Problems Obtaining Inurance for the South

[gary&shirley]

I was in the queue at the first Insurance Office going from the North to the South this morning, when the English lady in front of me was refused insurance due to only having a TRNC licence, I thought you required a UK licence to gain insurance however she stated that she had lived in the North for 15 years without a UK licence and this was the first time she had been refused, if the UK Licence is a requirement I assume that those who give up their UK Licence when renewing their TRNC one post 2019 won't be able to drive in the South.

[chris463]

my wife only has a Turkish DL and was always told she could NOT drive in the south or even get Insurance she's had local licence for almost 15 years

[Keithcaley]

my wife only has a Turkish DL and was always told she could NOT drive in the south or even get Insurance she's had local licence for almost 15 years

Turkish Driving Licence or TRNC Driving Licence?

What Nationality is your wife?

[waddo]

This problem will only get worse once all the current drivers on UK licenses cease to be EU members! The agreement between the North and South (currently) is that they will only accept Turkish Cypriots who have a TRNC license to drive on the license in the South. Any other nationality with a TRNC license is not allowed to drive in the South. The EU license is accepted in the South for any persons who are EU citizens - that, for the Brits will soon end as they have given away that part of the EU rights. Get ready to never be able to drive in the South when Brexit has it's final death throw! Unless of course the current peace talks place the North in the EU as full members then anyone who lives here on a permanent basis will be able to apply for EU citizenship of the North and therefore have a valid driving license - the same will not be true of Brit tourists and sparrows - oh what a wonderful future.

[SussexBoy]

Can people with Australian or US DLs drive in the South?

[jofra]

Can people with Australian or US DLs drive in the South?

For six months, and then MUST be exchanged for a Cyprus licence - see here....

[Deniz1]

all the greek side shops will be well happy to loose lots of customers then they are struggling now!

[Keithcaley]

To put this into perspective, you will still be able to walk across, and there are shops within walking distance, and once on the South side, you can catch a bus to the Mall of Cyprus at a cost of 1 Euro each way.

You will be able to take a Taxi across if you want to go somewhere that is not on a Bus route, or if you are physically unable to walk that far - and I have no doubt that enterprising TC's will see a business opportunity in organising 'car share' shopping expeditions...

The same goes for journeys to and from Larnaca airport.

Where there's a will, there's a way!

People managed perfectly well in the days before the crossing points were opened, and the World will not come to an end.

[waddo]

Jofra, you can only exchange your license if you live in the RoC. I have been down that road with the RoC, DVLA and EU Courts, until the RoC changes it's way of allowing license exchanges they actually are allowed to set their own rules within the EU.

Keith, dead right! Do more walking across than driving across these day's and public transport in the RoC is easy and cheap as well - it's just lugging the bags of goodies past the checkpoints that may cause a problem - difficult to hide an Ikea double bed in your backpack, if that is what you really want - lol.

[Hector]

So what happens to all the hire car companies who rent cars to visiting holiday makers who only hold a UK driving licence? I for one want to be able to drive freely in the south, whether shopping or visiting friends i.e. in Pathos.

[Keithcaley]

So what happens to all the hire car companies who rent cars to visiting holiday makers who only hold a UK driving licence? I for one want to be able to drive freely in the south, whether shopping or visiting friends i.e. in Pathos.

As I understand it from what's been said previously, Holidaymakers will not be affected.

[sophie]

Anyone out there, like me, starting to feel a bit trapped?

[Keithcaley]

Anyone out there feel as I do, that this potty idea will never be implemented?

They're always coming up with proposals which 'wither on the vine'...

[Hector]

"As I understand it from what's been said previously, Holidaymakers will not be affected."

Would I not be classed as a 'holidaymaker' as a visiting UK national with a UK driving licence?

Will the RoC pass a law that says a UK national can only drive a RoC registered i.e. hire car on a UK licence?

Would that mean a (highly unlikely, just not cricket) reciprocal UK law that the holder of a RoC driving licence could not drive in the UK?

What about the old pre EU system of the 'International' driving licence?

On a even worse note, will the RoC refuse UK passport holders free access across the border if free movement to the UK is ended by Brexit?

[Keithcaley]

...Would I not be classed as a 'holidaymaker' as a visiting UK national with a UK driving licence?...

That was the point that I was making.

The other points / possibilities have been discussed at length previously on the forum

[waddo]

It's simple really. Before Brexit actually happens - that is if it does as now both France and Germany say that the UK can change it's mind if it wants to!

Pre-Brexit - the rules remain the same. UK/EU citizens can drive in the RoC on their UK/EU license.

After Brexit happens:

Post-Brexit - the UK citizen "May" (because nobody knows what the agreement will be yet) be allowed to drive in the RoC, but that is up to the RoC and not the EU.

TRNC UK/EU annual visa holders who spend more than 185 days, out of a rolling 365 days, out of the UK/EU no longer have a valid UK/EU driving license in the eyes of the law/EU! Don't believe me? Check it out with the EU and DVLA! I know that lots of people live here permanently, drive on an illegal license because they have been out of the UK/EU for in excess of 185 days, renew their out of date UK/EU licenses by using a relative/friends address and are happy to do so in the knowledge that if they have an accident in the RoC they have no license or insurance either - the solicitors would very quickly lay the blame on them (ME). But lot's of us just play the game and carry on. The (RoC) insurance agents also know this and turn a blind eye - still take the money mind you!

TRNC/UK EU citizens who have a TRNC license are not allowed to drive in the RoC because they do not fall under the "Only Turkish Cypriots" rule of having the TRNC license recognised by the RoC.

UK/EU citizens should exchange their UK/EU license for a RoC/EU license after 6 months but must have lived in the RoC for that amount of time - catch 22 that one!

So, what will change? Nothing if it costs the RoC money by making the change in the first place. There are little catch's in all of this: You need an EU license to get your "Permission to drive" (we call in the free RoC road tax) paperwork every year. You have to show your UK/EU license the first time you get insurance. When your insurance run's out you only present your old copy and ask to renew - I have never been asked for my license again in the last 10 years at this point.

Storm in a teacup but interesting.

[jofra]

Jofra, you can only exchange your license if you live in the RoC.....

..Just quoting the linked site.....

[kiwikid]

this is not a new rule! I only have KKTC licence though I also have a kimlik card. for the past 5 years I haven't been able to drive in the south, even though I have a kimlik card. When I asked why the grumpy lady at the mot office told me my licence was illegal, when I ask why my husbands wasn't even though they are the same licence, she said he was a Cypriot. So I showed her my Kimlik card to which she said that doesn't count you weren't born here.
I now have a new NZ licence which they accept, as they do do Australian animi guessing any other country except Turkish and KKTC.

[DieHard]

If you go through the Famagusta crossing, you are entering a Sovereign base, surely they cannot stop you there? We have always found the first insurance booth at Metahan very anti the North, always go to the last one.

[erol]

this is not a new rule! I only have KKTC licence though I also have a kimlik card. for the past 5 years I haven't been able to drive in the south, even though I have a kimlik card. When I asked why the grumpy lady at the mot office told me my licence was illegal, when I ask why my husbands wasn't even though they are the same licence, she said he was a Cypriot. So I showed her my Kimlik card to which she said that doesn't count you weren't born here.
I now have a new NZ licence which they accept, as they do do Australian animi guessing any other country except Turkish and KKTC.

The thing is the RoC consider your Husband a Cypriot citizen by their RoC definitions. By those same RoC definitions they do not consider you a Cypriot citizen, even though the TRNC does. As a non citizen of Cyprus, by RoC definitions, you need a drivers license that the RoC considers valid. They do not consider a TRNC licence valid unless they also consider you to be a Cypriot citizen, which they do not. They do consider a UK or US or NZ or Germany etc etc license valid.

I am sure you know all this already and sorry for laying it out. Doing so just helps me understand what the situation is and maybe others too. And no this is nothing new, this has always been the case since the green line crossings opend.

[kiwikid]

Erol, I do understand, what I was stating was that this is not a new rule. but just to clarify I was able to use my KKTC licence for at least 4 years before the rules changed.

[frontalman]

If you go through the Famagusta crossing, you are entering a Sovereign base, surely they cannot stop you there? We have always found the first insurance booth at Metahan very anti the North, always go to the last one.

Do you mean the first on the right, Minerva? We have been using them for 13 years and have never had a problem. Always friendly and we often joke with them. My wife often borrows their key to use the toilet, so I don't understand what you are talking about. It just shows how subjective life's experiences can be.

[sophie]

I agree with frontal man regarding the first booth on the right i.e. Minerva. We only go about 3 or 4 times a year, but back in March she said "hello again" Don't know whether she was just being polite or really recognized me. Either way I've never had any problems at all. In fact she said "anything changed, same car, same log book?" when I said yes, she just went ahead and produced the certificate from the information on her computer. (ooops , hope I haven't got her into trouble)

[Brazen]

This problem will only get worse once all the current drivers on UK licenses cease to be EU members! The agreement between the North and South (currently) is that they will only accept Turkish Cypriots who have a TRNC license to drive on the license in the South. Any other nationality with a TRNC license is not allowed to drive in the South. The EU license is accepted in the South for any persons who are EU citizens - that, for the Brits will soon end as they have given away that part of the EU rights. Get ready to never be able to drive in the South when Brexit has it's final death throw! Unless of course the current peace talks place the North in the EU as full members then anyone who lives here on a permanent basis will be able to apply for EU citizenship of the North and therefore have a valid driving license - the same will not be true of Brit tourists and sparrows - oh what a wonderful future.

Brits were driving in Europe well before we became eu members, will still drive then when we escape because there will be reciprocal arrangements. Turkish lorry drivers have been driving in the uk for years and they are not eu members. Don't let your hatred of brexit get in the way of the truth!

[erol]

Brits were driving in Europe well before we became eu members, will still drive then when we escape because there will be reciprocal arrangements. Turkish lorry drivers have been driving in the uk for years and they are not eu members. Don't let your hatred of brexit get in the way of the truth!

Equally do not let you love of Brexit lead you to imagine we can 'take back control of our boarders' with regards to EU citizens visiting, driving, living or working in the UK and make such things less easy for them when coming to the UK without that having any effect on us when we seek to visit, or drive or live or work in EU countries. That would be to believe that we can in fact 'have our cake and eat it', when clearly such a hope and expectation is just not realistic.

By definition a 'no deal' crash out exit from the EU, which is a real possibility imo, would mean that 'overnight' UK drivers would no longer be able to drive in the EU using their UK license and visa versa, until such a reciprocal deal can be agreed.

Currently Turkish lorry drivers can drive to the UK without any let or hindrance greater than that faced by a UK lorry driver doing so, because Turkey is a member of the customs union. Post Brexit of course they will still be able to drive in the UK but if we leave the single market and or the customs union then they will no longer be able to do so as easily as they currently can. So too will be the case for UK lorry drivers heading into the EU, they will still be able to do so but it will not be so easy to do as it is currently.

[waddo]

Brazen, I have no wish to discuss Brexit at all but it is a fact that it will either happen or not - I could care less either way and simply point out what "May" happen.

Unlike yourself I have no crystal ball so can not state with any certainty what will or will not happen regarding reciprocal agreements. However, you can drive in the EU now because you are a EU citizen, should you cease to be a EU citizen then other rules will apply. The RoC is well known for making things as difficult as it possibly can, whenever it can and loss of EU citizenship will present it with a target it will not be able to resist! I am not saying that your then UK license will not be valid in Europe at all, in fact once it is just a UK license you may even have a rule change that will allow you to renew it no matter where in the world you live - who knows?

I have no hatred of Brexit, personally I think it was a stupid move, however the country voted for it and that is that - we all get to live with it so no moans but you can not ignore the fact that it will change many things and EU membership will be one of them!