Driving with a rental car from Larnaca to Northern Cyprus
I am travelling to Republic of Cyprus. I am planning to rent a car in Larnaca and travel to Northern Cyprus as well. I have called several big rental companies (Hertz, Sixt, Europcar) and learned that while it is allowed to drive to Northern Cyprus, neither of those rental companies provide insurance for the rental car. I would have to buy a third-party insurance at the border. In case of an accident or car breakdown I have to organize towing the car from the Northern Cyprus part back to the Republic of Cyprus. And since the insurance is not valid in the Northern Cyprus, I am personally fully liable for any car damage.
- Has anyone else travelled with a rental car from Republic of Cyprus to Northern Cyprus? Any issues with that? Any recommendations / suggestions on how to handle the insurance? What is the approx price of the insurance?
- Has anyone experienced any car breakdown / accidents with a rental car from Republic of Cyprus in Northern Cyprus?
- In general, how safe it is to drive a car from Republic of Cyprus to Northern Cyprus? I assume the car plates are different.
- Are there any alternatives? Such as taking a bus from Republic of Cyprus and renting a car in Northern Cyprus instead?
Best Answer
I am answering my own question since I have already done the trip. Unfortunately I cannot shed the light to all the answers, but at least I can answer some of them.
I have rented the car through Europcar. I experienced no issues neither crossing the border nor driving in the Northern Cyprus. I have bought insurance at the border and I think the price was approx 30 euros.
As the comment to this answer points out, it is a good idea to still check up with the rental agency if the driving is allowed. I remember calling Europcar branch I was renting the car from. And they confirmed that they do not restrict driving in the North.
I did not experience any issues driving /parking -wise with cyprian plates. However, as far as I recall driving in bigger cities (e.g. Girne) is a bit more chaotic than in Republic of Cyprus.
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Can you hire a car in Larnaca and drive to Northern Cyprus?
Most North Cyprus car hire firms will collect you from either Larnaca or Paphos airport and drive you over the border to your hire car. You simply sit back and dream of your ideal Northern Cyprus villa holiday; your driver will take care of the border formalities!Is it worth renting a car in Cyprus?
If you're planning on exploring Cyprus you're going to need a rental car. Not only does it give you the freedom and flexibility to travel how and when you want, but also allows you to visit parts of this fantastic country that are difficult to reach.Can I drive from southern Cyprus to Northern Cyprus?
"It is possible to travel to the north of Cyprus from the south (and back again), including via the Ledra Palace and Ledra Street checkpoints in central Nicosia where you can cross by foot. If you intend to take a hire car to the north, the main crossing in Nicosia is Agios Dometios.Can you drive across Cyprus?
You can drive all the way across Cyprus in just a few hours, so don't limit yourself to just one place! You can choose to drive between the cities and stay in a new town every few nights, or base yourself in one of the cities and explore the island in a series of day trips.Why Am I in Larnaca, Cyprus? The Journey to Nicosia, \u0026 Question for my Subscribers 🇨🇾
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