Driving In Northern Cyprus

Driving In Northern Cyprus

If you plan on driving in Northern Cyprus there are a few things you should know. Trust me that driving in Northern Cyprus will be a fun and crazy adventure if you don’t have a clue as to what you're up against when it comes to driving on the island. Northern Cyprus does not have very many laws or strict requirements as far as acquiring a drivers license is concerned so that makes it easy for anyone to have a licences and trust me just about anyone does. Not only will you encounter quite a few people who should have rode the bus instead of driving but you will also see that the road system in Northern Cyprus is not very advances. This can make driving for many people who are accustom to more advances road ways find it difficult to get used to driving in Northern Cyprus.

If you are a resident of the UK you will find that the driving laws in Northern Cyprus are rather similar to those in the UK so driving might not be as difficult as it would be for others. Driving is done on the left hand side of the road in Northern Cyprus and they have pretty basic laws just like any other country. Helmet and seat belt laws are things you should follow every time. If you are stopped and lack either a helmet or a seat belt depending on the type of vehicle you are driving then the fines will be pretty heavy and can put a damper on your day. If your thinking of going out for a few drinks you should really consider having a designated drivers. The penalties for drunk drivers is very strict and extremely expensive.

The check points that are located between the north and south side of Cyprus is something that appears odd to anyone who is just getting to know the island. If you have intentions of going from one side of the island to the other you will need to have your passport available. One thing that is very important is to be aware if the car that you are driving is properly insured. If you have a car hire you must take the time to check the insurance on the vehicle. When going from the north to the south of Cyprus you should also know that there are only certain things that you can take with you into the Southern Cyprus. An example of this is that you are only allowed to bring in 40 cigarettes per person when you venture across the border into Southern Cyprus. Before you set out from home to head across the border take stock of what you have on your person and what is hanging out in your car so you don’t get stuck at the border.

So know you know that Northern Cyprus has a few issues when it comes to driving from their substandard road conditions to the erratic driving of the locals. Just keep your senses alive, your eyes open and be very aware of the things that are happen on the road around you and driving around the island should be fine.

Buying A Car In Northern Cyprus

In Northern Cyprus you will find that many of your purchases are much cheaper than what your used to in other parts of the world. This will hold true for so many things you buy in Northern Cyprus, that is until you go to purchase a car. I’m sure your wondering why purchasing a car is expensive in a country that has such a low cost of living. There is one main reason and that is taxes. The import tax on a new car is very high which causes the sticker price of a new car to go up considerably from what many people are use to. Not only is there a large tax to contend with but you are only allowed to import cars that are less than 3 years old or if they are a vintage car. The Glasses Guide book is used to determine the value of the car and thus determines the amount of tax that will be applied to the car for import. The import tax that is applied is usually in the range of about 40% of the cars value which can be a pretty hefty amount. You really end up paying a large amount just to own a vehicle. Then there is also an issue with the fact that you have to pay for this tax up front. The government doesn’t off a finance option for import taxes.

Now you might think that you could just purchase a used car and that will be cheaper. You need to think again because that really is not the case at all. Buying a second hand car will cost nearly as much as purchasing a new car. Not only that but you have to pay cash for a used car instead of the possibility of financing the cost of a new car after the tax is paid. There is still another option that might make buying a car a little easier on your pocket book. Visiting local used car dealers that have their businesses many times in major cities and you might find a deal that is just right for you. When working with a car dealer you might find they might offer free financing, free insurance or many other odd and quirky things that will help make the cost of purchasing a car cheaper and much more affordable. If you find that you can pay for the car up front and in full then ask the dealer about a discount. Many dealers will make a deal with you, give you a nice discount if you can just purchase the car out right.

These car dealers might also have connections that will allow you to purchase a brand new car that is just about the price you would pay in the UK that will include the import tax. This could mean that your sparkly new car will cost about the same as the used car your neighbor just bought. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and see what kind of options they can give you.