Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Today we went to renew our car tax at the Metahan to be told that if you are over 70 years of age you cannot tax the car. A lady in front of us argued that she was a European and this could not be so. Is this a tax guy being antsy or is this the law, also, as my husband is not 70 yet he taxed the car in his name only, usually joint, Can I get insurance if I am driving the car by myself? We had insurance so did not have to renew today. I want to visit my daughter in the South next week and don't want to be caught aa Famagusta border not able to get insurance.

Could it have anything to do with the validity of your UK driving license after age 70 they must be renewed and only last for 3 years

What do you mean tax? Do you mean the form that enables you to insure the car which some mistakenly call an MOT?

I am over 71 and last month I produced my TRNC MOT plus the car log book, and UK driving licence, and Metahan issued me with their version of their road tax to enable me to get their third party insurance with no problem at all.

I was at Metehan today he wouldnt let me use my TRNC licence as I was English Ihad to use my English one .As I am over 70 it has run out .His reply was to tell me to get a new one.I prexume I could then drive in the South .
My husband who is Turkish was given a form from there to have his eyes tested and a check up on the Greek side when he was 70.He did this at a private clinic form was stamped and he can now drive over there for 3 years

nermal wrote:I was at Metehan today he wouldnt let me use my TRNC licence as I was English Ihad to use my English one .As I am over 70 it has run out .His reply was to tell me to get a new one.I prexume I could then drive in the South .
My husband who is Turkish was given a form from there to have his eyes tested and a check up on the Greek side when he was 70.He did this at a private clinic form was stamped and he can now drive over there for 3 years

I didn't think that they allowed Turkish citizens to cross into the South...

Keithcaley wrote: I didn't think that they allowed Turkish citizens to cross into the South...

Pure unsubstantiated conjecture (mine!) - could it be permissible (compulsorily?) as spouse of a (at present) EU citizen?

Another possibility! - He may have a Visa, although as I understand it, to obtain a Visa to visit the ROC is an arduous and somewhat uncertain process for a Turkish citizen, plus they have a limited 'life', so that doesn't sound very likely - and I can't say that I find your postulation very convincing either!

We are both British, my license and my husbands both British licenses both up to date with 5 years to run on his and 2 on mine. Pedantic Frontalman, yes the form that entitles you to get insurance, which the post states!

I don't think I was being pedantic, I was just seeking clarification. Tax usually involves a monetary payment, which is why I was confused.

If you are married to a Turkish Cypriot and carry your marriage certificate you can cross Keith

Deniz1 wrote:If you are married to a Turkish Cypriot and carry your marriage certificate you can cross Keith

Thanks Deniz!

I never knew that - jofra was heading in the right direction then...

Do you happen to know whether the criteria is specifically 'having a TC spouse', or would 'any' EU spouse do?

...and does it work for Nationalities other than Turkish? - e.g. if a Pakistani or Nigerian or Malaysian was married to a TC (or an EU citizen) would they be allowed across if they had entered via the North and actually resided in TRNC?

I do realise that I'm asking a lot, and that you may not know the answers, but someone might!

Keithcaley wrote:

Deniz1 wrote:If you are married to a Turkish Cypriot and carry your marriage certificate you can cross Keith

Thanks Deniz!

I never knew that - jofra was heading in the right direction then...

Do you happen to know whether the criteria is specifically 'having a TC spouse', or would 'any' EU spouse do?

...and does it work for Nationalities other than Turkish? - e.g. if a Pakistani or Nigerian or Malaysian was married to a TC (or an EU citizen) would they be allowed across if they had entered via the North and actually resided in TRNC?

I do realise that I'm asking a lot, and that you may not know the answers, but someone might!

Friend with EU passport married to a russain , they cross without problem.

ttoli wrote:...Friend with EU passport married to a russain , they cross without problem...

Is the friend a T.C. ?

Keithcaley wrote:

ttoli wrote:...Friend with EU passport married to a russain , they cross without problem...

Is the friend a T.C. ?

, Nope , English

Thank you, ttoli

I wonder if that also applies to Turks married to 'EU citizens other than T.C.s'...

Have you joined a dating website, Keith?

Fact is you can gain insurance and the white form to let your car across no matter what age you are or what Nationality - it all depends on the weather, the time of day, how close you apply to the officer having had a fag break and if they are in a good mood or not!

I should have said my husband is a Turkish Cypriot not actually from Turkey .
Although my daughters husband is from Turkey and he is allowed to cross if she is with him .
Years ago they crossed in
Lefkosa and they didnt want to let him back in at this side !

frontalman wrote:Have you joined a dating website, Keith?

I got barred...

nermal wrote:I should have said my husband is a Turkish Cypriot not actually from Turkey .
Although my daughters husband is from Turkey and he is allowed to cross if she is with him .

Oh well, that explains that then!

Anyway, we've learnt a lot

Years ago they crossed in
Lefkosa and they didnt want to let him back in at this side !

You couldn't make it up, could you!

Keithcaley wrote:

frontalman wrote:Have you joined a dating website, Keith?

I got barred...

I suppose even they have their red lines

Should that be MetEhan? just sayin'

frontalman wrote:I suppose even they have their red lines

I fink it was the goat wot did it

Kanonier wrote:Should that be MetEhan? just sayin'

We don't do any 'o that fancy foreign spellin' on 'ere!

Thank you Waldo a sort of reply but know what you mean. Why has no one else added a sensible reply to a sensible question?

DieHard wrote:... Why has no one else added a sensible reply to a sensible question?

To be fair, I thought that posts 2,4 & 5 were sensible responses.

There was some confusion over the meaning of your post, and it appears that no one else has had the same experience, or been told the same thing.

I know that we got a little sidetracked by the Nationality / Marriage issue, but I'm sure that if anyone had had any actual knowledge of the situation that you described, then they would have said so...

DieHard wrote:Can I get insurance if I am driving the car by myself?

You certainly can at Metehan. Just checked our TOM 89 form (this is what is variously referred to as MOT and road tax). It only has my husband's name (incorrectly spelt) printed on it. The insurance document has 3 names on it, even though it's usually just me purchasing it at the booth, but one of the clauses on it says that a TOM 89 or TOM 90 should be attached for each named driver. I tried asking for both our names to be put on the TOM 89 once but shrug of shoulders ensued. The lady in the insurance booth doesn't bat an eyelid but I wonder, should we have to claim, whether this will be an excuse not to pay out.

[quote= Just checked our TOM 89 form (this is what is variously referred to as MOT and road tax). It only has my husband's name (incorrectly spelt) printed on it. The insurance document has 3 names on it, even though it's usually just me purchasing it at the booth, but one of the clauses on it says that a TOM 89 or TOM 90 should be attached for each named driver. I tried asking for both our names to be put on the TOM 89 once but shrug of shoulders ensued. , should we have to claim, whether this will be an excuse not to pay out.[/quote]

Looking at this message we should find out what a TOM 89 form actually is, as mentioned referred to as MOT or tax but as we all know is free so what is it and will it if one has an accident play an important part in the claim

It has been posted on here previously, I seem to remember, that the insurance issued at Metehan covers you for driving but would be problematic if you needed to claim. And that's putting it nicely. Has anyone actually had an accident in the South and claimed on the insurance issued at Metehan?

Given that it's 3rd Party only, someone else would be doing the claiming if the accident was your fault...

...and if it was their fault, you'd be claiming on their policy...

frontalman wrote:It has been posted on here previously, I seem to remember, that the insurance issued at Metehan covers you for driving but would be problematic if you needed to claim. And that's putting it nicely. Has anyone actually had an accident in the South and claimed on the insurance issued at Metehan?

I was in an accident in the south maybe 5 years ago. It was deemed (between my south insurance co and the other persons insurance co) to be 80% the other persons fault and 20% mine (happened on a roundabout). Provided the insurance company in south (the other persons insurance company) with a quote from my garage in the North and they issued a local euro cheque for 80% of the amount of the quote, which I was able to cash at a south bank. All in all I found the experience efficient and fair all round, more so than my experiences with accidents in the north to be honest. I assume the other party claimed 20% of their repair costs from my south insurer.

That's good to know Erol, but then again no-one messes around with you.

Keithcaley wrote:Given that it's 3rd Party only, someone else would be doing the claiming if the accident was your fault...

...and if it was their fault, you'd be claiming on their policy...

If only I knew what 'pedantic' meant.

I`m British and my wife is Turkish, we go to the south regularly.
This is only allowed after 6 months of being married and showing you`re marriage certificate.

frontalman wrote:...If only I knew what 'pedantic' meant.

I'm not telling you!

...although someone did once say that it meant 'Keith Caley'

Thanks Aylin for your response.

DieHard wrote:Today we went to renew our car tax at the Metahan to be told that if you are over 70 years of age you cannot tax the car. A lady in front of us argued that she was a European and this could not be so. Is this a tax guy being antsy or is this the law, also, as my husband is not 70 yet he taxed the car in his name only, usually joint, Can I get insurance if I am driving the car by myself? We had insurance so did not have to renew today. I want to visit my daughter in the South next week and don't want to be caught aa Famagusta border not able to get insurance.

"PieHard" - First time I have use the Quote button so not sure what will happen - However, back to a reply for you - I am going to Metahan on the 23rd of this month to renew my "permission to use my vehicle" bit of paper all in Greek which most people class as the FREE Tax paper. I will report back as to what happens as I am also over 70 years of age. "Normally" the insurance will issue you an insurance certificate for you to drive the vehicle, provided that the vehicle has the "Tax" issued by the police at Metahan, they don't really care whose name is on the "Tax" upon issue of insurance but I would bet that if you had an accident and your name was not on the form then your insurance would be invalid. That is that bit! As to being over 70 and not allowed to "Tax" the vehicle by law, I find that very doubtful indeed and can find no reference to it whatsoever on any of the RoC DVLA type web sites, suspect that the guy may have had a que of people to deal with and just tried to get rid of it fast by telling a lie! Either that or as normal made up something that somebody else had mentioned in passing and used it as a "Law"! This sort of thing happens from time to time as the people try to flex their muscles and just be a pain in the bum to anyone from "Occupied Territory" - I would love to see the two country's joined, just to put these guys out of work!!!

Hope this helps a little but more later - Have a good day. WADDO - AKA Waldo

My recent experience at Agios Dometios (Metehan) may shed some light on the situation. I have used this service for 10 years. I am a UK citizen now just over 70. Presenting the vehicle docs, UK Passport and UK Driving Licence (DL) and showing the vehicle outside, plus old form and old insurance I was given the new form. The civil servant in the booth did check every detail of all the documents and remarked that my UK DL had only recently been renewed for the permitted maximum of three years. I smiled sweetly at him and thanked him for reminding me of the UK DL rules. He retorted that I could not use a TRNC DL in the RoC and, again, I thanked him for that further timely reminder. The insurance cover of €25 for one month was issued in both mine and my wife's names having presented the in-date form. It would appear it is an out-of-date UK DL that presents the problem for UK citizens.

Tom all our paperwork was in order, my license is one year into the three years so no problem and last year was fine. As stated it must have been a bad day. It was a lady in front of us that argued she was a European citizen, he would not let her have her form, we were next and must have got the tail end of his temper, so it was only issued in my husbands name, he is younger than me.

DieHard wrote:Tom all our paperwork was in order, my license is one year into the three years so no problem and last year was fine. As stated it must have been a bad day. It was a lady in front of us that argued she was a European citizen, he would not let her have her form, we were next and must have got the tail end of his temper, so it was only issued in my husbands name, he is younger than me.

Sadly, we are at the mercy of the civil servants on duty! Did you manage to get 3rd party insurance in both names?

As I originally said, I am going to visit my Daughter in the South on Wednesday, when I will need insurance, I am going via Famagusta, and Di not want to travel that way not to be able to get insurance, hence the post. Will let you know what happens, should think you will hear my shouts here if I cannot get over.

Got the insurance no problem, that was a relief.

DieHard wrote:Got the insurance no problem, that was a relief.

Hooray for common sense and success.