How to Import a Car to North Cyprus: Rules, Taxes & Costs

Check Eligibility With Customs Before You Ship

Whether a used car can be imported for permanent registration can depend on rules such as its age. These rules are set by the authorities and can change, and we do not restate them until they are checked against a dated official source (the Official Gazette or gov.ct.tr).

Get a written answer from the TRNC Customs and Excise Department (Gümrük ve Rüsumat Dairesi) for your exact vehicle, quoting its chassis number, model year and engine size, before you pay for shipping.

Steering Wheel Position

Traffic in Northern Cyprus drives on the left, as in the United Kingdom and Japan, and most cars on the island are right-hand drive imports from those two countries. A right-hand drive car is easier to overtake in and to resell.

Whether a left-hand drive car can be registered permanently is one of the questions to put to the Customs and Excise Department before you ship it.

Customs Duty and Taxes: What to Ask

Customs duty and any related fund, VAT and port charges are assessed by the TRNC Customs and Excise Department. We publish no rates until they are checked against a dated official source. Ask the department for:

The total duty and charges for your exact vehicle, in writing and dated.
Which value the assessment is based on (for example the invoice value or the cost, insurance and freight value).
Port handling, storage and clearance fees at the port of arrival.
First registration and plate fees, paid at the Vehicle Registration Office (the 2025 fee schedule is in our Turkish road tax guide, kktc-arac-muayene-seyrusefer-rehberi).

Temporary Import for Tourists, Students, and Diplomatic Personnel

Foreign visitors, university students, and work permit holders may bring a foreign-registered vehicle on a temporary admission basis (Touring permit / Geçici İthalat):

Tourists: Allowed to drive a foreign-plated car for up to 90 days with temporary transit customs bonds and local third-party border insurance.
University Students: Registered full-time students can extend temporary vehicle entry for their duration of study by renewing customs clearance stamps annually without paying full permanent import tax.
Crucial Rule: Temporarily imported vehicles cannot be sold, rented, or transferred to another individual within the TRNC without settling full customs liabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring my own car from the United Kingdom to North Cyprus?

Possibly. Eligibility can depend on rules such as the car's age and steering position, so ask the TRNC Customs and Excise Department (Gümrük ve Rüsumat Dairesi) whether your exact vehicle can be registered, and what it will cost, before you ship it.

Is it cheaper to import a car or buy locally in Northern Cyprus?

For standard passenger cars (e.g. 1.0L–1.6L Japanese hatchbacks), local dealerships benefit from bulk container logistics and established customs clearing channels, making buying locally often more economical and headache-free. Individual imports are generally only cost-effective for rare specifications or high-value premium models.

Can I import a car from South Cyprus (Republic of Cyprus)?

Due to ongoing political border status, cars registered in South Cyprus cannot be permanently registered or imported into the TRNC. While European citizens can cross the green line border for temporary visits with border insurance, permanent title transfer across the border is not legally permitted.