After a car accident in Cyprus, stop, make the scene safe and call 112 or 199 if anyone is hurt. For a minor bump with no injuries you usually don't need the police: you exchange details, take photos, move the cars out of the way and tell your insurer within 24 hours. This guide sets out each step, what the law requires and the police numbers for every district.
Last checked: 19 October 2026, against regulation 61 of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Regulations, article 14Β of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Law on CyLaw, the Cyprus Police district contact pages and the Motor Insurers' Fund.
Emergency numbers in Cyprus
| Number | When to call |
|---|---|
| 112 | Any emergency: police, ambulance, fire. Works from any phone, free |
| 199 | Emergency, the same police control room as 112 |
| 1460 | Police headquarters, for non-urgent matters |
Save your insurer's 24-hour accident line in your phone as well. You will need it after any accident.
What to do at the scene, step by step
- Stop. You must stop after any accident you are involved in.
- Make the scene safe. Switch on your hazard lights, put on a reflective vest if you have one, and place the warning triangle behind the car. Get passengers out of the traffic, onto the pavement or behind the barrier.
- Check for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 112 or 199 straight away and stay until the police have finished.
- Call your insurer. You must tell your insurer within 24 hours. Many insurers send someone to the scene to take photos and fill in their accident report.
- Exchange details with the other driver: names, addresses, licence and ID numbers, the owner's name, the insurer, the insurance certificate number and the registration number.
- Take photos of the cars' positions, both number plates, the damage and the surroundings.
- Move the cars to the nearest safe place, if nobody is hurt and they can be driven. See the rules below.
Stay calm and don't argue about who is to blame at the scene. Your insurers will decide that.
When do you have to call the police?
The law says you must call the police immediately if anyone is killed or injured. In that case, stay at the scene until the police have finished their work.
You also need the police when:
- the other driver has no insurance or drives away,
- you hit a parked car or damage property and the owner isn't there. Give your details to the police as soon as possible, and in any case within 24 hours.
Insurers also advise calling the police if the drivers disagree about what happened or if you suspect the other driver has been drinking.
Minor accidents: move the cars
Since 2025, the law says that after a minor collision the drivers must move their cars to the nearest safe spot, as long as:
- nobody appears to be injured,
- the police are not needed,
- the cars can be moved without a tow truck.
Before you move, tell your insurer, exchange details and photograph the positions, the plates, the damage and the surroundings. Moving the car is not an admission of fault and does not break your insurance terms. Refusing to move, or pressuring another driver not to, can cost up to €1,000.
This rule doesn't apply if one of the cars is uninsured or a government vehicle, or if a driver leaves the scene.
Police numbers by district
These are the numbers on the Cyprus Police's official district pages. In an emergency, always call 112 or 199.
| District | Traffic police | District police |
|---|---|---|
| Nicosia (Λευκωσία) | 22802020, 22802085 | 22802020 |
| Limassol (Λεμεσός) | no separate number published | 25805050 |
| Larnaca (Λάρνακα) | no separate number published | 24804040 (control room) |
| Paphos (Πάφος) | 26806101, 26806112 | 26806060 |
| Famagusta (Αμμόχωστος) | no separate number published | Paralimni station 23803024 |
| Morphou (Μόρφου) | no separate number published | Evrychou station 22802524 |
Where the police don't publish a separate traffic number, call the district number and ask for the traffic department (Τροχαία).
Hit and run or an uninsured driver
The Motor Insurers' Fund (Ταμείο Ασφαλιστών Μηχανοκινήτων Οχημάτων) pays for some accidents caused by uninsured or unknown drivers.
- Uninsured driver. Call the police, and let the Fund inspect the damage before you repair it.
- Unknown driver (hit and run). Call the police to the scene, or report it to them within 48 hours, and tell the Fund straight away. Damage to property is covered only above €500 and under specific conditions.
- Foreign-registered car. Call the police and contact the Cyprus International Insurance Bureau.
See the Fund's guidance for local accidents.
Leaving the scene of an accident
Driving away from an accident is a criminal offence. According to the Cyprus Police, if someone is injured it can mean up to two years in prison and a €10,000 fine, plus a driving ban. If someone dies, the penalties go up to five years and €15,000. Leaving without helping the injured also adds penalty points; see how to check your penalty points and fines.
Roadside assistance (οδική βοήθεια)
There is no national roadside assistance number. Breakdown and towing cover comes with your insurance policy or a separate breakdown plan. Check that your policy includes it and save the number before you need it. Our car insurance guide lists what to check.
Rental cars and visitors
If you crash a rental car, follow the same steps and call the rental company. Their emergency number is in the rental agreement. Our guide to driving in Cyprus with a foreign licence covers rentals and the north.
Preventing the next one
Junctions and roundabouts are where drivers new to Cyprus most often get caught out. Our guide to road rules and priority explains who goes first, and the speed and alcohol limits guide covers the limits. Check yourself with the free rules test and road signs test.
Frequently asked questions
What is the emergency number in Cyprus?
112 or 199. Both reach the police control room, and 112 also connects you to an ambulance or the fire service. They are free from any phone.
Do I have to call the police after a car accident in Cyprus?
Yes, immediately, if anyone is killed or injured. For a minor accident with no injuries, you exchange details, take photos, move the cars to safety and tell your insurer within 24 hours.
What is the phone number of Limassol traffic police?
The Cyprus Police don't publish a separate number for Limassol traffic police. Call the Limassol Police Division on 25805050 and ask for the traffic department, or 112 or 199 in an emergency.
What is the phone number of Nicosia traffic police?
The Nicosia Traffic Branch is on 22802020 and 22802085.
How soon must I tell my insurer about an accident in Cyprus?
Within 24 hours, or on the next working day if there is a holiday.
Can I move my car after an accident in Cyprus?
Yes, after a minor collision you must, if nobody is injured and the car can be driven. First tell your insurer, exchange details and take photos.
What is the police non-emergency number in Cyprus?
1460, the Cyprus Police headquarters. For emergencies, call 112 or 199.