New driving license law to impact learner drivers in Cyprus

Starting in 2026, a new law will change how learner drivers in Cyprus are allowed to practice on the roads. The Road Transport Department of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works has issued a reminder about the Driving Licence (Amendment) Law of 2023, which was published on December 13, 2023. The law will come into effect on 1 January 2026, and it introduces stricter rules for those with a learner’s license in categories AM, A1, A2, and A.

Under the new regulations, learner drivers will only be allowed to drive motor vehicles in these categories under specific conditions. These include:

Training Purposes: The learner driver must be under the supervision of a licensed driving instructor. The instructor will be in a separate vehicle of the same or compatible category (AM, A1, A2, or A).

Driving Test: Learners can also drive vehicles as part of an examination to obtain their official driving license.

Specialized Training: The learner can drive in the case of authorised training for vehicles belonging to the Police, Fire Service, or National Guard.

This law aims to ensure that learner drivers gain proper, supervised training before they are allowed to drive independently on public roads.

The Road Transport Department is urging learner license holders to begin their journey to obtain a full driving license before these new restrictions are enforced. For those looking to proceed with the process, the department advises them to visit the official Road Transport Department website for further details and to start the necessary procedures.

If you are a learner driver, it’s important to get ahead of these changes to avoid any disruptions to your ability to drive.