What to do if you get into an accident in Northern Cyprus?

A traffic accident is an unpleasant situation in itself, and even more so if it happens in another country.

• Actions to take in case of an accident in Northern Cyprus
• Filing a traffic accident in Northern Cyprus
• How to deal with the insurance company
• Frequently asked questions about traffic accidents

Actions to take in case of an accident in Northern Cyprus

1. Make sure there are no injured individuals who need urgent medical help. If there are — immediately call the emergency service at 112. Also, save the emergency phone numbers by municipality in Northern Cyprus just in case.
2. Call the police. The phone number is 155. This can be done by the at-fault driver, the victim, or even witnesses on the street.
3. If the accident is objectively minor, call the insurance company of the at-fault driver and describe the situation — in case of minor damage, a police report might not be required.

Important: apart from the above-mentioned case, we strongly advise victims not to leave the scene of the accident without calling the police and having a report filed, even if the other party promises to cover all the damages — you may be deceived later, and you won’t have any official documents proving the incident.

Filing a traffic accident in Northern Cyprus

1. After the police inspect the scene, take photos, and draw a diagram of the accident, all parties will need to go to the police station to file an official report.
2. There, the at-fault party is issued a fine at the discretion of the officer, which is often “Careless driving,” since it’s not always clear what exactly caused the accident.

The police report is not needed by the at-fault party but by the victim, to present to the insurance company. It should be picked up a few days after the accident at the central police station in Nicosia (location shown on the map below).

To request the report, you will need to provide the vehicle number or the name and surname. You’ll also need to purchase stamps. These can be bought in advance at any post office (185 lira) or at a café near the police station (200 lira).

How to deal with the insurance company

With the police report in hand, you should contact the insurance company of the at-fault driver.

Each insurance company works with certain auto repair shops — it’s best to find out in advance where you’ll be sent. However, if you’re not satisfied with their choice and doubt the quality of repairs — insist on a workshop you trust, you have the right to do so. Here is a list of auto repair shops in Northern Cyprus.

Important: to receive compensation from the insurance company, you must have a valid vehicle inspection, paid road tax, and a TRNC driver’s license. Foreign licenses are not accepted if you have a residence permit or student visa.

Frequently asked questions about traffic accidents in Northern Cyprus

What if I only have a foreign driver’s license?

If you have a residence permit, student visa, or otherwise legally reside in Northern Cyprus, you are required to have a driver’s license issued by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus — this is stated in the traffic regulations.

Will the insurance cover it if I rented a car?

If you have a foreign driver’s license, insurance will only cover your expenses if you rented the car from an official rental agency in Northern Cyprus — such vehicles have red license plates. More about the meaning of license plate colors in the TRNC.

What’s the fine for careless driving?

At the time of writing (March 2024), the fine for careless driving, which is often given to the at-fault driver, is around 5,000 lira. We also have an article describing almost all traffic fines in Northern Cyprus.

Follow us on Instagram and Telegram to learn all the most useful tips about life and transportation in Northern Cyprus!