Budapest

We have a trip planned to Cyprus in February and are reading different reports about car rental. One site says that it is not a problem to take a car from e.g. Larnaca and drive it to the North, while another says that insurance will be an issue if driving across the Green Line. Any advise is appreciated.

STBCypriot

It all depends on the car rental company. Some car rental companies do not allow for their cars to be driven to the north, some do. You most likely will be required to take out additional insurance (at the green line crossings) - you can buy it for 3 days, 1 month or a year. I think it is 25 euros for 1 month; not sure what it is for 3 days. You can get the insurance at the little huts just before the crossings - just make sure that you go during business hours. Of course, your passport is required to cross the green line.

I've been living in Cyprus for 9 years now so if there is anything else I can help you with, please ask.

Budapest

Thank you for the info. Much appreciated. Any recommendations about SIM cards. Do we need a different one for the north?

STBCypriot

Theoretically no, in practicality, maybe. Sorry to be so vague; I just don't have actual experience with that. My RoC sim is supposed to work in the TRNC (as of last year sometime), but I've never tried it. If your sim card is from another country than the RoC, odds are that it will work, but I have no idea what the roaming charges would be.

VitaliU

My T-Mobile SIM (US) worked in the North last time I visited

STBCypriot

I think that any country's sim card will work in the TRNC. The only ones that might have problems are those from the RoC (which is what I have). Ask your provider about the roaming charges.