Bringing a car over via the south

hetty


Joined: 31/07/2011
Posts: 167

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 18:10

I am coming over next year, January tb precise, can I bring my car in to the South and drive it over as I will only be staying for about 4 months and then driving it out again.

EricCrapton



Joined: 30/12/2010
Posts: 325

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 18:16

You need to be a bit clearer. Do you mean you are arriving at Kyrenia from Turkey and then 4 months intened to cross over to the south?

hetty


Joined: 31/07/2011
Posts: 167

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 18:22

Eric, NO I mean bring it in through Limmasol and drive it to the North where I am staying for about 4 months, I then plan to take it back to the UK through Limmasol. Can I do this or will it get taken by customs in the North.

EricCrapton



Joined: 30/12/2010
Posts: 325

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 18:34

Ah, ok. In that case I think you need to hear from one of the other posters who know more about that than me. Sorry but I would hate to mislead you.



You see I entered from Kyrenia hoping to cross to the South and settle there but I'm still in the North as customs refused to allow my van and possessions over the border!

hetty


Joined: 31/07/2011
Posts: 167

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 18:38

Oh dear I am sorry to hear that, still the North is much prettier isn't it.

EricCrapton



Joined: 30/12/2010
Posts: 325

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 18:41

Do you intened to live in the south or the North?

hetty


Joined: 31/07/2011
Posts: 167

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 18:51

The North, it is much nicer.

EricCrapton



Joined: 30/12/2010
Posts: 325

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 18:57

It certainly is, in every way and a lot cheaper, in every way! Unfortunately I was a bit, no very naive coming through Kyrenia. I was warned it was difficult but then I made it worse! You see I don't have much time for ignoramus customs men!

hetty


Joined: 31/07/2011
Posts: 167

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 19:10

Customs are the same the world over, they are all ignorant idiots, sadly they have power.

hetty


Joined: 31/07/2011
Posts: 167

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 19:37

79 people have viewed this and only eric has had the decency to reply, I am sure someone can answer this question or are you all only concerned with charities and arguing?

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 20:00

Hetty if you are shipping the car you can ship it into the North Cenk at EuroMed can arrange

I used them reasonable on price and good service

You can drive into the North taking the shortest sea crossing the driving through Europe and Turkey in January the roads will be not good and passes could be closed with snow

The problem will start when you are forced to have the insurance for the North as Eric had the problems doing it in the South

ttoli


Joined: 24/03/2007
Posts: 1172

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 20:02

Or perhaps its because we dont know ourselves and would hate to give Duff info, Trouble is that the local authorities do not recognise Limmasol as a 'LEGAL' point of entry, a couple of weeks?, I think you'd be ok, but 4 months??.

hetty


Joined: 31/07/2011
Posts: 167

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 20:30

Thanks for your replies, I dont want to bring it into the North because I have read horror stories on here and don't intend to keep it there.

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 20:39

Hetty 10 months or more tax on your car and there is no problem as a visitor to the TRNC

We bought the wife's car over ran it for 8 months paid the duty and its now a TRNC car easy peasie met some nice people on the way even got cake as it was somebodies birthday in a government office Eric found the South to be the pain

A c44member (cant remember his name) wintered here last year with his car and drove back to the UK no problem

Its a bit like "Ghost busters 1" don't cross the ""or"borders "

hetty


Joined: 31/07/2011
Posts: 167

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 23:05

Thanks wanderer, I appreciate your help.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 23:33

email if you need anyhelp guidoandliz@yahoo.co.uk

jock1



Joined: 06/01/2008
Posts: 3786

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 23:39

just a thought..you said 4 months..you only get 90 days when you enter here.

jamboree


Joined: 25/06/2011
Posts: 88

Message Posted:
02/08/2011 02:24

dear hetty dont take any ones word for it. best to ask some one at n cyprus customs and have it in writing if possible, as they change the law as a normal person changes there pants. but i think it is 90 days visiting is the time allowed for a car via the south entry as said before.



there will be no problem to enter a uk reg car via south limasol port, you need current uk road tax, insurance for the south and north, and i think and address on the south, but i cant be 100% sure, look it up on the cy customs site.



any thing that should be pretty simple is very difficult out here nc.

Tonyta


Joined: 11/06/2011
Posts: 122

Message Posted:
02/08/2011 02:52

Hi Hettty



I have crossed the border many a time from the south with a hire car. I have not had a problem as you can insure the car at the border on the TRNC side but only for three months at a time. As it is your own car you may be asked to fill in the import forms to allow the car, not you, a one month stay, you get 90 days renewable, you will then have to attend the customs office at the end of the first month to extend the car stay, for up to 12 months. Previous to this visit you need to attend a police station to get an IN/OUT form for which you need a 5 lira stamp. You may have a problem on the return journey, but as you are not booked out so to speak when leaving the south, you should not have trouble with Uk plates, as long as you can show you initially entered Cyprus in the south.



Hope this helps

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
02/08/2011 06:33

The dificulty is bringing the car into Cyprus in the first place there is no car ferry into the South.



The cost of car hire especially in the early months of the year is very reasonable I am sure this would be a cheaper option than a tempory import.



On the technical side there is absaloutly no problem in bringing a UK registered car in from the South to North if it is for a limited time and you have a South address.



If you were bringing in in from the South and living in the North then you would need to complete tempory importation documents.

hetty


Joined: 31/07/2011
Posts: 167

Message Posted:
02/08/2011 08:29

Thank you for all your replies, I think I will fly and buy in the North.

EricCrapton



Joined: 30/12/2010
Posts: 325

Message Posted:
02/08/2011 08:52

That sounds like a good idea hetty and believe it would save a lot of running around. the only thing is cars are VERY expensive over here and I mean VERY!

Agobard


Joined: 20/08/2008
Posts: 271

Message Posted:
02/08/2011 09:46

I think that, if I were you, I'd arrive in the south and buy a second hand car there - much cheaper than in the north. You will have tax and insurance in the south and then buy a third party policy for the TRNC - only about 60 quid if bought for a year. Although they take a rather dim view of this here, there are ways and means and, if you're only going to be here for 4 months, I don't think it is likely to be problematic.

0maintenance


Joined: 22/09/2010
Posts: 2179

Message Posted:
02/08/2011 11:07

You can bring your car into limmasol and then drive it north,when it arrives in limmasol you will get i think 1 month stay on the car,as the 1 month is coming to an end you can apply for a extension which will be for 3 months,you can only keep your car in the south for up to 6months before you must pay the duty or take it off the island.

Customs in the south are ok about extending the stay on your car but will not allow more than 6 months stay on the car.

blade


Joined: 19/06/2010
Posts: 1286

Message Posted:
02/08/2011 11:34

I am sure there is a ferry from Greece which arrives in the south.

There are companies in the south who can help you ship your car. Just what ever you do don't register it here in the north otherwise they will refuse to ship it back out of the south.

You can bring your car in from an EU country to the south for 6 months then you either have to pay duty or leave with it.

Ship it into the south, drive to the greenline, buy insurance and use your car.

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
02/08/2011 17:04

there is no car ferry comming from Greece to the south of Cypus it stopped in 74

hetty


Joined: 31/07/2011
Posts: 167

Message Posted:
02/08/2011 17:28

Thanks all, I have a couple of options now.

philbailey


Joined: 17/01/2011
Posts: 3534

Message Posted:
02/08/2011 17:33

Ferry service from Greece to Cyprus here



http://www.greekislands.gr/greece.htm

hetty


Joined: 31/07/2011
Posts: 167

Message Posted:
02/08/2011 17:34

Actually a point I want to question, why do you have to pay duty in the South, it is in the EU so shouldn't be any duty to pay, am I correct?

jamboree


Joined: 25/06/2011
Posts: 88

Message Posted:
02/08/2011 17:38

you can ship it from uk to cyprus limasol, andrews shipping north london. they even pick it up from your house. they are quite reasonable too..

fiendishpaul


Joined: 18/05/2008
Posts: 1720

Message Posted:
02/08/2011 18:22

As Hippo has suggested, by far the simplest and probably cost effective solution is to hire a car for the duration of time that you are here. Shipping the car both ways is probably going to cost you the best part of £1000 before you add on any insurance, taxes etc. Try some of the car hire firms to see what deal they could do you for a long term rental.



Regards



Paul

fiendishpaul


Joined: 18/05/2008
Posts: 1720

Message Posted:
02/08/2011 18:23

As Hippo has suggested, by far the simplest and probably cost effective solution is to hire a car for the duration of time that you are here. Shipping the car both ways is probably going to cost you the best part of £1000 before you add on any insurance, taxes etc. Try some of the car hire firms to see what deal they could do you for a long term rental.



Regards



Paul

blade


Joined: 19/06/2010
Posts: 1286

Message Posted:
03/08/2011 10:56

Hetty,

most EU countries allow you to use your private car for 6 months, then if you intend to stay longer duty & registration is due. The south do have a website with a link to a calculator where you can see what duty would be payable. Sorry i don't have a link.

I think the other option in the south was after the 6 months if you are not ready to leave your car can be put into a bonded warehouse until you leave.

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
03/08/2011 15:41

BTW : Limmassol is spelt Limassol (or Limasol to TCs ..)



You CAN ship a vehicle to Limas(s)ol via container.. cost approx 500 GBP .. your issue would be :



1/ providing address in the 'south'



2/ the 'north's' attitude to ex-pat vehicles not being 're-registered / 'customs' paid



@Blade: as an EU citizen if you bring in a car to the 'rump' RoC you have to re-register the car in the RoC or it must leave ..bonding applies to non EU registered cars

blade


Joined: 19/06/2010
Posts: 1286

Message Posted:
03/08/2011 16:06

Thanks M, now i see.

I was told differently by a company in the south this week. It wasn't something i would have taken as an option so didn't take that much notice. They didn't explain it had to be non EU cars.



Do you have a clue on this? : i bring my UK car into the south for 6 months, then take it to the north where i can then use it for 1 year ( as long as i keep up the paperwork) then ship it out of the north. Whats the pitfall?

I miss my car but it is too old to come here under the import rules, so i am looking for a way around it. I have an address i can use in the south. Doe's it spound viable? The shipping costs are minor in comparison to the duty.

baxi7


Joined: 23/09/2008
Posts: 130

Message Posted:
13/08/2011 13:58

you have to treat this island has two different countries , with two police , two customs , & both want import duties regardless of whether it has been paid to one or the other . ( beware ) .

IbrahimAbi


Joined: 24/10/2010
Posts: 245

Message Posted:
13/08/2011 15:44

If you are only here for a limited time you can fly and rent in the north.There are a lot of surplus rental cars around in the winter, you should get a good price.

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
13/08/2011 16:10

re msg 35 - Blade sorry for the delay in responding



As far as the RoC authorities are concerned - if you bring the car on island and it hasn't left - it has stayed in the RoC - so you should re-register it in the RoC after six months is up..or ship it out before that date



So, say you come 'back' from the 'TRNC' after 12 months and a RoC customs guy checks and finds the car came in 18 months ago - and that there's no record of it LEAVING - you *could* be 'done'.. :(



You'd need to hope some 'northies' respond re the risks of not re-registering and 'coughing up' there... from what I've read.. you'd be better to leave the 'ol girl in the UK :(