Bringing a car from the UK to North Cyprus

dumpling


Joined: 27/08/2009
Posts: 49

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 15:12

We have decided to stay here for awhile longer 'extended holiday' and someone has offered to drive our car over from the UK so that we can use it to get about can anyone tell us how this will work in terms of:

Insurance and tax in Turkey and North Cyprus

The driver not being the owner of the car when driving through Turkey and arriving in Girne



Any useful information will be most welcomed....thankyou in anticipation

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 15:25

Don't.

If you are staying for a while rent a small car for the duration and get a good rate.

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 15:40

Lynda

It would be cheaper and safer to ship the car about £650 last year from euromed

You need to have an under 3 year old car orbe the registered keeper for 5 years Under 1600 cc is the cheapest on import duty over 2000cc more expensive and diesel even more so

dumpling


Joined: 27/08/2009
Posts: 49

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 18:40

Thankyou for your replies...we are not thinking of importing it I just wanted it for the duration of my holiday which I may extend to 3-6 months

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 19:01

Get in touch with Corbo he has done that recently wintering in the TRNC now back in East Anglia

daffodils


Joined: 11/11/2008
Posts: 184

Message Posted:
15/04/2010 08:25

Hi, I can only tell you our experience, having driven our car over last August. Your driver will hit a big problem in Turkey at the border. (You have to be the driver on the log book) again at Kyrenia (you have to be the driver on the log book, big attention paid to that) all details of the car are put in your passport as owner of the car. We had terrible trouble from the customs who would not let me drive our car because it was not in joint names only my partner's and we had to get permission from the Muhtar to allow me to drive it !! even though insurance was in joint names. Impossible to get someone else to do it. They will take the car,(if stopped) They were so insistent I cannot think of a way round it. (only you going and getting it and putting car in joint names if you want wife or partner to drive it as well) You have to go to customs within one month for them to log the car in the system. that also is a must otherwise if stopped by police they will take the car

dumpling


Joined: 27/08/2009
Posts: 49

Message Posted:
15/04/2010 09:00

Thankyou Lynn, you have just confirmed what I have already been told so, I think we'll either bring the car ourselves or sell it and buy a car here if intending to stay 3-6 months

daffodils


Joined: 11/11/2008
Posts: 184

Message Posted:
15/04/2010 10:30

I would say, go and get it yourselves because cars are so expensive here and also you don't have to pay any duty until you have been here 12 months. Make sure you have enough UK tax on it as car tax is also expensive here.. The girls in the customs at Nicosia are lovely and helpful, if you have the right attitude with them. We did have fun driving back although we were shattered for ages afterwards. we took 13 days but you can do it a lot quicker, we just wanted a bit of a sightseeing holiday as well. The ferry from Turkey to Girne IS as bad as everyone says it is very basic and slow but it is soon forgotten and you can look back on it and laugh. We live in Karsiyaka too!!

Corbo



Joined: 13/09/2009
Posts: 627

Message Posted:
15/04/2010 10:37

I drove over for 5 months in an 8 year old Saab and have just returned. Not cheap getting there and back but a hoot. Would do it again and maybe for someone who wanted to bring in a car;( for a fee). Sounds expensive to get someone else to do it for a few months.

Corbo



Joined: 13/09/2009
Posts: 627

Message Posted:
15/04/2010 10:38

Thanks Wanderer. I can be emailed from details on here and will reply.

girne


Joined: 14/01/2009
Posts: 438

Message Posted:
16/04/2010 14:57

My husband drove over a car which was registered under his mums name. This caused problems at the borders as the paperwork had his mums name on and when we arrived in Turkey with 2 kids and even being able to speak the language we had problems. Driving through the other countries before reaching Turkey we paid out a lot of back handers. Even with our insurance policy stating it covered the EC countries they still made us by extra insurance!!!

It was an experience l would not like to go through again.

cyprusgiant


Joined: 08/07/2009
Posts: 467

Message Posted:
16/04/2010 16:49

I drove over here in September 2007. We planned to take 10 days and in itself the drive was a wonderful holiday. In particular, driving accross Turkey to the ferry terminal was fantastic. The roads and views were outstanding. Coming through any customs (Girne) is always going to be stressful, but having arrived in dock at 9am, after getting & completing all the paperwork we were out by mid day. As with message 8, ensure that you have 12 months UK road tax, which will give you time over here to ascertain what you need to do. Also, you will need to acquire Cyprus driving liscence, as UK liscence not applicable for insurance over here. I would say go for it and make it an enjoyable adventure, but make sure that you plan your journey & stops in advance (cuts out any uncertainties). With fuel costs, overnight accommodation, and ferry crossings (2 for us) the cost set us back approximately £800. Good luck Max....