MOT testing in Northern Cyprus
Maintaining the technical condition of the car is not only beneficial for road safety but also required by the laws of Northern Cyprus.
- Procedure for Passing Vehicle Inspection in Northern Cyprus
- Requirements for Vehicle Condition during Inspection
- Inspection Dates in Northern Cyprus
- Where to Get a Vehicle Inspection in Northern Cyprus
- Other Questions about Vehicle Inspection
Procedure for Passing Vehicle Inspection in Northern Cyprus
To obtain a certificate that your car is technically sound, you need to follow several steps.
Payment of the Inspection Fee
The process takes place online at this link. At the same address, you can pay the road tax, but for the inspection, you will need the next tab after Road Tax. The paid receipt needs to be printed.
Exhaust Gas Test
In Turkish, it is called Ekzos emisyon testi and can be done at almost any garage or auto service center. The cost of the test for 2024 is 150 lira.
Visiting the Police
With the tax payment receipt, the emission test result, and the previous inspection document, you need to go to the inspection department at the police station. The inspector will check the technical condition of the car and either point out deficiencies or issue a certificate of vehicle soundness. The document is called Motorlu Araç Muayene Geçme Belgesi and looks like the photo below.
Requirements for Vehicle Condition during Inspection
- The car must be technically sound overall, with attention to headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, and the operation of low and high beams.
- Tires must not be worn out; bald tires may be asked to be replaced with those having a clear tread pattern.
- There must be two warning triangles, a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, and mud flaps if they are part of the vehicle's design.
Inspection Dates in Northern Cyprus
Vehicle inspection is conducted every 3 years (not to be confused with the road tax — it is paid annually). The exception is ATVs, which must be inspected every year.
However, certain license plates have specific dates — usually, an interval of about two weeks is given.
In this table you can see the dates for specific series of numbers. Be careful — section A is often checked, but for ordinary civilian cars, you need section D — check these dates in the image below.
In 2024, scheduled inspections of private cars start only in August.
If your inspection is overdue from the previous period, you can pass it at any time by completing all the necessary steps — paying the fee and passing the exhaust test.
Where to Get a Vehicle Inspection in Northern Cyprus
Inspections usually take place where the city's police department is located, or in an adjacent building. You can search on maps by the name of the settlement and the word Polis.
Frequently Asked Questions about Vehicle Inspection in Northern Cyprus
How much does the inspection cost in Northern Cyprus?
As of 2024, the state fee for inspection is 530 lira. Additionally, the emission test (measuring exhaust gas levels) costs 150 lira.
What is the penalty for not having an inspection?
The fine for not having an inspection in the required period is 2758.7 lira and will be imposed at each traffic inspection.
What to do if the inspection period is overdue?
In this case, you can pass it at any time following the same procedure, but a late fee will be added to the state fee.
Why are there other sections in the table?
Most car owners will only need category D, but if you have a partially customs-cleared car with special license plates ZT or ZZ + 4 digits — section C, if you own an ATV — you need section A.
How long does the inspection take?
The emission test takes 5 minutes, and the vehicle inspection by the inspector rarely takes more than 10-15 minutes. In general, with moderate queues, car owners manage in half an hour.
In the largest Telegram forum of Northern Cyprus, there is a chat "Auto", where you can ask any questions about vehicle inspection in Northern Cyprus.
Author
Born and raised in Yekaterinburg, visited more than 40 countries, lived in the USA for some time, and in 2022, moved to Northern Cyprus. Education: Ural State University (now Ural Federal University), Faculty of Political Science and Sociology. Professional Experience: Since 2008, worked in the…
