Driving in Northern Cyprus: Road habits and traditions

You may have heard a lot about the cultural differences between Iran and Cyprus. One of the most important issues that differentiate between these two countries is the way of driving. Driving is one of the main activities that common people do. In addition, since most people are busy driving most of their daily time, any nervous pressure or happiness and any feeling can affect it. For this reason, it is very important that people keep calm while driving and follow all the rules correctly.

North Cyprus, with its rich history and culture, is an ideal destination for tourists and expats. If you plan to drive in this country, knowing the customs and traditions of driving is very important. In this guide, we at Zahouriyan Investment Company will help you to make driving in North Cyprus a safe and enjoyable experience! Therefore, continue with Zahouriyan Investment Company in introducing the habits and traditions of driving in North Cyprus.

The effect of emotions on driving

As we said, emotions have a significant impact on driving. Maybe you have a question, how is this effect? Well, let’s talk about it in a simpler way by mentioning an example. Imagine a person who is very nervous about something and is sitting behind the wheel of a car, in such a situation, the person has the least amount of mastery and concentration. This factor causes the person’s accuracy to decrease and to start driving without paying attention to the road and even driving rules.

In this situation, the possibility of injury and accident will be very significant. So the best thing to do in this situation is to control anger and take a few deep breaths. Note that it doesn’t matter where you are driving in the world, harm and danger are waiting for you every moment.

Driving system in Northern Cyprus

The main difference between driving in Iran and North Cyprus is in the direction of the driving routes. In Cyprus, as in England, driving is done on the right. This is because Cyprus used to be a British colony and since then, the country’s driving system has been in line with Great Britain.

The direction of the streets of Iran is the opposite of Cyprus, and the steering wheel is on the left. To get used to this difference, it is suggested that you practice more in Cyprus driving schools with right-hand drive cars after you get your Cyprus driving license and at the same time improve your driving skills. Your driving habits should be adjusted according to the country’s vehicle and road conditions.

Also, driving with someone who is familiar with the streets and driving rules of Cyprus can help you learn better.

If you plan to buy a car and experience driving in Northern Cyprus, you have the option to exchange your driving license for a local Cyprus license within six months. To do this, you must go to the Ministry of Road Transport and obtain a letter from the MAI confirming the existence and validity of your operating permit by showing your current license.

Before doing anything, you must send this translated letter to the Cyprus Embassy for approval. If you haven’t received a driving license from the police, you can order it through the embassy, but the process takes about three months. However, it usually takes several months to exchange a license in Cyprus.

Driving system in Northern Cyprus

Getting to know Cyprus driving rules

As we said, the driving rules in Iran and Cyprus are completely different. For this reason, you should first of all be familiar with the driving rules of this country. If you are planning to immigrate or live in North Cyprus, the best way to familiarize yourself with the country’s laws is to take a short trip to this beautiful island.

You can have a short practice with a short trip to the island of Cyprus and renting a car. Of course, it should be noted that you must have a valid license to rent a car. If the car is damaged while driving, you must pay for it according to the law. If you are afraid of driving in Cyprus for any reason, you can enroll in driving schools and train with special instructors after immigrating to Cyprus.

Driving regulations in Northern Cyprus
Driving regulations in Northern Cyprus are close to British laws.
In Cyprus, traffic flows to the left.
Most of the traffic signs are recognizable due to their harmonization with EU standards.
Speed limit warning signs posted on the side of the road are based on kilometers per hour.
Information boards are written in Greek and English and some in Turkish.
According to Cypriot law, all car passengers must fasten their seat belts while driving in Northern Cyprus.
The driver is not allowed to use a mobile phone while driving and this is prohibited by the laws of Cyprus.
Children under the age of five cannot sit in the front seat. Children over the age of five can only sit in the front
seat if they are placed in a child seat.
You cannot smoke in a car with passengers under the age of 16.
The use of car horns is restricted. Honking is prohibited from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. near hospitals.
Helmets are mandatory for all motorcycles.
Motorcycles must have lights on during the day.
The maximum speed allowed on the highway is 100 km/h and the minimum speed is 65 km/h.
There is a lower alcohol limit for drivers than in the UK.

Popular cars in North Cyprus

When choosing a car to drive in North Cyprus, you should pay attention to the characteristics of the local car market. It does not make sense to choose a car with a brand that is not popular in Cyprus. Car dealerships don’t buy spare parts in bulk, so if you choose a particular model, you’ll have trouble fixing the car in the future.

Because you may have to wait for months to replace the parts you want. In the Cyprus market, there are famous and luxury brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Land Rover. In the economy car segment, we can mention Toyota, Opel, Volkswagen and other European and Japanese models.

Pick-up trucks are popular in the Cyprus market due to their 50% discount on road tax and 100% discount on customs duties. Cypriot cars are mainly imported from Japan and the UK, and import duties are very high. As mentioned, no local cars are produced on the island.In addition, property purchase services in Northern Cyprus and Turkey is another service of Zahoorian Investment Company. This service is provided by real estate experts with legal license and credit and years of successful experience by Zahoorian Investment Company!

Is the driver’s license of Iranians valid in North Cyprus?

Iranian driver’s license is not accepted in this country, but if you translate your license and deliver it to the consulate, you can drive in Cyprus with an international license for about 3 months.

However, if your license is from an EU member state, you can easily drive in Cyprus with that license for up to 1 year.

Laws of traffic offenses in Northern Cyprus

If you plan to use a rental car in North Cyprus, you should note that any fines related to the rental car are the responsibility of the person whose name is registered on the rental car contract. Also, following up and paying these traffic violations is the responsibility of the same person. If you don’t pay the rental car fine, the fine will add up quickly and will be charged to you on your next trip to North Cyprus.

Laws of traffic offenses in Northern Cyprus

Common driving offenses in North Cyprus

Illegal parking fines in Northern Cyprus are one of the most common traffic violations. If you receive such a fine, you must pay the fine before leaving the premises. If you do not pay, you will be charged a late fee on your next visit to Northern Cyprus. Fines for unauthorized parking are issued by local municipal police forces.

The cost of different traffic offenses in Northern Cyprus

Below you can see a list of fines in Cyprus for different types of violations. In Northern Cyprus, you can pay traffic fines as soon as you are able to pay them at all police stations during working hours.

Speed (20 km/h more than the legal limit): 340 Turkish Lira
Speed (between 20 and 40 km/h more than the legal limit): 510 Turkish lira
Speed (more than 40 kilometers per hour over the legal limit): 850 Turkish lira
Drunk driving: 1700 Turkish liras
Parking in an unauthorized place: 170 Turkish lira
Crossing the red light: 680 Turkish Lira
Reckless driving: 1700 Turkish lira
Failure to use a seat belt: 340 Turkish Lira

Having a car is a basic requirement in Cyprus, because without a car, it will be very difficult to get around the island. This is because the public transport system in Cyprus is not yet fully developed; Therefore, if you plan to migrate to Cyprus easily, get to know this island and enjoy all its sights, put buying a car in Cyprus on your list of plans.

Conclusion

The rules and regulations for obtaining a driving license in Northern Cyprus may change from time to time. Therefore, applicants are advised to obtain complete information about the latest information and laws related to this issue by referring to the relevant authorities or the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Cyprus before applying for a certificate.

If for any reason you do not know the rules and regulations of North Cyprus, you can contact Zarakat Zahouriyan consultants. By providing the most useful information, our consultants will guide you in immigration, residence and even investment in North Cyprus.

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