How easy is it to rent a car in Cyprus from a local company?

Car hire in Cyprus: what the island-wide numbers say

This guide reads a snapshot of public Localrent search results for a one-week rental. Across Cyprus it counted 1,351 cars from local companies, all of them analysed. The island scores 6.9 and ranks 15 of 36 destinations in our methodology.

The fleet is young and easy to drive. The median model year is 2020, and 43% of cars are marked as new. Automatic gearboxes cover 95% of listings, which helps drivers used to driving on the right.

Two terms stand out on the good side. Mileage is unlimited on 100% of cars, and 99% need no credit card. Free cancellation is offered on 72%, well above the typical destination in the index.

The weak point is the deposit. Only 32% of cars come with no deposit. The typical destination offers that on roughly three in five cars. Free delivery is rare at 12%.

Car rental companies in Cyprus clearly favour holding a deposit. Check that line on every car card before you book. Other islands and countries are compared on the destinations page.

Larnaca, Paphos and Limassol: where the Cyprus cars are

Cyprus results come from three tracked pick-up points. Their terms are close, but the differences matter on a short trip.

Larnaca has the largest choice on the island, with just over five hundred cars. Larnaca International Airport (LCA) is the main arrival point. Travellers searching for car rental Nicosia Cyprus will find Larnaca the closest tracked option, since Nicosia has no separate page.

Paphos serves arrivals at Paphos International Airport (PFO), with about four hundred and sixty cars. It has the highest automatic share of the three. It also has the most cash-deposit listings and a slightly higher no-deposit share than Larnaca.

Limassol is the smallest market but the most flexible, with under four hundred cars. It leads on free cancellation and free delivery. Every car analysed there needs no credit card. Its no-deposit share is the lowest of the three, at under a third.

In practice, pick the area nearest your stay. The island is compact, and the motorways link all three towns.

Which Cyprus car suits which road

The most listed models are Nissan Note, Nissan Serena, Toyota Vitz, Toyota Yaris, Kia Picanto. Most are small hatchbacks with automatic gearboxes.

• The Nissan Note is a compact hatchback that suits the coastal road from Larnaca to Ayia Napa.
• The Nissan Serena is a people carrier that suits families on the A1 motorway between Limassol and Nicosia.
• The Toyota Vitz is a small city car that suits the narrow streets of Paphos old town.
• The Toyota Yaris is a supermini that suits the A6 motorway from Limassol to Paphos.
• The Kia Picanto is a city car that suits short trips and tight parking in Larnaca.

Regional picks differ a little. Paphos lists the Mazda 2, a supermini that suits the road north to Polis. Limassol lists the Honda Fit, a tall hatchback that suits town driving with luggage.

For the Troodos Mountains, a small engine works but feels slow on climbs. A Serena carries a family, though it is bulky on hairpin bends. Check the photos and model year on the card before you choose.

Deposit, cash deposit and card rules on Cyprus listings

The deposit line is where Cyprus listings differ most. Three filters help you sort them.

• No deposit: 32% of cars ask for none. See the no-deposit list.
• Cash deposit: 43% of cars accept the deposit in cash. See cash-deposit cars.
• No credit card: 99% of cars can be rented without a credit card.

These are separate questions. A car may need no credit card yet still ask for a deposit. In that case the card shows the amount and how it can be paid.

The online advance is different again. It is paid by bank card when you book, and cash is not accepted for it. The rest goes to the company at pick-up, by the methods listed for that car.

If you travel without a credit card, apply that filter first. Then compare deposit terms among the remaining cars. Our deposits guide explains each term in more detail.

Free cancellation, unlimited mileage and delivery in Cyprus

Free cancellation appears on 72% of Cyprus cars. That is far above the typical destination, where fewer than two in five cars offer it. Limassol leads the three tracked areas on this term.

The exact cancellation window is on each car card and in your voucher. Use the free-cancellation filter to narrow the list.

Mileage is unlimited on 100% of cars. That matters on an island where one day can link Paphos, the Troodos and Limassol. You do not need to plan distances around a cap.

Free delivery is offered on 12% of cars. Limassol has the highest share and Larnaca the lowest. Most renters therefore collect the car at an agreed point, such as the airport or an office.

If delivery to a hotel matters, filter for it before comparing anything else. Cancellation and delivery terms are set by each local company. Read them on the card, not from a general summary.

Driving in Cyprus: left side, motorways and mountain roads

Cyprus drives on the left, like the UK. Cars have the steering wheel on the right. An automatic, available on 95% of listings, removes left-hand gear changes.

The motorway network links the main towns. The A1 runs from Nicosia to Limassol. The A6 continues from Limassol to Paphos. The A3 connects Larnaca airport with Ayia Napa, and the A2 links Larnaca and Nicosia.

Off the motorways, roads get narrower. The Troodos Mountains have winding roads with steep climbs and sharp bends. The Akamas Peninsula near Paphos has rough tracks in places, so check what the company allows.

Roundabouts are common in towns, and traffic on them flows clockwise. Distances and speed signs use kilometres. Road signs in the south are in Greek and English.

The island is divided, and crossing points lead to the north. Rules on taking a rental car there are set by each company. Ask the company or read the voucher before you plan that route.

How booking a Cyprus car through Localrent works

Localrent is an online booking service, not a rental company. It lists cars from local, independent firms and owns none itself.

• Search by pick-up point, such as Larnaca, Paphos or Limassol, and enter your dates.
• Apply filters such as no deposit or no credit card.
• Open a car card. It shows the model, year, photos, deposit, payment methods, mileage, insurance and cancellation terms.
• Pay the advance online by bank card. Cash is not accepted for this step.
• Pay the rest to the local company at pick-up, by the methods shown on the card.

The rental contract is signed with the local company, not with Localrent. Your conditions are listed in your voucher, so keep it at hand. Minimum driver age and licence rules are set by each company and shown on the card.

Insurance terms differ by company, so read that line closely. Our car card checklist and how it works guide cover each step. Before you rent in Cyprus, see also is Localrent legit.

Our verdict

Cyprus scores 6.9 and ranks 15 of 36, helped by a large, young and mostly automatic fleet. Flexible cancellation and unlimited mileage make island road trips easy to plan. Allow time to compare deposit terms, as no-deposit cars are the minority.