Renting a car in Cyprus for the first time, you may think that no one has ever heard of parking rules here, and local residents park their cars as needed.
In fact, this is far from the case. There are rules here, and for non-compliance, you can be fined up to €100.
How can you not park in Cyprus
- In places where the asphalt near the curb is marked with a yellow line. At the single yellow line, you can make a short stop for boarding or disembarking passengers.
- “Against the flow”. You need to park the car in the direction of travel.
- 10 meters from an intersection, 15 meters from a pedestrian crossing, at a traffic light, at a bus stop, on sidewalks and in places for the disabled.
Violation of these rules is subject to a fine of 100 euros.
Paid parking in Cyprus
Paid parking lots are municipal and private. Using them when renting a car is quite simple.
The price is from 50 cents per parking space/hour. The closer to the city center, the more expensive.
Municipal parking is easy to recognize by the terminal, above which the sign: “PAY HERE” is affixed. There are two types of payment terminals: some give checks, others take money and start a timer.
Coins must be dropped into the parking meters that issue receipts until the screen shows the total amount to be paid in an hour or two. Then you need to press the big button and take the receipt (the parking time will be indicated on it). The receipt must be placed on the instrument panel so that the parking time is visible to the inspector. Some parking meters will give you a sticky tape along with the receipt.
Terminals that do not give receipts (mostly small parking lots along the streets are equipped with them) are equipped with a timer. After receiving the coins, the terminal starts a countdown.
You need to be able to pick up the car before the paid parking time expires. Otherwise, you will have to pay a fine of €8-25.
At the parking meter you will find all the necessary information: the price of the park/hour, the time limit when this paid parking becomes free. Basically everyone has a free watch, but there can be exceptions, so you need to read the signs very carefully.
Private parking lots are recognized by white squares on the asphalt and “PARKING” signs. The parking attendant needs to pay for them.
Free parking in Cyprus
Finding a free parking space in a large or touristic city is quite possible. If there is no parking attendant, the terminal or traffic regulations do not directly prohibit parking – feel free to park.
You can park your car at paid, unguarded parking lots on weekends and at night without paying (check the information at the terminal).
Shopping centers, restaurants and hotels often have free parking for visitors.
How to pay a fine in Cyprus
If you found a fine receipt behind the brush, you should, within two weeks at the latest, choose:
- contact the police station to pay the fine;
- pay it in the local municipality ;
- pay online on the website of the JCCSmart unified payment system . This is the most convenient way. For this you need:
- to register;
- from the main page, go to the CYPRUS POLICE section;
- select “Payment of Tickets”;
- enter the fine number and pay by card.
The official site of the Cyprus Police does not have its own payment system, it makes payments through JCCSmart.
If you leave with an unpaid fine, you may face problems at customs upon re-entry.