Renting a car and carsharing in Cyprus.

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Renting a car is a great way to see the island. All rental cars in Cyprus have red number plates. So on the road, it is easy to distinguish a tourist, and the police can forgive small mistakes. The main thing is to be polite and calm.

Car rent

Renting a car in Cyprus is easy. In all major cities, many companies offer rental on the spot, you can also pre-book a vehicle via the Internet, and it will be delivered right on the day of your arrival at the airport.

The nuances of car renting in Cyprus

In summer, you can find a car for rent starting from 35 euros per day. Out of season, the daily price will be cheaper. If you book a car through the site, look at its cost for different periods. It often happens that the longer the car rental period, the lower its daily price. For example, renting the same car for 6 and 7 days can cost the same.

If you want to rent a car on the spot, please note that small local rentals often rent vehicles for three days or more. Also, you may be offered not a new but a heavily used car, especially if it has a very low price. In addition, always check if the air conditioning or climate control is working.

Try to avoid taking cars with 1.1l-1.2l engines. In the mountains, it will be difficult for such vehicles, especially with the air conditioner on at the peak of the season. If you are going to drive a lot, choose a car with an engine of at least 1.4l-1.6l.

Deposit for a car

The cost of a car deposit can vary greatly from company to company. This amount varies depending on the type of insurance. Usually, the deposit is 350-900 euros for a simple car, and some local rentals offer vehicles without a deposit.

When booking a car online, you can use the advanced search and indicate that you want to rent a car without a deposit/deposit. But keep in mind that there are few such machines on the websites, so it is better to start the search in advance if possible.

But you don't have to be afraid of the bail. In 95% of cases, the entire amount is returned to the tenant in full. And if something is withheld from the deposit, these are usually small fines of up to 50 euros.

Refueling a rented car

Companies often ask you to pay for gasoline immediately upon delivery of the car (depending on how much fuel is in the tank at the time of delivery). You can rent a car with an almost empty tank.

The money may not be returned for gasoline that remained in the tank after the lease. In some companies, the fairest fuel policy is standard - the car is rented with a full tank and is also returned fully fueled. It is better to clarify this point on the spot.

Prohibitions for rented cars

In most rental companies, driving a rented car to the territory of Northern Cyprus is forbidden, as insurance is not valid there.

Car rental companies

There are many car rental services in Cyprus. You can use the search on the Internet or navigate already in the place after arriving on the island.

Try to look for companies that are represented in different countries and are recommended by many tourists. You can find the right vehicle for you.

Rental of other vehicles

In the tourist cities of Ayia Napa, Protaras and Paphos, ATV and buggy rentals are very popular. Also, among tourists, there was a demand for the rent of mopeds and motorcycles.

Frequently asked questions about renting:

● Age restrictions?

The tenant must be over 21 years old and have a driving experience of at least 1-3 years. Conditions may vary from company to company. Sometimes if the driver is under 25 years old, then the rental price may be higher.

● What rights do you need to rent?

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not required.

The most ordinary driver's license is enough. The main thing is that the surname and name are written in Latin letters.

● When is the best time to book?

Try to book a car as soon as you know the exact dates of your stay on the island. The sooner you start searching for a car, the more choices you will have.

● What to do in case of an insured event?

Be sure to call an ambulance if necessary. After that, call the rental company (the phone number is indicated in the rental agreement). Next, the company manager will guide you on how to proceed. Sometimes the company itself calls the police to the scene of an accident.

Carsharing on the island

Carsharing has become popular in Cyprus in the last few years. This is one of the types of car rental designed for those who need a car for a short time, literally for a few hours.

The advantage of carsharing is that you can rent a car at any time of the day. In addition, cars participating in carsharing do not have a specific location. They are located at different parking lots within the city, so there is always a high probability that one of them will be within walking distance of you.

How to find a car?

You can use carsharing using the application on your mobile phone. To find a suitable service, you can drive in the AppStore, PlayMarket, or the search engine "Carsharing + the city where you are," for example, "Carsharing Paphos." The system will give you the most suitable options. Once you choose a company, be sure to read its terms and conditions. If everything suits you, proceed to registration.

A prerequisite for registration is providing personal data, such as a bank card number, driving license, and passport. Do not worry, this is necessary to secure cars from theft and to get confirmation that the time of using the vehicle will be paid.

Once your registration has been approved, you must find out where the cars are parked and how to reserve them. Different companies may have slight differences, but basically, in the application, you will be able to see a smart card where the locations of rental cars will be marked.

Once you have chosen a vehicle, you need to reserve it. This ensures that your car will be waiting for you when you arrive at the parking lot. If the company offers different car models, you can rent a small car for a regular trip or, for example, a pickup truck or a truck if you need to transport something.

When you find your car in the parking lot, you can open it with a smart card, and that's it - you can go. If you return it to the parking lot safe and sound, the payment will consist of a membership fee at registration + time of use or mileage. Gasoline and insurance are already included in the price.