Keeping a car in the south?

cheffydenzil


Joined: 28/12/2009
Posts: 3

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 15:08

Has anyone thought or tried this??

Because i often fly into larnaca is there any reason why i can't buy a car in the south and keep it parked somewhere close and safe to the airport and each time i visit get a cab from the airport to my car and then drive to my apartment in the north. Obviously this will entail paying the insurance each time or getting a years insurance if its cheaper. This would do away with the hassle and cost of hiring a car each visit and not involve importing a car into the trnc with all the hassle and costs invoved. Maybe ive missed something completely obvious but would be interested to hear peoples views/advice.

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 15:16

Cheff,

Sounds a good idea to me.The only problem being the the old chestnut third party insurance thingy when you are in the North,

Paul.

NanaJan



Joined: 15/10/2009
Posts: 90

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 15:27

The cost of importing to the South side is also very expensive and so cannot see the great advantage. Look at the fees on the forums and you will see that importing is one of the big gripes from the people wanting to take cars to the South side. Only way would be to buy one I suppose that is already in Cyprus but again they do not come cheap and you would have to store it perhaps in one of these compounds.

satranc


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 92

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 15:29

You might need to keep a set of jump leads in the car too if it is left standing for long periods?

nostradamus


Joined: 15/04/2008
Posts: 557

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 15:57

Can't see a problem with this so long as you have somewhere to keep the car in the south while you're away. Second hand cars are much cheaper there than here. My insurance guy does the north insurance for 80 euros for an annual policy. Road tax is also much cheaper in the south and can be done online, ditto insurance.

gates


Joined: 08/12/2008
Posts: 1096

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 16:33

i would beware as if you own a property in nc you need to have a property in the south also were the car is regesteredto there has been a few probs with this latly so i would not recomend it even though legaly you should be able to

cheffydenzil


Joined: 28/12/2009
Posts: 3

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 16:53

but surely nana, second hand car prices in the south are cheaper than the north and there would be no "importing" as the south is in the eu so i could drive in the south for a period of time as an eu citizen even if i drove a car from the uk?

cheffydenzil


Joined: 28/12/2009
Posts: 3

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 16:53

Ok, so here's the scenario,

i buy a vitara soft top jeep in the uk, secondhand prices are very reasonable especially at this time of year. make sure my insurance covers me for cyprus and even turkey and after finding some safe parking near larnaca, drive it over via italy and greece. i then just have to make sure i have insurance for the north and then when i come over for a week or 2 or 3 or 4 i have my own car there waiting for me. Surely it can't be that easy??

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 16:58

Cheff,

You paint a very vivid picture, go with it,

Paul.

gillken


Joined: 25/05/2008
Posts: 521

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 17:28

It will cost to register the car in the south, call a import/export handler in the south and they will give you a run down on the costs.

You need an address in the south as well.

carollynne


Joined: 19/11/2009
Posts: 128

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 17:50

I know that Quik park offer a years parking for about €300, they service and wash the car, and pick you up from the airport and drop you off free of charge. A friend of mine called Roy is very helpful, he's away for 2 weeks holiday at the mo, but will be back in Cy early January.



http://www.quikpark.com.cy/Eng/Cyprus/Airportparking/parkingservices.php



my annual insurance for the north is 80 euros too, from Umbrella Insurance, Famagusta.



Hope this helps



Carollynne

cyprusjoker


Joined: 29/08/2009
Posts: 1107

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 17:56

Personally i dont think cars are much cheaper over there at all, and the same with with a lot of other stuff too. I think it used to be, seems much the same now bar a few things. Just my opinoin..

newscoop


Joined: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2197

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 18:17

Last time I looked into it when a Brit left the island the car had to go into "Bond"



Maybe things have changed but google the question.



If it was that simple we would all be doing it.

carollynne


Joined: 19/11/2009
Posts: 128

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 18:47

Msg 13, I think cars used to have to go into "bond" before they joined the EU, or when they are bought "duty free" (which no one bothers with now) I also heard they were scrapping import duty for vehicles next year (again EU regs)



Carollynne

HER INDOORS



Joined: 14/12/2007
Posts: 152

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 18:53

if you bought a car in the South,do you need to pay import duty to drive it in the North or do you just pay tax and insurance for both sides?

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 20:44

There was a case last year in the press of someone doing this and he lost his car.



The reason being you are only allowed to drive a foreign registered car for a specified time without getting registered, paying duty etc.



You will say you are only staying for x weeks, however the authorities monitor the usage and when you over step the mark, that is it. No chance of appeal.



Know a case personally where the authorities "collected" the persons GC registered car from outside of there home here while out of country. On arrival back at Ercan they were arrested, taken to the vehicle and escorted to Metehan. Person had to then sell vehicle for pennies, come back north and then aquire another vehicle.



So from both emperical and known facts best not to try unless you are prepared to loose the vehicle.



You either live here temp or permanent with a properly registered vehicle or.......

zerochlor


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 4024

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 21:34

Message 8



if you take a car into the south at limmasol port.youll get 3 months,after your 3 months youll apply for a extension of another 3 months,after this extra 3 months the car has to have the duty paid in the south or took off the island.and it can only stay in the south for any 6 months of 1 year.that being when you or when the car arrived into the south ,thats how they work it over that side.

gillken


Joined: 25/05/2008
Posts: 521

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 22:55

Approx £400 to ship car over to Limassol. To get it out of docks 330E and show your insurance. You then get 3 months grace to get it registered, and a further 3 months if required. You require a Southern Address, you need to pay a handler 60E to get into the software a further 160E to get the reems of paperwork and pay the duty.

An MOT needs to be done in Cyprus 36E 2 years

The car has to be inspected at the Ministry of Transport, a guy takes 50E's to fill in a form, even the Cypriots do this as it is easier than trying to do it yourself, there is a sample form up on the wall, so I copied this until someone felt sorry and completed the form for me.

You then hand over more dosh which includes the car tax, I have forgotten how much we paid apart from about 15E,s for the remainder of the years car tax and then 17E's to get the new number plates.

Whilst at the Ministry of transport I overheard a guy saying he paid 12K for his duty. The car I registered was a little Punto 1.4.

gillken


Joined: 25/05/2008
Posts: 521

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 23:06

We have driven it in the North by paying 30Es for a months insurance.They just need to confirm the car has insurance in the south

My son lives in Parlimini. We calculated the cost on top of the car was a further £1000, we thought this was a better option than buying a car in Cyprus that he didn't know as he had just moved there and didn't want to worry about garage bills. But like the UK there are cars for sale parked up on street corners everywhere.

rigsby


Joined: 21/09/2007
Posts: 912

Message Posted:
29/12/2009 12:54

When the crossings/borders first opened the Tc,s drove their cars to Metahan.Parked them there,walked accross and got into the cars they had bought southside.And then they went to work.That way they saved money on insurance,no hassle with NC plates and trebled their wages.Smart? yes

Stewart


Joined: 19/07/2008
Posts: 1107

Message Posted:
29/12/2009 13:40

As the south is now part of the EU...as an EU citizen you have the right to travel..with your vehicle..anywhere you wish within the EU.



I agree...bring a car from the UK..leave it south and use it each time you arrive ( disconnect the battery before you leave )...then pay the extra ins required at the border each time you visit or just buy cover for the year.



IF the talks go well and the north also becomes part of the EU then bringing a car....or any other item with you from the Uk will not be a problem.



If you try this..please keep us updated with your progress / problems

baxi7


Joined: 23/09/2008
Posts: 130

Message Posted:
29/12/2009 14:23

be very carefull , customs are still impounding vehicles with g/c, uk , reg . am told by trnc office in london - that a foriegn reg vehicle crossing at metehan going north needs a g 104 form also log book & insurance .

HER INDOORS



Joined: 14/12/2007
Posts: 152

Message Posted:
29/12/2009 14:40

We live in the North but are thinking about buying a car in the South as they are cheaper in relation to the age of the car.So do I just need this g104 form plus tax & insurance to be able to drive both in the North and south.If so,where would I obtain a g104 form please?

elkiton



Joined: 15/03/2009
Posts: 514

Message Posted:
29/12/2009 15:47

Re message 16, I think know that person who had to remove their car to the south under customs instruction and sell it, or maybe it is another case exactly the same, anyway I have spoken to them personally and can verify what you say is true.

They had a house in the south (EU) and an apartment in the North, the car was purchased and registered in the south and they used it when they visited their place in the North. Whilst I don't know how many days they were in the North per year, they had to remove the car to the south or have it taken off them. They were advised that they had spent enough time in the north to be classed as resident, regardless of their visa situation, they should purchase a car in the North (or import one), and so this useful loophole re keeping a car in the south appears not to be true.

Best Regards

TonyE

gillken


Joined: 25/05/2008
Posts: 521

Message Posted:
29/12/2009 16:07

Drove in from Farmagusta in the South on UK plates, nothing more required than proof of Southern Insurance. This was Oct/Nov 2009.

Met up with Elko whom took me on a tour of Farmugusta in the car.

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
29/12/2009 16:23

Post 24 is correct people who winter in the North and kept their South registered car in the South when they went to the UK had the car impounded and a large fine it then was deported to the South the car is now in the UK its not worth bending the rules best fly to Ercan support the North economy

minertor



Joined: 14/02/2009
Posts: 1238

Message Posted:
29/12/2009 16:24

It beats me why people want the best of everything. If you live in the North, support the North. We're all ready to knock everything that we don't agree with here, if you don't like the way things are, stay away. Things will never get better whilst some selfish people are trying to beat the systrem.



Tony

stusimpson


Joined: 06/08/2007
Posts: 178

Message Posted:
29/12/2009 20:09

Tony,



If flying into Larnaca all the time it might be simpler to buy a car in the South.Although I agree the ideal solution if only driving through the south en route to or from your apartment,is to purchase in the North and park up your car near Larnaca airport.



Surely somebody must have a car stored near Larnaca airport on this forum who has successfully used it as a holiday car when they visit?



What amazes me like most things in Cyprus is that there doesn't seem to be a clearly defined watertight process to solve this problem.



I too fly into Larnaca regularly with work and a car at the airport to visit the North would be a godsend,I haven't done it yet until I know what the best way of doing it is,much like the first poster.



Waiting on a definitive answer,cheers.



Stu

Sideways



Joined: 21/01/2009
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
29/12/2009 20:35

Be careful if you disconnect your car battery, your insurance can become void as you have no alarm/immobilser (probably doesn't apply in Cyprus anyway).

mikki09


Joined: 17/10/2009
Posts: 129

Message Posted:
29/12/2009 22:54

We have been looking at cars in the North and the South. I beleive they are much cheaper in the South.

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
29/12/2009 23:10

msg 28



"there doesn't seem to be a clearly defined watertight process to solve this problem."



There is, it is illegal to use a vehicle in the way being proposed.



minertor has it right in msg 27. either accept the system as is or go elsewhere.



Sorry if that sounds harsh but as a resident here I continually get hacked off with people who try to cheat the system here. I pay all my taxes and getted fed up of those who try to avoid them.



DOH!!!!! Where have we heard that before about immigrants etc into another country about 4 hours flight away!!!!!