Can I sell my car privately in Cyprus?
It depends: yes, with an official ownership transfer. Transfer is done at the Road Transport Department or a Citizens' Service Centre using form TOM 9B ('Application for Transfer of Ownership'), in capitals and signed by buyer and seller. Transfer fee: €8.54. The vehicle needs a valid MOT. The transfer must be notified within 30 days. Since February 2025 a Recall Exemption Certificate is also required. The office won't stamp the TOM 9B without insurance cover in the buyer's name. In short: yes, with transfer, MOT and insurance.
📋 The rules
- Transfer via form TOM 9B (DoRT/KEP)
- Transfer fee €8.54
- Valid MOT (~€35)
- Notify within 30 days
- Insurance cover in the buyer's name
🔓 Exceptions
- Recall Exemption Certificate: mandatory since Feb 2025
- A party absent: signature certified by mukhtar/certifying officer
- Cover validity threshold (3 months reported): unverified
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Not notifying the transfer within 30 days leaves the vehicle registered in your name, with liability for road tax, fines or offences of the new keeper. Driving/transferring without a valid MOT or insurance is an offence. Beware a myth: "I sold the car with a receipt, I'm done" is false — without an official transfer at the DoRT you remain the registered owner. Note: the insurance-cover validity threshold (3 months reported) is administrative practice and couldn't be confirmed. Tip: complete the transfer at the DoRT/KEP on the day of sale.
📎 Official sources
- Road Transport Department →
- Cyprus Driving · change of ownership →
- Minerva · transferring car ownership →
❓ Frequently asked
How do I transfer the car?
The transfer is done at the Road Transport Department or a Citizens' Service Centre, using form TOM 9B, completed in capitals and signed by the buyer and the seller. The transfer fee is €8.54, paid on site by card or cash when you submit the form.
Do I need an MOT to sell?
Yes. The vehicle must have a valid roadworthiness certificate, that is an MOT, for the transfer to be completed. Since February 2025 a Recall Exemption Certificate is also required, confirming the vehicle isn't subject to an outstanding manufacturer recall.
How soon must it be notified?
The transfer must be notified to the Road Transport Department within thirty days. If it isn't, the vehicle stays registered in your name, and you may be charged road tax, fines or offences that actually concern the new keeper of the vehicle.
Does the buyer need insurance?
Yes. The Citizens' Service Centre or Road Transport Department won't stamp the TOM 9B form without insurance cover in the buyer's name. A minimum three-month validity is cited as administrative practice, but that threshold wasn't confirmed here as an express requirement.
What if one party is absent?
If the buyer or seller can't attend, their signature must be certified by a mukhtar, community leader or certifying officer. This lets the transfer be completed validly, without needing both parties to be physically present at the same time at the office.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
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