INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN MOTORISTS ENTERING CYPRUS:

As from 1/5/2004, when Cyprus has acceded to the E.U, as far as Insurance cover is concerned, all 25 E.U. countries plus Switzerland, Croatia, Iceland and Norway will be considered as one territory.
As a result of the above, if a visitor, from one of the 29 Countries mentioned above, brings to Cyprus a motor vehicle bearing the registration plate of one of these countries, he should not be intercepted at his point of entry in Cyprus for proof of Insurance cover, as it is presumed that he is covered by Insurance in his own country, even if he may not be so
covered. In the latter case the International Insurance Bureau of his country will be held responsible to compensate the claimant as a result of the Guarantee Agreement in force. (Unified Agreement or Internal Regulations).
If a foreign visitor brings into Cyprus a motor vehicle bearing a registration plate not belonging to one of the 29 European Countries, then the Cyprus Authorities should check whether the foreign motorist has a valid Green Card In force for Cyprus. A foreign visitor may have a Green Card in force, even if his country of origin is not a member of the Green Card System.
If a foreign visitor has in force a «frontier insurance» issued in one of the 29 European Economic Area Countries, then such a cover will be valid also in Cyprus until its expiry date.
It is possible for a motorist to have a valid Green Card in force, even if his car bears a motor plate of a European country. In this case, the motor plate Country prevails over the Green Card Agreement and the Police Authorities should allow the vehicle to enter Cyprus without checking his Green Card.
If a foreign motorist enters Cyprus and does not have a registration plate belonging to one of the 29 European Countries, but does not have a Green Card valid for Cyprus either, then this motorist should not be allowed to drive his car in the territory of Cyprus. He should be asked first to secure cover to drive in Cyprus for the period he is expecting to stay on the island, with a Cypriot Insurer. It is made clear that the granting of such cover is on the absolute discretion of the Insurance Companies and, in the presence of negative features, he will have a problem to secure Insurance cover. It is, therefore, advisable for a non-European motorist to secure a Green Card before entering Cyprus. As Russia is not a member of the Green Card System, Russian motorists should be advised of the position, so as to avoid possible inconvenience.
In view of the Implementation, as from the 1st May 2004, of the 4th Motor Insurance Directive, all E.U. visitors who may have an accident in Cyprus, for which they intend to claim compensation from a Cypriot Insurer, should get acquainted with the procedure which aims to facilitate them upon their return to their home countries.

Source: www.visitcyprus.org.cy