Buying your first car in Cyprus: transfer of ownership, forms, insurance and road tax

Buying a used car in Cyprus takes one form, a few documents and a visit to the Road Transport Department (RTD) or a Citizen Service Centre. The step people miss is insurance: it must be in your name before the transfer. This guide walks you through the checks before you pay, the transfer of ownership (μεταβίβαση) and what to do once the car is yours.

Last checked: 19 October 2026, against the RTD's transfer of ownership page and its October 2023 notice on transfer forms, regulation 14 of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Regulations and the road tax rules of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Law on CyLaw.

Before you buy: what to check

• The registration certificate (Πιστοποιητικό Εγγραφής). The seller's name should match their ID, and the chassis (VIN) number should match the car.
• Road tax debts. Unpaid road tax passes to the new owner. Search the car on the gov.cy service search for road tax debts before you agree a price.
• The MOT. Ask for the MOT certificate and check the date of the next test. Cars over four years old need an MOT every two years. See our MOT guide.
• Recalls. Check whether the car has an open safety recall, for example on the government's airbag recall list.
• The car itself. Take a test drive and, if you can, have a mechanic look at it. Ask for the service history.
• Running costs. Get an insurance quote and check the road tax for that car before you commit. New drivers often pay much more for insurance than they expect.

Step 1: Insure the car in your name

The RTD will not transfer the car without an original insurance certificate in the new owner's name. Its expiry date must be more than 3 months after the transfer date.

Arrange the policy before you go to the RTD. As a new driver, compare a few quotes: our guide to car insurance for new drivers explains what you will pay and what to check.

Step 2: Fill in the transfer form ΤΟΜ 9Γ

The transfer of ownership form is ΤΟΜ 9Γ («Μεταβίβαση Ιδιοκτησίας Μηχανοκινήτου Οχήματος»). The older forms ΤΟΜ 9 and ΤΟΜ 9Β have not been accepted since 8 December 2023. Download the current form from the RTD's transfer of ownership page.

• Both sign. The seller and the buyer each sign the form.
• Signatures are certified. A community leader (κοινοτάρχης) or a certifying officer certifies each signature. If you both go to the RTD together, the clerk can check your signatures against your IDs instead.
• No corrections. A form with crossings-out or correction fluid is invalid.

Step 3: Submit the transfer

Where: any RTD district office, a Citizen Service Centre (ΚΕΠ) or a post office service point (ΚΕΠΟ). You can go yourself or send a representative. There is no online transfer service.

Documents:

• the signed form ΤΟΜ 9Γ,
• the car's registration certificate,
• the original insurance certificate in the buyer's name, valid for more than 3 months,
• the €8.54 transfer fee.

Special cases:

• No valid MOT. The buyer signs a statutory declaration (ΤΟΜ 120Α) confirming they know the car has no valid MOT.
• Unpaid road tax. The debt must be paid first, or the buyer signs ΤΟΜ 171 to take it over and pay it in instalments.
• Open recall. Since June 2025, if the car has an open recall, the seller and buyer both sign ΤΟΜ 372.

The 30-day rule

The car may not be used for more than 30 days after the sale unless the new owner is registered. Within those 30 days, the seller must notify the RTD and hand in the registration certificate.

Once the signed form is in, the seller is no longer responsible for the car's road tax, MOT and insurance. So it is in both your interests to submit the transfer on the day you swap keys and money.

After the transfer

1. Road tax. Renew it online in your name when it is due. Our road tax guide explains the deadline and has a calculator.
2. The MOT. Note when the next test is due.
3. Keep the papers in the car: your licence and the MOT certificate.

Buying from a dealer or a private seller

The same form and documents apply. If you buy from a dealer, agree in writing who submits the transfer and check that the new registration certificate is in your name. New cars, and used cars imported from outside the EU, are registered by approved importers through the RTD's online system.

Buying a car as a foreigner

The ΤΟΜ 9Γ form accepts a passport or an alien registration certificate (ARC) as ID, and asks for your home address in Cyprus. You also need a licence that is valid here to drive the car:

• EU licence: valid as it is.
• Licence from an exchange-list country (for example the UK, the US or Russia): valid for six months, then you must exchange it.
• Other countries: you need to take the Cyprus tests once you live here.

Check your country:

Read the details in our guide to exchanging a foreign licence, or if you are only visiting, see driving in Cyprus with a foreign licence.

Still learning to drive? Practise with the free road signs test and rules test.

Frequently asked questions

What form do I need to transfer a car in Cyprus?

Form ΤΟΜ 9Γ, signed by the seller and the buyer. The older forms ΤΟΜ 9 and ΤΟΜ 9Β are no longer accepted.

How much does it cost to transfer a car in Cyprus?

The RTD transfer fee is €8.54. Add the cost of insurance in the buyer's name and any unpaid road tax.

Does the insurance have to be in my name before the transfer?

Yes. The RTD needs an original insurance certificate in the new owner's name, valid for more than 3 months after the transfer date.

Where do I transfer a car in Cyprus?

At any RTD district office, a Citizen Service Centre (ΚΕΠ) or a post office service point (ΚΕΠΟ). There is no online transfer service.

What happens to unpaid road tax when I buy a car?

It passes to you as the new owner. Check for debts on gov.cy before you buy. You can pay them first, or sign form ΤΟΜ 171 to pay them in instalments.

How long do I have to transfer a car after buying it?

30 days. The car may not be used for more than 30 days after the sale unless the new owner is registered.

Can a foreigner buy a car in Cyprus?

Yes. The transfer form accepts a passport or an alien registration certificate as ID, with your address in Cyprus. To drive it, you also need a licence that is valid in Cyprus.