Car Insurance - vehicle inspection

[Geordiehandbag]

Hi, our vehicle is currently in a container with all our worldy goods on its way to Cyprus. We've been informed that as well as the V5 we need a cover note showing proof of insurance to release the vehicle at customs. We had at first assumed that our current insurance would be sufficient as it covers us for 90 days abroad but we've been advised that it has to be from an insurance company in Cyrus. We're trying to buy something on line but it looks like if we want fully comp then we need a vehicle inspection (which is impossible currently) so the only option is third party.

Is this what everyone else has done?

Many thanks
Jo

[Rigsby]

We're trying to buy something on line but it looks like if we want fully comp then we need a vehicle inspection (which is impossible currently) so the only option is third party.

Is this what everyone else has done?

Many thanks
Jo

GAN insurance like to see and photograph vehicles, I don't think all others do. I suggest you phone Top Quotes (00 357) 26 27 28 24 email: [email protected]

[Jim]

Most of us did not bring our cars out with us, it is not that easy at this end, you'll need or did need a Cypriot MOT and registering, I'm sure you will cope but something I would not have done personally unless the motor is unusual or classic..I hope if it needs any specialist service or parts it is a current model, parts here are not that easy to get, do be warned on this. Many of us have used parts from scrap cars, very common here.

[lincoln]

This may be of help. By the way it was not me who imported the car.

Having just completed the process today, I thought it may be useful to post the procedure for importing and registering a car from UK to Cyprus for those considering it. I have to say that every interaction I had with Cypriot officialdom was nothing short of extremely polite and helpful. I cannot relate to many expats who complain of the Cypriot attitudes, and suspect that this may be a reflection of the attitude given by the expat in the first place. Remember, for example, that when dealing with the Cypriot Civil Service, that you need to show respect by the way you dress ie shorts and flip flops are not de rigueur in Govt offices!

When our removals survey was done in the UK, we were told that our furniture would not fit into a 20ft container, so we either had to reduce our load, or hire a 40ft container. The 40ft container would also accommodate our car within it, and the difference in cost was around £1,500. We therefore chose to do this. We used Peter Morton as our Cyprus removals agent, and the container - with car inside - was delivered direct to our new home on 3 Nov 14.

However, before delivery, we were required to ensure that we had Cypriot car insurance. We decided to get this from Abbeygate Insurance. They accepted our Direct Line proof of no claims discount, and used the chassis number to issue the insurance certificate. We also had to personally clear customs at the port of entry (Limassol) with Peter Morton agents present. The paperwork needed by Customs was the Cypriot insurance certificate, UK Registration (V5), driving licence and passport. There was nothing to pay at this stage and the total time required here was around 30 mins. A C104 was issued allowing use of the car for 3 months before exercising one of 2 options:

A. Extend for another 3 months via customs & excise (new C104 issued).

B. Register the vehicle. This gives 2 further options - import as personal property with no duty to pay or pay import duty. If you import as personal property, you will still pay a minimum duty of €24.96 but cannot sell or otherwise dispose of your car until the proper import duty is paid.

To register the car:

1. Go to Dept of Transport (for Paphos, this is located in the industrial estate on the Polis/Mesogi Rd opposite the Sports Direct shop). You require your passport and UK Registration (V5). At DoT, you must first register at the front desk. You will require passport and address in Cyprus. They will issue a Driver Registration Number (you need this for all future dealings with the DoT). After issue of the Driver number, go past the reception desk to the last office on the right of the corridor. In this office, present your driver registration number (he can now find your record on his computer) and UK Registration (V5). He will capture all details and issue 2 copies of the emissions certificate. There is no payment at this stage. Total time required at DoT on this visit is around 20 mins.

2. Take all paperwork to the customs clearing agent, which is located in Ypolochagou Rd Paphos (right beside the Govt Buildings). They will issue more paperwork including a C1002 required by customs. There is a €52 fee levied by the customs agent including €2 for revenue stamps for the C1002. Total time required here is 20 mins.

3. Take all paperwork to customs and excise. This is located on the first floor of building E at Paphos Govt offices (opposite Bank of Cyprus) on Neofytou Nikolaidi Road in Paphos. They will retain one copy of the emissions certificate and levy the relevant import tax (for a car up to 120g emissions, the duty is the minimum payable - €24.96). Customs will then issue a C72 to certify that the relevant duty has been paid. Total time required here is 20 mins.

4. Take car for MoT at any authorised garage. They will use the engine/chassis number on the MoT certificate. Cost of MoT is €35 and time will be 45 mins to 1 hour.

5. Return to DoT with customs duty paid certificate (V72), UK Registration (V5), emissions certificate, proof of insurance, MoT certificate and 2 x Revenue Stamps for €1.71 each (available from the Post Office). For a saloon car, you will need to drive into the middle bay at the side of the DoT building where they will check engine/chassis number and all measurements against the UK Registration document (V5). They will then complete a form (note: if you are married, it is advisable to have the car registered in both names to save any problems should anything happen to one of you). Once complete, take all paperwork to the front reception desk. Here, you will be issued with your Cyprus Registration Document (cost is €150) and you have a choice of paying either 6 months or 1 year road tax. For a 120g emissions car, the 1 year road tax cost €70. Set aside around 1 hour for this visit to the DoT.

6. Take the Cyprus Registration document to an authorised Number Plate outlet. In Paphos, this is located on Leoforos Apostolou Pavlou (near the top of the hill of the Kato Paphos Rd). They will make and fit the number plate to your car. Cost €30. Time to set aside - around 15 mins.

7. Return to the insurance agent for issue of a new certificate with the Cyprus Reg No on it.

Simples!

PS. The quoted fee of a well known red tape company here for this was €200 which would not have negated any of the costs or procedures listed above.

[Geordiehandbag]

Many thanks for posting that information - very helpful.

My husband ended up phoning Abbeygate and they were very helpful.

Re: the advice not to bring the car - it's a bit late now it's on the container! We need a car straight away for school/work and felt it would be far more hassle to try and sell it here in the uk and then have to buy a replacement in Cyprus.

[dandy1873]

Jim

Why would your advice be not to import a car from the UK? My understanding is that local cars, ie used, are very expensive and that importing would be cost effective. Or am I wrong?
David

[The Shuttle]

Many thanks Lincoln for posting a very good reply excellently detailed I'm going through the same procedure next month with exactly the same company will use you letter as my guide.

thanks

Mick

[Jim]

David I have run this forum over the last fifteen years and this is my experience's over that time from fellow members, but it is only my opinion do let us all know how you get on.

Also I do realise importing a vehicles to Cyprus has changed over the years, but I have seen some terrible experience's from members, see FAQ section.

Regarding the cost of secondhand cars is relative and yes they are higher than the UK, but then again you do not pay for the importation and you may get a warranty, certainly we did with out two small motors recently, remembering pre-owned motors are worth more here when you exchange or sell them on, usually local mechanics can get some form of spares, not that easy here and why I mentioned rare or unusual motors in my post, any information will be useful to you and importing a vehicle is not for the faint of heart, I could lie and say it was easy it's not to be honest, but I'm sure you will be fine.

On spares I did run a newish Honda CRV it needed a new master brake cylinder, impossible to find on the island, my usual repair and service centre found me a good used part and have had no problems, Honda Cyprus offered to send for the part from Japan at my cost of course and a very long wait, do take this into account with any possible rare make or model....spares.

There are agents who do the leg work for importing UK motors, but this all adds to the importation cost.

We have a three year old VW and it was not as expensive as three time the UK cost far from it!, a little exaggerated I feel, again we have a local warranty and help when needed, it is easy enough to check prices here on line as we can for the UK there certainly was nothing to be alarmed about buying here, remembering you buy into the Cypriot car market..

Thinking back to our arrival it was enough to deal with local bureaucracy, finding a home and dealing with our furniture and chattels, the car would have just been another worry, we walked into a local Honda dealer and walked out with a great car..


As always of course you pays your money and takes your choice, all the best..

[Stu&Gill]

Hi all
I am in the same position

Our Golf is coming out with us specifically because of the cost of second hand cars on the island
Some are three time the cost of the U.K. Particularly the lower end of the market

I would have taken such a hit on my Golf ,which is now just 3 years old and only has 27000 miles on it, if sold in the UK ,so makes perfect financial sense to bring out even allowing for transportation and registration purposes
And I can stuff it full of personal items as well
And I will have a vehicle in lovely condition that will do another 10 years without any problems ( fingers crossed)

I will be busy sorting out a long term rental so will pay an agent to register the car for and happy to pay their fees

Good point re insurance. I thought I would be able to use UK insurance for a month or so ......will organise Cyprus insurance before the car arrives on the island

Thanks for the above

Stuart

[bnevi1]

Great post Lincoln.

I remember doing all of that 11 years ago when I imported my car which I've still got

[mouse]

From what Jim said about obtaining a common item for a CRV, it does leave me thinking that compared to Toyota.cy Honda give a very poor service, to the point maybe buying a Honda is a bad idea.
For my 92 corolla many parts are in stock in Paphos and have been told ALL parts are available, although a 4 week delay if they have to be obtained from Japan, no p&p on price either.

[Admin]

Mouse nothing to do with make particularly, this all started when Cyprus had it's EU financial problems, many companies would not after that stockpile spares, this is the reason as it continues today. VW are in the same position as most of the other makes and sales distributors, you can use the Internet to find spares but they will be expensive because of shipping and time consuming.

[J B]

When we imported our HRV from UK in 2013 we insured it with Atlantic before arrival - they never saw the car and still, 3 years later, haven't seen it, so no, Atlantic don't ask for a 'vehicle inspection'

[explodingaardvark]

If anyone is thinking of importing a car then make sure the car has low C02 emissions. Otherwise it can get expensive. I know from experience having bought a car with the intention of importing a car under the old system whereby if you were a pensioner you were allowed to import a car duty-free, but by the time the car was imported they had moved the goal posts and importation was based upon C02 emissions.

[Stu&Gill]

Just had a change of heart on my car coming over
Chudley's costs £2000 plus vat so £2400
Agents costs at Paphos €300
Paphos mot and registration etc €350
Am also advised that there may be €500 or so to pay at Customs

Just a heads up for anyone thinking of bringing a car over

It's now cheaper to take the hit on my car here in the Uk and buy a new one in Cyprus as they appear to be cheaper .
I just cannot get my head around how expensive second hand cars in Cyprus when new cars are cheaper

[Jim]

Yes can be expensive and complicated, all this when you are trying to sort out more important stuff, so the economics do not stack up that well, good advice although it will not stop those determined to bring a motor here, and on this I honestly wish them well..

[juliesewell]

Saying that, I bought my imported car second hand from a garage in Limassol in April 2005 - a Mazda 323 NEO 1.5 automatic for Cy£ 1,800.

I used it every day for work driving around 25km per day right up until the end of March 2016. It was serviced twice, had an oil/air filter change no more than 5 times and one replacement battery in 11yrs. It also had 2 new tyres and 2yrs before we left I found a star shaped crack in the windscreen which had to be replaced for its' MOT. Very rarely got cleaned or put through the car washers either.

We sold it to our mechanic in early April and also the double cab in the last few days before we left as we needed transport right up to our last morning.

Here's my car all shined up for sale again on 24 April 2016 as we passed by in our double cab:


They may be more expensive, but cars do tend to last a lot longer in Cyprus than in UK

[Geordiehandbag]

We were met by our shipping agent at customs on the day after arrival and taken to the various offices to get the paper work stamped, etc and not once were we asked to show our insurance cover note! Car was delivered to our house in the next two days.

Everyone's situation is different ofcourse - we needed a car straight away and so much else going on regarding registering at new school, etc that we couldn't face the prospect of looking for a car to buy here in Cyprus - especially as my husband is working full time.

Definitely worth doing your homework before you leave the Uk - we ended up leaving our Mini Cooper in the Uk because it would have cost us €2000 in duty. How I missed that little car when I was looking for a parking space in Limassol yesterday ....

[The Shuttle]

Hi
Good to hear you reply about shipping you car, mine is on the water to Cyprus right now. As a matter of interest how much did it cost at the cyprus end after arrival.

Thanks in advance.

Mick

[Geordiehandbag]

Mick

Apologies for not replying sooner - my post had been moved to motors which I don't generally read.

Your car might have arrived by now! I wonder if your experience was the same as ours? We didn't pay anything at customs but we have to go back in three months time to pay duty. I think it was less than €300 to pay for our L200 pickup.

Hope the move has gone well.

[darrow]

Lincoln is spot on with his explanation. we bought ours over in 2009 because the price we were offered to sell at a garage without an exchange was derisory. it had very little mileage on it. we did all the leg work ourselves and it wasn't as complicated has it may appear. we didn't pay import tax, as retirees, but it was suggested we pay the duty "to make things easier". we refused. at that time we had to keep the car 10 years or pay the import duty, on a sliding scale. this was scrapped in, i believe, 2013. we went to customs and got the tax clearance and eventually sold it. i don't know how it works now because emissions are the over riding factor, but it wasn't difficult. we collected ours from Limassol port. we got insurance from Abbeygate using Chasiss number