not in English or Greek need translations from the Press and Information Office.
- Order: Customs clearance (form C72A) → roadworthiness test → CO2 and identity check → insurance → registration and plates → road tax.
- Roadworthiness test about €40; registration about €150; road tax yearly, based on CO2.
- Bring the original foreign registration document, invoice, bill of lading, customs papers and a CO2 or CoC document.
- Cars from outside the EU must be under five years old on arrival, unless you are transferring your residence with RTD approval.
- Insurance must be in force on the day the plates are issued; registration usually takes two to three working days.
Whether your car comes from the UK, another EU country or further away, the last part of the journey is the same: getting it onto Cypriot plates. Most of the official forms are in Greek, so this guide explains each step and each document in plain English.
Start with the guide for where your car is coming from: from the UK or from an EU country. For duty and VAT in detail, see importing a car to Cyprus.
The process at a glance
| Step | Where | Cost (2026) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Customs clearance (form C72A) | Customs office at the port | Duty and VAT if due, agent fee | 1–3 working days |
| 2. Roadworthiness test | RTD-approved test centre | About €40 | Under an hour |
| 3. CO2 and identity check | RTD vehicle examination centre | Included | Same visit as registration |
| 4. Motor insurance | Any Cyprus insurer | Depends on car and driver | Same day (cover note) |
| 5. Registration and plates | RTD district office | About €150 | 2–3 working days |
| 6. Road tax | RTD or online | Based on CO2 | Yearly |
Step by step
1. Clear the car through Customs
On arrival, the car is declared to Customs with the original registration document, invoice and bill of lading. For a car from outside the EU, you pay 10% duty and 19% VAT unless you have transfer-of-residence relief. When everything is in order, Customs issues form C72A. Register the car promptly after that; agents advise within about 10 days.
2. Pass the roadworthiness test
Book a test at a test centre approved by the Road Transport Department. It's computerised and usually takes under an hour. Fix anything that fails and return for a re-test. If a UK car has no type-approval number on its V5C (point K), it needs a Single Vehicle Approval instead. A speedometer that shows only miles per hour may need changing.
3. Insure the car in Cyprus
Your insurer can cover the car by its chassis (VIN) number before the plates exist, and give you a cover note as proof. Cover must be in force on the day the plates are issued. Compare options in our car insurance guide.
4. Register at the Road Transport Department
Take all the documents to the RTD vehicle examination centre in your district. The CO2 and identity of the car are checked, you pay the registration fee (about €150) and the first road tax, and the car is given its Cypriot number. Plates and the registration certificate follow, usually within two to three working days.
5. Pay road tax every year
Road tax depends on CO2 emissions (check the rate for your car with the RTD before you ship). Renew online each year; see how to pay road tax. The first MOT is due four years after first registration, then every two years.
Your document checklist
| Document | From | For |
|---|---|---|
| Original foreign registration document (e.g. UK V5C) | Your home country | Customs and RTD |
| Purchase invoice or bill of sale | Seller | Customs value, ownership |
| Bill of lading | Shipping company | Customs |
| Form C72A (and the customs declaration) | Cyprus Customs | RTD registration |
| Form Απ. 2 and C.104O (only with relief) | Cyprus Customs | Duty-free import |
| Certificate of Conformity or CO2 evidence | Manufacturer, or V5C point V.7 | CO2 and road tax |
| Roadworthiness test certificate | Approved test centre | RTD registration |
| Cyprus insurance certificate or cover note | Cyprus insurer | Plates |
| Passport or ID, proof of address in Cyprus | You | All steps |
| PIO translations (documents not in English or Greek) | Press and Information Office | All steps |
The documents explained
Official forms are often in Greek, or full of customs jargon. Here's what each one is, what it says and what you do with it.
Form Απ. 2: transfer of normal residence (Customs)
What it is: the application for relief from duty and VAT when you move your home to Cyprus from outside the EU. The official English version is titled "Transfer of normal residence from a country outside the European Union".
What it asks, section by section:
- A. Applicant: your name, date of arrival, passport or ID number, addresses in Cyprus and abroad, how long you lived in your previous country, your driving licence, the date you transferred your residence, family members moving with you, and whether anyone in the family already has a duty-free car in Cyprus.
- B. Arrival of your belongings: ship or flight, port, arrival date, bill of lading number, number of packages and the C.104O number for the car.
- C. The car: make, model, registration number and country, chassis and engine numbers, engine size and the date it was registered in your name.
- D. Personal belongings: a list of household goods with values (each page numbered and signed).
- E. Declaration: you confirm the goods are personal, owned and used for at least six months, that you lived outside the EU for the previous 12 months, and you undertake not to lend, pledge, hire out or sell the car without approval from the Director of Customs.
- F. Evidence: proof of residence abroad, proof of six months' use of the car (registration, insurance, licence) and proof of your new residence in Cyprus (rental agreement, job, residence permit).
Important: don't sign it at home. You sign it in front of a Customs officer, who countersigns it. Download the official form (PDF, English).
Form C.104O: temporary use while relief is decided (Customs)
What it is: a Customs authorisation to use the car on its foreign plates for a short time while your relief application is processed. Keep a copy in the car. Customs keeps the original when the car is cleared.
The customs declaration and form C72A (Customs)
What they are: the customs declaration (the Single Administrative Document, or SAD, lodged electronically by you or your customs agent; for a private car Customs may also ask you to sign a vehicle declaration at the office) is how the car is officially entered into Cyprus. Form C72A is what you receive afterwards: proof that the car has been cleared and duties paid or relieved. The RTD won't register the car without it.
V5C: the UK registration certificate
What to look at: point K (type-approval number: without it, you need a Single Vehicle Approval), point V.7 (CO2 in g/km, which sets your road tax) and the date of first registration (for the five-year rule). Keep the original with the car, and send the permanent export section to the DVLA.
Certificate of Conformity (CoC)
What it is: the manufacturer's certificate that the car meets EU type approval. With a valid CoC, the RTD can't ask for more technical documents unless the car was modified. It also shows the CO2 figure.
The roadworthiness test certificate (RTD)
What it is: proof the car passed its technical inspection at an approved centre. It's needed for registration, and later every two years after the car's fourth birthday.
The registration application (RTD)
What it is: the RTD's application for registration and licensing of a motor vehicle, in Greek, completed at the vehicle examination centre with your personal details, the car's details and the documents above. The staff (or your agent) will tell you which version to use; ask for help in English if needed.
Fees in brief
| Item | Amount (2026) |
|---|---|
| Roadworthiness test | About €40 |
| Registration | About €150 |
| Ownership transfer later on (form TOM 9) | About €8.54 |
| Road tax | Yearly, by CO2 band |
| Duty and VAT (non-EU cars without relief) | 10% + 19% of the customs value |
Tips that save time
- Make copies of everything and keep the originals in one folder.
- Order PIO translations early if any document is in another language.
- Book the test as soon as the car is cleared; queues can take one to two weeks in busy periods.
- Ask for the insurance cover note before your RTD appointment.
- Check the RTD office hours in your district before you go.
What to do next
- Read the guide for your route: from the UK or from the EU.
- Get your car insurance quotes ready.
- Exchange your driving licence if you have a UK or other non-EU licence.
- Find customs agents and car services in our business directory.
This guide is general information, not legal or customs advice. Forms and fees change; check with Cyprus Customs and the Road Transport Department before you go.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to register an imported car in Cyprus?
About €40 for the roadworthiness test and about €150 for registration, plus road tax based on CO2 and your insurance. Duty and VAT, if due, are paid to Customs before registration.
What is form C72A?
It is the document Cyprus Customs issues once your car has been cleared. The Road Transport Department needs it to register the car, so keep it safe and register promptly.
Where do I register an imported car?
At the Road Transport Department's vehicle examination centre in your district (Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos or Famagusta), after the roadworthiness test.
Can I register the car myself or do I need an agent?
You can do it yourself, but many people use a customs or registration agent for the port and Customs side. The RTD steps are straightforward with the right documents.
Do I need to translate my car documents?
Only documents that are not in English or Greek. Translations should be made through the Press and Information Office (PIO) of the Republic of Cyprus.
Useful resources
- Gov.cy – Registration of motor vehicle
- Gov.cy – Road Transport Department
- Gov.cy – Single vehicle type approval certificate
- Cyprus Customs – Form Απ. 2, Transfer of normal residence from outside the EU (PDF)
- Cyprus Customs – Reliefs forms
- Press and Information Office – Registration of vehicles from the United Kingdom (2021)
- European Consumer Centres – Registering a car bought in another EU country: Cyprus (PDF)
- Gov.cy – Renewal of road tax
