Newsroom
Drivers across Cyprus are racing against the clock as the deadline to renew vehicle registration certificates expires tonight, with late fees set to apply starting just after midnight.
From 12:01 a.m., motorists who have not renewed their registration will face an additional charge of €10 plus 10% of the amount owed, according to the Road Transport Department.
Officials say many drivers appear to have left the process until the final days. So far, around 750,000 registrations have been renewed, roughly in line with last year’s figures, when about 752,000 to 753,000 vehicles had been processed by the same date.
“In the past two days alone, about 70,000 renewals were completed,” Road Transport Department officer Konstantinos Kouppis said, pointing to a familiar last-minute rush.
Heavy demand has also caused temporary slowdowns on the department’s online platform, known as TOM, with users reporting access problems. Kouppis said the interruptions were expected due to increased traffic and urged citizens to remain patient and try again later if the system becomes unavailable.
The same online system is also used by vehicle inspection centers (KTEO), which are experiencing a surge in activity as drivers scramble to meet the deadline.
Officials also reminded vehicle owners that those who do not plan to use their cars can avoid paying road tax by declaring the vehicle immobilized. This can be done either electronically or at provincial Road Transport Department offices. The vehicle can be returned to the road once the registration is renewed.
Authorities warned that failing to renew registration for an extended period carries more serious consequences. Vehicles whose registration remains unpaid for one year and 70 days, meaning drivers who skipped renewal last year and again this year, will be removed from the registry starting tomorrow.
With only hours left before penalties begin, officials are urging motorists not to wait until the final minutes to complete the process.
