Compare cheap 7 seater car hire at Paphos Airport. Driving on the left, the 150 cm child seat rule, camera fines, Akamas roads and crossing to the north.
Thinking of a day trip to the north of the island? GOV.UK warns that cars hired in the Republic of Cyprus often have no insurance cover there. Read the section below before you cross.
Paphos Airport handled 3.84 million passengers in 2025, and the UK was the top source market for Cyprus airports that year (Hermes Airports via Routes). The airport’s own profile puts the UK at more than half of its traffic (Routes).
For UK families, Cyprus has one big advantage over Spain or Greece. You drive on the left, in a right-hand drive car, so the seven of you set off on familiar terms.
Left-hand traffic, red plates
The Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism puts it plainly: “In Cyprus, we drive on the LEFT side of the road” (Visit Cyprus). Roundabouts run clockwise, as at home.
Hire cars in the Republic carry red number plates, so other drivers can tell you are a visitor (ANWB).
GOV.UK says driving standards are poor and the risk of road deaths is higher than in the UK (GOV.UK). A big car with three rows of passengers is a good reason to leave extra space.
Your licence and your passport
GOV.UK says you can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Cyprus. Holders of the old paper licence may need a photocard or an International Driving Permit (GOV.UK).
GOV.UK also warns that rental companies sometimes ask for your passport as a deposit, which is illegal. Never hand it over. A credit card in the lead driver’s name is the normal security.
Cyprus is in the EU but outside Schengen. GOV.UK says it is not affected by the EU Entry/Exit System, so there is no fingerprint registration at Paphos, and your passport is stamped instead (GOV.UK).
Paphos 7 Seaters, side by side
Cyprus drives on the left, so a 7 seater here feels like home. Compare the firms at Paphos side by side.
Child seats: the 150 cm rule
Cyprus sets the bar higher than the UK. Children under 12 and shorter than 150 cm must use an appropriate child restraint, and children under five may not sit in the front passenger seat (RAC).
Cyprus Police put it in two stages. Children up to 135 cm should be in a child seat, and those from 135 cm to 150 cm should use a booster (Cyprus Mail).
That catches many 10 and 11 year olds who have stopped using a booster at home. Count heights before you book, because each seat is usually charged per day.
Speed limits and cameras
The limits are in km/h (Visit Cyprus):
- Motorways: 100 km/h maximum, about 62 mph, and 65 km/h minimum
- Other roads outside towns: 80 km/h, about 50 mph
- Built-up areas: 50 km/h, about 31 mph, unless signed otherwise
- Pedestrian zones: 30 km/h, about 19 mph (Your Europe)
The motorway minimum catches people out. Crawling along the A6 in the slow lane with a full car is an offence, as well as a hazard.
Cameras are everywhere, fixed and mobile, and fines are issued automatically (Cyprus Mail). Since March 2026, jumping a red light beyond the pedestrian crossing costs €300, about £255, plus three penalty points (Sigmalive).
Hand-held phones are banned and seatbelts are compulsory in every seat. Fines for each start at €150, about £128 (AGP Law).
The drink-drive limit is 50 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, and 20 mg for drivers in their first three years (Visit Cyprus). That is well below the 80 mg limit in England and Wales.
Crossing to the north
The Green Line divides the island. GOV.UK warns that cars hired in the Republic often have no insurance cover in the north, and you will not get through a crossing without the right documents (GOV.UK).
Separate insurance can be bought at some crossing points, including Agios Dometios in Nicosia. Check first whether your hire firm allows the car across at all. Driving north without permission can leave you uncovered for the whole trip.
Where Paphos families drive
Approximate road distances from the airport (Cyprus Mail):
- Kato Paphos: about 16 km, 20 to 25 minutes
- Coral Bay: about 30 km, 30 to 40 minutes
- Polis and Latchi: about 50 km, 50 to 65 minutes
- Limassol: about 60 km, 45 to 60 minutes
Coral Bay holds a Blue Flag for 2026 (Sigmalive). It is the easy family beach day from most Paphos villas.
Akamas and Lara Bay
The Akamas peninsula is where a large hire car meets its limits. The Cyprus Audit Office reported in April 2026 that tracks from the Baths of Aphrodite to Fontana Amorosa are full of potholes and loose stones, with steep drops (Cyprus Mail).
Read your hire terms before you leave tarmac, and check whether unmade roads are covered. A 7 seater SUV is rarely a true 4×4.
At Lara, the turtle nesting beach, driving onto the sand is banned all year (Cyprus Mail).
Troodos in winter
The Troodos mountains are a popular day out from Paphos. In January 2026 several roads to Troodos were open only to 4x4s or cars fitted with snow chains (Cyprus Mail). For a winter visit, check road reports on the morning you go.
Seven people, seven cases
A large suitcase holds 80 to 110 litres. With all seven seats in use, the roomiest common 7 seaters manage about 340 to 350 litres of boot.
For a full family with a big case each, look for the ACRISS FV class, meaning seven or more seats plus more space, or book an 8 or 9 seater. For a fortnight of beach kit and buckets, roof space is rarely offered, so plan around the boot.
Picking up at Paphos Airport
Car hire desks are in and around the arrivals area. Some firms keep their cars at the airport, while others take you to a depot nearby (Cyprus Mail).
Your voucher will say which applies. An off-airport firm is often cheaper, but the transfer adds time after a late flight with tired children. Weigh both when you compare.
Staying on the east side of the island, around Ayia Napa or Protaras? Larnaca is much closer, and our Larnaca Airport guide covers the drive and the rules there.
For the national rules, from camera fines to crossing to the north, see our Cyprus guide.
Paying less for a 7 Seater in western Cyprus
- Compare the total, not the daily rate. Fuel policy, deposit, insurance excess and extra driver charges all sit outside the headline price.
- Ask about the north before you book. If you plan to cross, a firm that allows it saves a costly surprise at the checkpoint.
- Count child seats against the 150 cm rule. Seats are usually charged per day, so bringing your own boosters can save money.
- Book early with free cancellation. 7 seaters go first in the school holidays. Lock in a cancellable rate, then search again nearer the date and rebook if prices fall.
Check Paphos 7 Seater prices for your dates
Enter your flight times to compare cheap rates and the cover terms for the north.
Questions people ask
Do they drive on the left in Cyprus?
Yes. Cyprus drives on the left, and hire cars are right-hand drive, as in the UK.
Do I need an International Driving Permit in Cyprus?
Not with a UK photocard licence, according to GOV.UK. Holders of a paper licence may need one.
Can I take a Paphos hire car to the north of Cyprus?
Only if your hire firm allows it, and you will need separate insurance for the north. Some crossing points sell it.
Does the EU Entry/Exit System apply at Paphos?
No. GOV.UK says Cyprus is not affected by the EES. Your passport is stamped on entry and exit.
How do I find a cheap 7 Seater at Paphos Airport?
Compare several hire firms at once. Our search shows 7 seaters from firms in the terminal and off the airport, with the total price for each. Prices rise as summer fills up, so the earlier you search, the more choice you get.
