Border crossing after midnight

Glengoyne


Joined: 29/02/2008
Posts: 30

Message Posted:
01/04/2008 21:31

We are hiring a car in the south and travelling over the border. Our flight times have recently been changed and we are now flying at ridiculous times and will not cross the border until after midnight. I read somewhere on this board that you cannot get insurance at the border after 12pm. Does anyone know if this is correct and if so, what other arrangements can we make to ensure we are insured.

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
01/04/2008 23:17

Hire a car in the North you won't then have a problem



If you hire a car in the south and take it to the North the insurance you get is only 3rd. party.



Also if you have problems, a breakdown or worse a crash it is your responsibilty to get the car back to the south.



Would you drive a hire car in the UK only 3rd party insurance????



The standard of driving in the TRNC is really bad, look at these stats, the UK has a very good record for road safety compared with most other EU countries. In 2004 it had one of the lowest road death rates in the EU, at 5.6 per 100,000 population. The population in the UK being something like 60million. In the TRNC the road deaths run at about 70 per annum and the population is only 200,000 - 300,000. Surely this shows that there is a much higher risk of being involved in an accident in the TRNC.



A simple breakdown would not really be a problem, having an accident would be.



For me gambling on saving not a lot is not a risk worth taking particulary as most of the hire cars are fairly new, worst case scenario is an accident is your fault and the car is a write off that would cost you say £8,000 to replace.



Already in 2008 there have been at least 15 deaths on the roads in the TRNC and well over 100 road accidents each week



Also with the Euro at a high it really isn't cheaper to hire in the south.



Remember, if you have a crash in the North and it is your fault your fault the insurer will not pay any of your own costs only those of 3rd parties and there is I believe an upper limit of £8,000

Heathfield


Joined: 21/02/2008
Posts: 14

Message Posted:
02/04/2008 02:33

Not sure why "lovingcyprus" always comes up with this old chesnut!!



I hired a car from Petsas (the largest independent in the South) from Jan to Mar this year. A 5-door 1400cc Toyota Corolla with just 8000 km on the clock cost just 12EUR a day, plus 1EUR per day for full insurance for the TRNC (unlimited 3rd party plus own damage with a "100CYP" excess). I made the booking on the internet via http://www.yourway-carhire.com to get this rate - which is less than Petsas' published tariff.



The advantages were that there was no taxi fare from the airport to the North (saving about £80 return) and - more importantly - we could drive into the South without any problem - a real plus for shopping.



No one in the North offers a modern car at £10 a day - do they?

Mountain Edge



Joined: 23/02/2007
Posts: 199

Message Posted:
02/04/2008 03:31

He always does and will probably continue to do so.

I think it is a case of do what you want to do and take the chance. I do and, touch wood, so far so good.

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
02/04/2008 08:42

at least lovingcyprus is making people aware of the pitfalls of such practice , its up to the individual what they do with the information , and as for tjhe old chestnut , well , if people read the threads there would'nt be any need for him to repeat himself , taking chances is'nt particularly most peoples forte , so for those people any information is valuable , no matter how many times they hear it

have a good day , simbas

millzer


Joined: 12/04/2007
Posts: 978

Message Posted:
02/04/2008 10:00

Well said Simbas

saucyboy69


Joined: 09/02/2008
Posts: 111

Message Posted:
02/04/2008 11:05

We have hired from Petsas loads of times in the past and have always had good cars at a very reasonable price,, i always buy there insurance for the North and so far touch wood i have never had a problem.



I also like the fact that i can drive back accross to the south whenever i have cause to.



Pete,

suntanman



Joined: 18/04/2007
Posts: 721

Message Posted:
02/04/2008 13:17

Can anyone answer the original question?

I am also interested in availability of insurance at the border after midnight, and like Glengoyne seem to remember reading somewhere that the insurance kiosk shuts down at a certain time.

jokers2theright


Joined: 18/02/2008
Posts: 174

Message Posted:
02/04/2008 15:04

Yes I am told they close about 5pm

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
02/04/2008 15:46

Heathfield and Mountain Edge



Don't you think people should be aware of the situation when hiring a car in the south and bringing it north.



You both may be happy to do it but others when the situation is pointed out to them decide not to take the risk.



There are many people "touching wood" (as saucyboy69 does) that they will not have a problem but if and when they do it will cost them dearly and all for saving a few pounds.

Mountain Edge



Joined: 23/02/2007
Posts: 199

Message Posted:
02/04/2008 17:29

I do not advise other people to do or not do it. I simply tell them that I do.

You might notice on another thread on car hire I do recommend a company for hire but I do also suggest looking at all the info on other hire threads.

Each to their own.

Heathfield


Joined: 21/02/2008
Posts: 14

Message Posted:
02/04/2008 18:20

I'm with Mountain Edge on this. I was very unhappy at the thought of diving on third party only (anywhere!) but I was happy to have the full cover available via Petsas. The standard of driving in the North may leave a lot to be desired - but it's little different in the south. An accident anywhere is going to be a whole lot of hassle.



I do think it's important that lovingcyprus's statements:



"If you hire a car in the south and take it to the North the insurance you get is only 3rd. party"



and



"if you have a crash in the North and it is your fault your fault the insurer will not pay any of your own costs only those of 3rd parties and there is I believe an upper limit of £8,000"



are challenged - they are simply not true.



It may well be that, in the past or at the border, only limited insurance cover was available, but it is different now. Full cover is available - and I, for one, will always make sure I have it!

Glengoyne


Joined: 29/02/2008
Posts: 30

Message Posted:
02/04/2008 19:20

Hi UK Turk,

Last time we were over we did the taxi journey and picked hire car up in the north. We didn't have a very good experience. On our return to the aiport the driver turned up an hour late, meaning we had to travel at break neck speed down the motorway to catch our flight. It was 46 degrees outside and the car had no air conditioning and the driver looked like he could nod off any minute. It was quite frightening, hence the reason for hiring our own car this time round. We're still very new to this game and trying to find what bests suits us. We will probably try the flight to Ercan next time even though we have two stops on the way. It's all trial and error at the moment.



Heathfield, am I understanding you correctly. Can you now purchase full cover insurance at the border?



I also wasn't aware we could purchase full cover from Petsas - this is ideal?



Thanks. Anne

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
02/04/2008 23:16

Heathfield



I suggest you read up about 3rd party car insurance and exactly what it covers and secondly, full cover is not available in the North using using a South Cyprus Hire car unless of course you can post on here a copy of your insurance document that states so and all can see it.

Heathfield


Joined: 21/02/2008
Posts: 14

Message Posted:
03/04/2008 02:06

My insurance cover note was issued by Petsas at their airport hire desk when I collected the car - I paid for it separately in cash, in Euros. Petsas simply act as agents for a TRNC insurance company (Islek Sigorta, Turganer Binalari No 3, Lefkosa - tel: 227 8165), collect the premium and issue the cover note. The cover note does not specify a third party property damage limit (that space is blank), third party bodily injury and death is "unlimited" and there is an endorsement (sic) "This is to certify that this special cover note is third part - plus collision. Exess: £100CYP".



Is a similar policy available at the border? - I don't know.

jemjem


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 42

Message Posted:
03/04/2008 11:41

hi heathfield we have hired with petsas twice last year but have stopped becuase of the insurance problem .we were told we could upgrade to fully com but this only only covered you south of the border, but things are changing fast . i have looked on line to see if it mentions anything about insurance but nothing .we walked across border in nicasia and they have a branch just the other side went in for a map i should have asked, but i would like to see it in black and white before trying it again as they dont seem to understand i need to be fully com in north and south...and why would you pay insurance at the border if you are already insured? bob

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
03/04/2008 17:39

So if you have an accident in the North who do you call? Is it Islek Sigorta or Petsas and will they definitely send a recovery vehicle to the North. The issue always used to be that if you had an accident it was your responsibility to get the car back South. Would it be possible for anybody hiring with Petsas to ask the question and post details here.

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
03/04/2008 20:31

joandjelly



The problem here is that people ask the hire company/insurance questions and they get the answers they want to hear. What needs to happen is for the correct questions to be asked (written down) and then the answers be obtained again in writing. Then there will be no confusion/doubt.



Imagine a potential hirer asking the hire company in the South can I take the car to the TRNC the answer will be yes. Next question if I breakdown do you provide a recovery service, agin the answer is yes. BUT the second question should have been if I breakdown in the TRNC do you provide a recovery service WHAT IS THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION???

Glengoyne


Joined: 29/02/2008
Posts: 30

Message Posted:
18/04/2008 21:35

After many e-mails and searching we have managed to hire a Mitsibushi Lancer @ £150/week through Economy Car Hire (who know we are travelling to the north) and have arranged separately with Islek Sigorta, based in Nicosia, fully comp insurance at €50 for the week. When we pick up our car at the car hire company we have a mobile phone number to call with the car details and they will meet us at the border at 1.00am in the morning with our documents. Ideal if it works. We travel in 2 weeks time so will let you know how we get on.

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
18/04/2008 23:19

To hire the same car in North Cyprus would cost you £123 p.w. with full insurance.

Glengoyne


Joined: 29/02/2008
Posts: 30

Message Posted:
18/04/2008 23:26

Yes, but we would have to get taxis @ £200 return to/from Paphos Airport plus we wouldn't be able to cross the border during our time in Cyprus. As mentioned previously we had a bad experience with the taxi driver last time. It may not work, but it's worth a try. I think this is our best option this time.

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
19/04/2008 00:52

Taxi from Paphos is only £130-140 return if you have paid £200 you were ripped off