The 'real' rules when importing a car?

[oneillbox]

Hi Everyone

I've not taken my car over to TRNC yet but its something that will happen in the next 12 months or so.
Can someone in the know factually tell me what the rules and regs are.......here is my perception of what i know so far:

The car I import from Uk must be have been owned by myself for 5 years. I will get charged import duty of 50% of the value of the car according to glasses guide (latest) for a mid condition car for that age. eg: if my car is worth 2K (according to glassses) then I will pay 1K import duty.

I will then not be able to sell the car in TRNC for 2 years?

Is this all correct and is the whole process easy to do?

Can I bring it into TRNC via North OR South Cyprus?

How long do I have to register it in TRNC, how much does this cost? where do I get tax and mot done? (im aware road tax may be abolished.....fingers crossed). The tax on my vehicle will be dependent on its weight? how much is road tax for the differing groups of cars?

I apologise for all of the questions but im guessing its better to get the info from the horses mouth so to speak.

Thanks for your anticipated help.

[snd1966]

I don't think anyone can tell you the real rules everyone has a different story to tell due to the fact it does seem to differ from person to person.
And I don't think my information is of much benefit to you as our car was younger.
All I can remember was the extras which made up the total figure just seemed to keep on coming , the actual duty was 5k.

I know in 2005 when we bought our 2004 Kia Sedona in worth 8k in the uk due to the fact it was a private hire vehicle and over 90k mileage, it was valued here in 2006 at 9k when we imported it, and amount paid in the tax office and other offices it cost us 7.8k. Due to the fact the car was under 3 years old we were not limited to selling it

[paul90]

In 2008 I bought a 2005 Vauxhall Astra in the UK for £6000 and shipped it to Limassol and then drove it over via Metahan - no problems there .
It had one years UK road tax so I did not need to register it for 12 months.

But I then found out that it was "illegal" to enter from the ROC. I had to take a car ferry to Mersin and comeback in "legally".
The total import duties and tax were £4000.

I kept it for five years and traded it in for £6000 with a dealer.

[Lodger]

I tried earlier this year to import a Toyota Avensis from the UK.

I was told by Customs in Nicosia..... If its more than 5 years old don't bother even if you have owned it from new you will not be able to bring it in.

Everything is in the favour of the Car Dealers. I asked why they could bring cars in older than 5 years, and he told me that they purchased them prior to them reaching that age !!! so could bring them in after that... (BS)

[Johnny Lee]

I imported 2 last year, and a classic car 2 years previously. I would have been better taking my money to the Merit Casino. At least I would have had some fun instead of months of hassle and expense.

There is a vast choice here now of decent cars.

[jacob]

Agree with Johnnie Lee, all I would say is that, yes, there are many cars there for sale at silly prices because ppl expect to get the duty back

I say if you import your car that is your choice, you have no right to pass it on to the buyer.

[wanderer]

Its 7 years since we imported a car
We had owned for 6 years from new
Used Euro Med of London ro-ro from Harwich/Ipswich to Famagusta (no passengers) they confirmed eligability as well as customs

I had spoken to customs in Lefkosa showing them the log book V55 and they wrote on a post it how much tax would be
Note that change of government usually changes taxrates
Import Tax was levied on 1,the value of the car 2,The cc and 3, the fuel(petrol/diesel) 4,army levies
bands are as follows
1,Under 1400 2, 1400 to 2000cc and over 3, 2000cc were the break points and diesel was more expensive than petrol

It cost about £1500 for a 1250 cc petrol Ford Fiesta so not expensive 90 days car hire over 12 months

Rule of thumb old Fiesta cheap new Discovery diesel will bankrupt you
imported the car with 12 months Uk tax & MOT

Taxed the car before the UK tax was up and then there was a one off registration for the first time for the plates plus the anual tax

The experience was not bad and the people in government offices quite helpful

[Lodger]

7 Years Ago !!!

I spoke to them last December and that car would not have been allowed in.

[gates]

why bother it will cost to much believe me i have done it sold it for the engine some how done the greek side lost the 10k on that one how many silly people are going to ask this ? dont or pay at your pleasure more than the car is worth

[Reyntj]

Dont do it . I imported a two year old ford focus . It sat in ipswich for three months and the shiping company based in famagusta kept telling me the boat was leaving the next day . You will get stung on road tax as they register it as a brand new car . It seeme they make a figure up on the tax . You will ge going back and forward to nicosia etc .you wont save any money it will cost lots of time and you probably cannot bring it anyway . Do not do it .

[Johnny Lee]

I think most of us who have tried to do it orhave done it are giving sound advice. One of the cars I bought in was a beautiful low mileage classic Merc, I drove it over with my son , the journey was incredible, until we reached Turkey then it went slightly down hill. But still a wonderful drive through Turkey. Then as soon as we reached the docks in Turkey it went further down hill.

Then when we reached Girne the fun really started. I was eventually told after weeks of farting about, yes its classic , but we don't want here it as a classic because there are too many of them here already. So the duty was pitched so high it was not viable.

[Lodger]

I think most of us who have tried to do it orhave done it are giving sound advice. One of the cars I bought in was a beautiful low mileage classic Merc, I drove it over with my son , the journey was incredible, until we reached Turkey then it went slightly down hill. But still a wonderful drive through Turkey. Then as soon as we reached the docks in Turkey it went further down hill.

Then when we reached Girne the fun really started. I was eventually told after weeks of farting about, yes its classic , but we don't want here it as a classic because there are too many of them here already. So the duty was pitched so high it was not viable.

Absolute Brilliant advice...

As I said before everything is set up to protect the Car dealers on the island.

[MoonageDaydream]

It's easy for people to say “don't do it” but only you know what is best in your circumstances.

If your car is a standard model, commonly available, then in most cases it will be cheaper for you to sell it in the UK, rent one when you get here, then buy when you are ready. Bear in mind that second hand cars hold their value more here than they do in the UK.

Many of the second hand cars here have been in the rental trade, that's good and bad news. On the one hand some of them have been 'thrashed' by hirers but the positive side is that they will usually have been serviced regularly. It can be worth cutting out the middle man, and asking car hire businesses near you what they are prepared to sell (especially at the end of season).

If you have a car which is special to you, then it may be worth bringing it here. It will have to be imported via Turkey. You will get a customs permit for a month at the port. Before that expires you have to go to Customs and extend it, you can drive on UK plates here for up to 12 months, after that time you either have to send the car back to the UK, or re-register it on TRNC plates. You cannot sell the car for two years after the date of registration.

You will need to have insurance before you drive the car away. You can buy this at the port, but it is expensive, better to arrange this in advance with a local company.

I brought a car over here from England last year, I did it because it was a model that is quite rare over here, its second hand value in the UK was quite low, but I had owned it for nearly 6 years, so knew its history, so I thought the was a price worth paying for its value to me..

The duty rate is high, about half the Glass's valuation I think. Bear in mind the traffic office doesn't always have the latest copy, so its best to take in a valuation. I bought an online valuation from Glass's over the internet and took in a printed copy, they accepted those figures and based the duty on 'middle book' value.

The process of registering the car, getting the road tax etc is quite time consuming. It didn't matter for me as I'm retired, but I spent about 3 days driving around north Nicosia, which I go to know very well! Other people I know who have brought cars in got the importer to do the donkey work, for which they charged a small fee.

As I say ou need to make the decision which is right for you.

[Reyntj]

"It will have to be imported via turkey " you are acting as a bit of a know it all but you are giving incorrect information . It doesnt have to be imported via turkey thats nonsense .

[Keithcaley]

"It will have to be imported via turkey " you are acting as a bit of a know it all but you are giving incorrect information . It doesnt have to be imported via turkey thats nonsense .

I think that I understand what you're saying, but I also think that you're being a trifle harsh - I think that he meant that it has to travel via Turkey to avoid complications, such as for instance, not being able to take it South if imported via the ROC - unless I've missed your point completely, of course, in which case I look forward to a clarification of your reasoning.
Always good to read your posts!

[Reyntj]

He was referring to my post where my advice was dont do it then making out he was the oracle on the subject . It will have to be imported via turkey ? No the easiest option is to import it direct to trnc you dont need to bother with turkey at all so nonsense .

[Summerjunk]

sorry to hijack this old thread but does anyone know the latest rules on importing a vehicle with residency? i spoke to a fellow brit coming into girne port the other day and he said the age restriction on vehicles had been got rid of? tia

[Saddique]

You must have owned the car for over 2 years on the V5 in UK before importing it.
Type in the value of your car as per Glasses guide if possible and the Cubic Capacity of the car on the below link and it will give you a rough guide on what the taxes due will be

http://www.gumruk.gov.ct.tr/maliye/f?p=30002:1:0::NO:::

[waddo]

I see that is a kind of guide but was last updated in 2016! Maybe a bit out of date by now - lol. Even on those costs, having just priced out my "Dream" motor - which I will never be able to afford anyway - I will continue to dream on. Many thanks, it was most interesting.

[wanderer]

Refer to my post of 2017 my 2010 import still running a 2003 fiesta 1.25 now with 44,000 miles
https://www.infonorthcyprus.com/buying- ... g-vehicles

[Reyntj]

Interesting calculator thnx gives a ball park figure .

[Saddique]

I see that is a kind of guide but was last updated in 2016! Maybe a bit out of date by now - lol. Even on those costs, having just priced out my "Dream" motor - which I will never be able to afford anyway - I will continue to dream on. Many thanks, it was most interesting.

Believe it or not it is still in use in 2023...lol.... from what I believe. So it's a useful guide.

[waddo]

Oh, I can well believe it - in the land of "If it aint broke then don't fix it" and only do something for a "Fast Buck" nothing surprises me anymore - lol. Still can't afford my DBX707 so will continue to dream.......

[terry2366]

Is there any difference in a nonchpriot importing a car than a Cypriot please.

[waddo]

I understand that Cypriots who have moved away from the Island and then returned to live here are allowed to import one vehicle per family without having to pay import tax. This is true of the guy who lives across the road from me, but for sure it is only one vehicle per family as he found out when he tried to import a second vehicle. Sorry, I can't ask him anything as he has gone back to London and won't be back for a couple of months.

[Groucho]

Refer to my post of 2017 my 2010 import still running a 2003 fiesta 1.25 now with 44,000 miles
https://www.infonorthcyprus.com/buying- ... g-vehicles

the idea that a classic car must be LESS than 12 years old is surely wrong - but that's what this 'guide' states.... when classifying cars as classic it's usual to list a minimum age not a maximum.

[Chelsea]

You must have owned the car for over 2 years on the V5 in UK before importing it.
Type in the value of your car as per Glasses guide if possible and the Cubic Capacity of the car on the below link and it will give you a rough guide on what the taxes due will be

http://www.gumruk.gov.ct.tr/maliye/f?p=30002:1:0::NO:::

I believe the 2 year ownership is no longer required

[Darina]

I am planing to import my pick up- Ford ranger 2.0.- 4 years old.
Any restrictions for this type of vehicle.
Could you explain to me a procedure.
I haven’t got a recidency, but shortly after arriving in the country I will apply for that.
How long can I drive the car before to pay the taxes?
I am a home owner.
I Will appreciate it for your help and advice.
Thanks.
Darina

[wanderer]

Downside of what I assume is a pickup is they have an anual MOT and there used to be restrictions on non businesses using them
Import details guide below .Go to the customs with copy of the log book and ask first
I used Euro med to import my car on their non passenger RO Ro ferry service from UK http://www.euromed-uk.com/
https://www.infonorthcyprus.com/buying- ... g-vehicles

[Darina]

Can I import a pickup Ford Ranger to North Cyprus . I have been told that is not possible to register this type vehicle, because is commercial.

[wanderer]

Darina that used to be the case so I believe
The best thing you can do is go to the cutoms office show them your vehicle details and explain your position