Cyprus rental cars may get first MOT at three years instead of two
The Road Transport Department has opened public consultation on draft rules that would postpone the first roadworthiness test for rental passenger cars and light goods vehicles.
The Road Transport Department has put draft regulations out for public consultation that would push the first MOT for rental vehicles to three years after they enter service, as reported by Cyprus Mail.
The shift covers rental passenger cars and light goods vehicles, the M1 and N1 categories, which would still be inspected annually once that first test is done. Private cars keep the current schedule, a first check at four years followed by testing every other year.
The department acted on a request from the Cyprus Car Rental Owners Association and considered how many kilometres these vehicles clock up early on. The rules are not in force yet, since the approval process still has to run its course.
What it means for residents
If you hire a car on the island, or run a small rental business, the practical effect of the change is limited and mostly about paperwork and timing rather than safety rules on the road. Nothing switches over until the amending regulations are approved, so bookings and inspections continue under today's framework for now.
- Renters: a slightly newer fleet may reach you before its first inspection, but annual testing still follows, so condition checks do not disappear.
- Operators: lower testing costs and less administration in a vehicle's early years would free up cash and time, though only once the rules clear approval.
- Owners of private cars: no change — your first test stays at four years, then every two years.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
