Importing Cars into Northern Cyprus
By Trevor Hughes……..
We often receive requests for help from our readers of cyprusscene.com and we try to help where we can and share information where applicable for the benefit of other readers and we recently received and replied to an enquiry regarding the importation of cars to Northern Cyprus as follows.
“Hi All,
Does anyone know the definite rules for importing a car into TRNC? I have been told a number of criteria. Opinion seems to be the car must be less than 5 years old or more than 30 years old (latter classed as a classic car) or you can have import a car of any age if you have owned it for more than 5 years.
We have a holiday Apartment near Girne and are semi retired so spend several weeks a year there. Car hire becomes expensive so we are looking at the possibility of importing a car.
Regards,
Ian Saunders”
Hi Ian,
You can import a car here, but it is fraught with difficulty.
- The car must be either under 5 years of age or you must have owned it for the last 5 years or more. If it is over 25 years old [classic] or older you can bring it into the TRNC without paying tax and as long as you are the registered owner on the log book the 5 years ownership criteria does not apply.
- Import tax is between 40/60% of mid range of “Glasses Guide”.
- You can only bring a vehicle over here once and for no longer than 1 year before which the import duties must have been paid. You can bring
it over here, drive it around for up to 1 year and then take it out of the country. If you do this you cannot bring it into the country again. But if you decide to pay the tax it can remain here indefinitely. You can of course do this as many times as you like as long as the vehicle changes each time. - Body parts for the car can be very difficult to find. They maybe numerous in the UK, but not necessarily here in the TRNC. If you have an accident and you cannot get the parts, then where would you be?
- Once registered here and the import tax has been paid you cannot resell it here for 2 years.
- If you are late paying the import tax the fines are heavy and the car will be deported to Turkey, no questions asked.
- Until you have applied for TRNC plates, you can only get third party insurance, no fire or theft cover here. You must have a minimum third party insurance whilst driving a vehicle here.
- The car must have all UK taxes paid, MOT if applicable, and your log book. If you cannot provide these documents your import will be refused.
- Commercial vehicles here are even more difficult to import and keeping here can be even more so!!
Why not buy a small second hand car. You can pick up some good vehicles here, but please ensure you follow advice, as buying one here can be one of the worst experiences if you get it wrong. Please ask me first as I can help you avoid a disaster.
For insurance purposes you will require a current and valid driving licence from your country of origin. The Law relating to driving licences is that once you have reached your 90 days driving allowance (linked to a visitor permit) in any one year here you should apply for a TRNC licence.
Please e-mail me direct if you need any more information.
Trevor Hughes
Mob: 0533 844 3403
Email: trevorhughes329@gmail.com
Company representative
Dağli Sigorta
A good answer which I know several people who failed to check carefully before they imported a vehicle and ended up in a real mess. Because of the way vehicles are valued by customs officials I know of one couple who were asked for more in import duties than the car was actually worth after keeping the car here for the years grace period. Too late, they off loaded the car for buttons just to recoup some cash.
My advice, do not take as fact what you may read on internet forums, some have without checking with the proper authorities. The rest is sad history!
Thank you David, as we all know where people are able to pass comments and opinions, these should be considered carefully as a lot mis-information is spread that can create difficulties for those who believe all they read without checking.
If you cant resell the car for 2 years after being registered in TRNC how do car dealers import brand new cars? Do they leave them unregistered for TRNC before they sell them?
Hello Robin,
In answer to your question there is a difference between private and commercial ownership of imported cars her in the TRNC.
Car dealers who import cars are not subject to the 2 year restriction and like car dealers in other countries they may sell stock quickly or over a longer period depending upon demand.
Can someone advise me, we want to come over to our villa each winter using our motorhome for the long journey – we want to stay for about six months each year can we do this without any hassle
Hello joolsdarling,
Regarding your question Para 3 states: You can only bring a vehicle over here once and for no longer than 1 year before which the import duties must have been paid. You can bring it over here, drive it around for up to 1 year and then take it out of the country. If you do this you cannot bring it into the country again. But if you decide to pay the tax it can remain here indefinitely. You can of course do this as many times as you like as long as the vehicle changes each time.
The same facts were expressed in a further article click here so that seems to be conclusive.
The only exception to this may be the Turkish registered commercial vehicles and cars we see driving round our roads
I thought so I was told I could bring in my motorhome back and forward as long as I didn’t stay here permanently without paying tax. If my motorhome is worth £55,000 the tax would be phenomenal – if the tax was paid could I bring it in and out of the north each year?
Hi joolsdarling as you say it may be very costly to register your motor home in the TRNC. If you did would you then have an issue when you drive it back to the UK???
Hello Trevor, can I confirm that the same rules apply for motorcycles as I have a classic bike that will be 25 when I intend to bring it to TRNC. Julian.
Hello Julian, sorry fro the delay in reply as I have had a few difficulties getting the information.
There is no difference between a car and a motorbike when you import it into the TRNC.
For an antique motor bike you will have to provide the authorities in North Cyprus with an original document from a reputable club or organisation that can confirm the bikes actual value when it was offered for sale by the manufacturer. Any other form of valuation will not be accepted.
I hope that’s helpful and best wishes.
Hi don’t know if anyone can help, we are relocating to Northern Cyprus later this year and want to buy a car out there, any advice and car dealer websites would be good. Mark Tovey
Who should I buy a car from?
Hi Mark, thank you for your comment which may receive more helpful replies from local readers if it is placed in a forum.
We have therefore placed a request for help from you in North Cyprus Forum ( click here ) our web partner.
Do join this forum as you may find other useful information on there and perhaps make new friends as well.
Hi
With regard to Julian’s post above.
Do you have to have owned a classic vehicle for a certain amount of time before you can import it to TRNC?
Hoping someone can help.
Thanks
Ian
Not to the Best of our knowledg Ian. Sorry we cannot give you any more information
Re Julian’s post above.
I was told that a vehicle over 25 years old is not subject to import duty, but I have just been speaking to someone who says that you DO have to pay import duty and it is based on the original price when new.
Can anybody confirm this?
Thanks.
Re Julian’s post above.
I was told that a vehicle over 25 years old is not subject to import duty, but I have just been speaking to someone who says that you DO have to pay import duty and it is based on the original price when new.
Can anybody confirm this?
Thanks.
Hello Ian,
This is the information offered by Trevor Hughes:
“All cars imported into the TRNC are subjected to import tax. For classic cars [25 years and over] the tax due is based on the original value of the vehicle at time of manufacture. This must be supported with confirmation in writing on an official letter head from a supplier of the vehicle, or a formal classic car establishment in the UK [registered Classic Car Club].
Trevor”
Many thanks for the reply.
Finding the original price is proving quite difficult.
All the best.
Cheers.
Hello – I’m slightly confused. In point 1, Trevor states -: If it is over 25 years old [classic] or older you can bring it into the TRNC without paying tax
However, in the last comment Trevor states :- All cars imported into the TRNC are subjected to import tax. For classic cars [25 years and over] the tax due is based on the original value of the vehicle at time of manufacture.
Which is it? A 25 year old Pajero might be £1000 in the UK, but if you tax it (how much?) on its original selling price (?£15,000?) then you’ll pay three times what it’s worth in tax.
These statements are contradictory?
Message from Trevor Hughes:
All Vehicles are subject to import tax, but the good news is the rate for calculation is based on the value of the car at time of manufacture. With a classic car the rate of tax is very low. You will need written confirmation from the dealer confirming the cost when it was first new, then the rate of import tax can be calculated.
E.G if the vehicle is an M G and the cost at time of purchase was say £450 the rate of import tax would be based on £450, but you will need written confirmation on the price at new from a registered dealer or a classic car club in the U K..