Extended Stay (6 months) - Transport question

[PoshinDevon]

Advance planning now underway to see how we can manage to spend approx 6 months of the year (Apr - Sept) in our place. We understand about the 90 day rule and having to leave the TRNC for a few days and are researching a few other areas that may affect any plans we want to make.

One thing that we will need is some transport when we are out there so any sensible advice which we can consider would be appreciated.

Should we purchase a vehicle (Dont want anything fancy...cheap and cheerful will do - not that vehicles seem that cheap!) but then presume there is tax, MOT, insurance, driving licence etc to consider plus the fact it will be sat around of 5/6 mths of the year when we are not out there...or do we look to try and do a deal on a long term hire....but as its going into high season this could prove expensive.

So throw a few thoughts our way and if we have not considered everything or there are other options or recommendations please let us know. The more information the better - it will all be used to help us try and make the best decision for us.

Thanks for help.

[kaiserphil]

Posh, I had a long-term deal with Bird car rental. Might be worth having a word with them.

[Tanyaahmet]

You can say you are on holiday and use your english licence they do say you can only use your english licence here for 3 months after then you need a turkish license but if you are not living here full term is it worth buying a license for a year i have been stopped once and the police officer did ask to see my passport to see how long i had been here and I'm still using my English license but its not like i drive around with my passport on me. I think to rent tho it would be a lot even tho its coming to winter i think before whne i rented a car in the winter it was 8 pound a day and the car mot is done every three years mot is not to exspensive nor is the insurance

[PaulW]

Would agree with kaiserphil re: Bird. We have just arranged car hire with them for next year (although only for 5 weeks) and they gave us a good rate for that period of time, so I'm sure they will agree to a favourable rate for longer term hire. Also, by hiring rather than buying, no worries about insurance, break-downs, etc.

Good luck.

[PoshinDevon]

Thanks for so far. Strangely enough we used Bird rentacar when we were out on hols only last month so will give them a chance to quote...as far as licence is concerned we are aware of the 90 day rule and had already planned to leave the TRNC for a period of time anyway...possibly to see a bit more of Turkey.

Hopefully others may be able to add a few suggestions....renting for 6 months will cost a bit but will it work out better than buying something? Maybe getting something we would class as a cheap and cheerful purchase may still cost as much along with the hassle of mot/insurance etc.

Cheers for the replies anyway.

[silverfox1]

Hi Posh,

For a run about tax is only about 200tl per year and insurance about 250tl and if the car had a new MOT that's free for three years so the only cost you have is the purchase and because there is little or no depreciation there is little or no long term cost. So over 6 months a car will only cost you about a couple of quid a day (excl petrol). A long term rent in the summer will cost about 13 -15 pounds so that's a difference of about £2000 which is money that has disappeared and over a year (£4000) you would have paid for the car.

[PoshinDevon]

Slverfox...thanks for the advice - and also possible cost for tax/insurance for a runaround, great help. Have I got this right about the MOT....if car has new MOT its valid 3 years?

If my understanding of above is correct then a runaround may be a better option perphaps. Yes we know prices for purchase are high but depreciation is low so will need to consider this as well.

Have looked on forum for car sales but does anyone know of or can recommend a dealer to use - bearing in mind its a runaround required not something new/nearly new or particularly well equipped.

Cheers again, all help appreciated.

[Mint1955]

Posh, Please let us know your findings as we are also looking to be out in north Cyprus for longer periods and this is one area we have been discussing.

Thanks for all comments too as these really help.

[PoshinDevon]

Will do Mint....

Hopefully a few more people will come forward with some information.

Will leave this for a few days then may contact a few rental companies to get a feel for the long term hire costs and then look to compare against purchasing something.

[cyrob]

We have been spending 5-6 months here for over 5 years and bought a small car for our first year .
Now on our second car , as you say purchase costs are very high, about 50% more than the UK, but depreciation was only a few hundred pounds after 6years.
We did the sums and felt it was cost effective if we were out here regularly for that long. If your plans are just for a one-off year I would go for long term hire.
We found 2nd hand dealers in Lefkosa more competitive than Girne . Also seen some ( relative ) bargains on this forum with people leaving the island .

[PoshinDevon]

cyrob...many thanks that is a great help....our intention is approx 6mths every year for the foreseeable future.

Appreciate the initial expense to purchase is high but we were aware of this but as you say depreciation is low.

Think we are leaning towards a purchase of a reasonable runaround at the moment as it does not seem like to much hassle.

Thanks for info re garages as well.

[PoshinDevon]

Sorry also forgot to say - if anyone can recommend second hand car dealers please pass details across.

[Dalartokat]

The other way maybe, is to share a car with someone who is already doing what you intend to do, i.e. they are in the UK while you are in NC and you both agree to share the running costs if things go wrong, but maybe some element of risk. Just a thought.

[Halffull]

My neighbor has jut bought a car because he is out here for about 4 months of the year, but he bought a decent car from Tiga as he said, and you have said, depreciation is low and he will recoupe most of his investment when he sells it on. He has a comfortable modern car (3 year old Japanese import) with 5 years warranty, no MOT for 3 years, for what a lot of people pay for older resales. When he is not here I look after it for him.

[PoshinDevon]

Thanks Halfful - Tiga get a lot of recommendations so will pay a visit to them and see what they can offer.

If anyone can recommend other car sales places please let me know.

[PoshinDevon]

Thanks to those who have contributed to this thread, very helpful.

If anyone can recommend any second hand car dealers then please post and I will make a note

Will now let this thread drop down the forum.

Cheers

[wanderer]

imported our second car in 2009 duty was reasonable about £1500 shipping cost £700
We had the car from new it had 23000 miles on the clock at the time it was six years old at the time
Not regretted the outlay yes we have the running costs just as we would if we had kept it in the uk but the £600 per month hire car costs when we are there are soon covered
Your UK house insurance cover usually invalid for cover if you are absent for more that 30 to 40 days how do you handle that
We have a "child "stay some of the time we are away how do you or anyone else get round the problem of empty house insurance cover
Sorry for the slight highjack but it is relevant to the 6 months away topic

[How188]

Hi, I have gone down the buy a car route and it is by far the best way even for shorter stays, buy the best you can afford as depreciation is low here. Look at car's Weight etc as this drives tax, steer clear of anything big and heavy and in my opinion old. Small Japanese best but not too small. There is a magic classic for sale here at the moment 1975 Rover 2200, low miles full history and looks mint!! classics are cheap to tax as well, doubt if it will have air con though. Many people going back at the moment so worth asking on the Forum.

I have a Toyota Fun Cargo, full 4 seater, van like back with high roof for more air inside in the hot weather, my son is 6 foot 3inch tall and not small in build and he found plenty of room to sit in all seats and drive.
The back seats fold completely flat under the floor to give van like load area in the back, economic, No street cred!!! but very practical.
In UK called Toyota Yaris Verso.

[woodspeckie]

Re house insurance for 6 months, I wasn't aware of the time until we went to look at changing our insurance to Nationwide the first question was do you leave your house vacant for more than 60 days at a time, as we are going to leave it for 84 days we were unable to have their insurance, I checked with the one I have they said they and most insurance will not insure for more than 60 days, however, because we have been with them for quite a number of years they said they will do the cover for the extra days for a small increase for the 3 months, I have to have someone go into the house at least once a week to check around and they have to contact the insurance to let them know they have done the check.