Cyprus-Forum.com

[Svetlana]

Dear Judge Mental

Sorry to be so persistent but I believe what you have quoted (written BEFORE Cyprus joined the EU is incorrect). I will call the owner of Andy's on Monday. In the meantime these are the regulations regarding DF cars:

Lana


Aliens retiring and residing permanently in Cyprus.

Are you entitled?

Under the conditions laid down below, you are entitled to relief from excise duty if you are an alien national having taken up permanent residence in Cyprus without exercising a profession or occupation of any sort.

You are entitled to apply for relief on new or used
Saloon type motor vehicles
Station-wagons
Jeep (4 x 4) type vehicles
Mini-buses capable of carrying up to nine persons.
You are not entitled to apply for motorcycles or other types of motor vehicles.

Relief is granted on the whole amount of excise duty for one vehicle per person.

If you have claimed relief on a new vehicle, you will have to pay VAT. If however the vehicle is used and VAT on it has been paid in another member state of the EU and has not been refunded because of its transfer from that state, you will not have to pay VAT.

Relief will be granted if:
you have taken up residence in Cyprus
you do not exercise a profession or occupation of any sort
none of the members of your family shall be engaged in any type of work in Cyprus
the vehicle shall be transferred to Cyprus within a reasonable time period from the approval of the application.
How to apply for relief.

A claim for relief must be made in person by you, by completing Application for relief on motor vehicles imported or acquired by aliens who live permanently in Cyprus Form P17, on arrival in Cyprus.

The claim must be submitted to the Relief Section of Customs Headquarters in Nicosia and be accompanied by the following evidence:
passports of yourself and of your spouse
evidence of the place of stay (purchase or lease agreement of a house in Cyprus, permission to purchase immovable property within Cyprus)
certificate of registration as an alien
residence permit from the Immigration Officer
your driving licence (of Cyprus or of the country you are coming from)
documentary evidence that you are financially independent and that you receive an income from abroad (e.g. bank statements, pension payment certificates, etc.)
You should take copies of all the above documents.

If your application for relief is granted:

You will have to complete form SAD. If you cannot complete it on your own, you may use the services of a clearing agent. You may produce your SAD at any Regional Customs Office. Customs will issue Form C72A and a copy will be give to you. The vehicle must be then produced, together with Form C72A and other documents relating to your vehicle, to the Department of Road Transport for inspection and registration purposes.

[Judge Mental]

I look forward to being corrected, but I did ask a few people last week when I was in Cyprus and they all confirmed that duty-free cars were a thing of the past!!

[Svetlana]

Dear Judge Mental

Firstly, my apologies for the delay in replying. I have confirmed that DF cars are still available; the procedures are as described below. In my experience, many websites and so-called 'experts' in Cyprus provide inaccurate or misleading information. With all due, blond, immodesty, that does not apply to me, so if you have any other questions about life or moving here, please ask away.
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DF is still available to those with "Retiree Status". This has to be allowed
by Customs, Nicosia in the form of a personal interview. Requirements are
Pink Slip, Proof of house Ownership/Rental in CY, using CY as main domicile (185 days per year min), Medical Insurance, and proof that PENSION income is the ONLY income worldwide. IE If they are renting a house out for income back in blighty, they are classed as employees of their house and not eligible. They must also prove that they can look after themselves financially.

DF is not worth the bother for cars less than 1650 cc, but after that
breakpoint it becomes a little expensive on the duty. They will also not be
able to sell the car on for a period of 10 years unless the buyer is willing
to pay the duty.

Wait times are anything from 3 - 5 months for the answer, so they have to
bear this in mind also.

[Judge Mental]

thanks for this - very interesting!!

[Judge Mental]

...just a thought, whats the situation then about bringing in a 5 year old Landrover Freelander (4x4) with an 1800cc engine?

....also, is it a good idea as its built for the UK (obviously) and I have been told hot climate countries have different builds (Cooling system etc) - it does have aircon by the way

[Svetlana]

Oh Judge Mental

Just when I thought I had sorted you out, you have another problem
Pre-EU days you had to get permission to import a vehicle over 5 years old; I do not see that EU membership will have changed that; but that is only an opinion - not a fact.

Should you have to pay Duty on a vehicle over 3 years old, it is heavily loaded as part of the Cypriot environmental (he he!) policy.

Vehicle built for the CY market tend to have heavy duty cooling and a/c units. Maybe Land Rovers have these as standard?

Lana

[Judge Mental]

just when I thought I was sorted out as well!!

I am assured that Landrovers are tested to 40 deg C for UK sale which is way over what we need here, but I understand that in JUly and August temperatures in Cyprus can and have exceeded that figure in recent years - is that correct?

[Svetlana]

Hi Judge Mental

It rarely goes above 40C except perhaps in Nicosia and when it does you are better in your pool rather than driving around!

I am not a vehicle expert, but while your vehicle might have been able to cope with 40C when new, I assume cooling systems become less effective over the years?

Lana

[in8]

If you have EVER lived in Cyprus for more than a year and you can prove ( and you have been away for more than 10 yrs) it you are allowed to take a vehicle, that has been in your name, free of taxes.

[in8]

Dont take your LR to Kypros as you may regret it.....the heat it will encounter will be too much for the poor thing....is it a pre BMW LR?

Parts are expensive & not readily available for these vehicles.