Driving in Cyprus: Protaras Car Hire Guide

Driving on the Left & Licence Basics

Cyprus inherited left-hand traffic and right-hand-drive cars from its British colonial period, which means UK drivers step in and feel completely familiar. There are no confusing lane-swap moments at junctions, and roundabout priority works the same way as at home. If you are collecting from Larnaca Airport to Protaras on the A3 motorway, the 100 km/h flow of traffic will feel natural within a few minutes.

• A full UK photocard driving licence is accepted — no International Driving Permit (IDP) needed.
• Minimum hire age is typically 21-25 depending on the company; drivers under approximately 25 usually pay a young-driver surcharge.
• Hire cars carry red number plates — a quick visual cue that distinguishes them from locally-registered vehicles.
• Cyprus uses the euro; there are no toll roads on the island, including the A3 coastal carriageway.
• Avoid driving due west in the late afternoon: low Mediterranean sun glare makes visibility difficult and is a genuine hazard on exposed rural roads.

When you compare car hire deals before you travel, check the stated minimum age and whether a young-driver fee is included in the quoted rate, as this can add meaningfully to a week's hire cost. Bring your licence, a credit card for the excess deposit, and your booking confirmation.

Drink-Driving & Key Road Rules

• Random breath-testing is common at night, particularly near resort areas and on the Protaras-Ayia Napa coastal road.
• Eating or drinking at the wheel — including water or a snack — can be treated as failing to be in proper control of the vehicle.
• Mobile phone use while driving is illegal; hands-free only.
• Seatbelts are mandatory for all occupants; this includes rear passengers.
• Headlights must be used in poor visibility and at night — daytime running lights alone are not sufficient after dark.

If you are exploring the Protaras to Famagusta and Ayia Napa corridor on an evening out, designate a driver in advance or use a taxi for the return leg. The resort strip is well-covered by enforcement activity during summer months.

Petrol, Fuelling & Costs

Cyprus uses unleaded 95 petrol (equivalent to UK standard unleaded) and diesel. As of June 2026, prices on the Protaras coastal strip are at the higher end of the island range — refuelling slightly inland at Paralimni, Sotira or Deryneia saves roughly 5-10 cents per litre, which adds up over a fortnight's hire.

Fuelling Practicalities

Major brands operating in the Protaras area include EKO, Petrolina, Shell and Staroil. An EKO station on Protaras Avenue (no. 268) operates 24-hour automated pumps. Many other stations switch to unstaffed automated pumps overnight and on Sundays — and this is where a common frustration arises: automated pumps typically place a €60-75 pre-authorisation hold on your card. UK banks can take 3-7 days to release this hold, meaning that money is temporarily locked even after you have driven away.

If you are returning the car on full and your flight is early, consider filling up the evening before at a staffed station rather than relying on a Sunday-morning automated pump. Use the car hire deals comparison at the top of the site to check whether your agreement requires a full-to-full or a full-to-empty policy before you travel — this affects whether you need to worry about the return fill at all.