UK import check for cars sold in Cyprus.
Right-hand drive, recent and imported from the UK? Check the VIN for dated mileage records, accident and damage records where available, theft and recalls before you pay. EUR 8.90 for the full report.
900M+ Vehicles in database
EUR 8.90 Full report
Cars imported into Cyprus from the UK are third-country imports since Brexit: a used passenger car must be no more than five years old on arrival, and the seller should hold the original V5C. Carlytics checks the 17-character VIN against 900+ million records across 47+ countries, including dated mileage records from the UK where available. Full reports EUR 8.90.
What changes when the car came from the UK
A UK car keeps its VIN and its history when it is shipped to Cyprus. The Cypriot plate does not.
The five-year rule
Since 2021, a used UK passenger car can be registered in Cyprus only if it is no more than five years old on the day it arrives at a Cypriot port, counted from its first registration as new. Check the first-registration date on the V5C against the decoded model year.
The documents to ask for
- The original UK V5C registration certificate.
- A valid Cypriot MOT certificate.
- The EU type-approval number on the UK certificate (point K), or a Cypriot single vehicle approval.
- The customs clearance papers.
Mileage: the UK record and the Cypriot one
The last UK MOT reading is the best reference you have. Look it up with the old UK plate on MOT Checkup and compare it with the Cypriot MOT and the dashboard. The report adds dated mileage records for the VIN where available.
Duty and VAT
Customs charges 19% VAT on the customs value plus any duty. A passenger car of proven UK origin pays 0% duty under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement; otherwise duty is 10%. Ask the seller whether the price includes both.
Checking a UK import in Cyprus
Four steps before you pay a deposit.
- 1
Match the VIN
On the car, the V5C and the Cypriot registration certificate.
- 2
Check the age
First registration within five years of arrival in Cyprus.
- 3
Line up the mileage
Last UK MOT, Cypriot MOT, the report's dated records and the dashboard.
- 4
Read the full report
Accident and damage records where available, theft and recalls, then an independent inspection.
What we check before you buy in Cyprus
One VIN, the records from the countries the car has lived in. These are the checks that matter most for a car that came to Cyprus from the UK, Japan or mainland Europe.
Damage
The report includes accident and damage records where available for the VIN, such as salvage and write-off titles and auction damage classifications. A car repaired abroad and shipped to Cyprus can look clean on the forecourt; the record from its first life is where the repair shows. No record found is not proof the car was never damaged.
Mileage rollbacks
We put the dated mileage records we hold for the VIN in order, where available, so you can compare them with the dashboard. The weak point on an import is the gap between the last reading abroad and the first reading in Cyprus.
Specs & equipment
We decode the factory specification from the VIN: model, engine, fuel, gearbox, body and plant. Check it against the advert and the Cypriot registration certificate before you agree a price.
Safety recalls
We list safety recall campaigns recorded for the make, model and year. A used car imported into Cyprus can reach its new owner without any recall letter, so ask a dealer of the brand to confirm the work was done.
Flood and weather damage
Check whether the car carries flood or weather damage records where available. Flood cars are written off in one country and resold in another, which is exactly the route an import takes.
Stolen car check
We check the VIN against European police and theft lists. A car stolen in another country and re-registered in Cyprus can be taken back from the buyer.
Photos
Where available, we include earlier photos of the car, for example from auctions. They can show damage, repairs or a different colour that the seller has not mentioned.
Market value
We estimate a fair market value from comparable cars, so you can tell whether the asking price in euros is reasonable for the year, mileage and specification.
Trusted in 47+ countries, including the ones Cyprus imports from
Carlytics brings together vehicle records from 47+ countries, with 900M+ vehicles in its database, including the UK, mainland Europe and the US. For a car registered in Cyprus, that is where its earlier life was recorded.
Access data from national registries,
insurance databases, law enforcement and more.
How It Works
Carlytics checks a 17-character VIN in seconds by cross-referencing 900M+ records from 47+ countries. Enter the VIN from the windscreen or the Cypriot registration certificate, check the free preview, then unlock the full vehicle history report for EUR 8.90.
From VIN to report in a few minutes. Check the free preview before you pay.
Enter the VIN
Type the 17-character VIN from the car or its registration certificate. A Cypriot number plate is not enough on its own.
Check the preview
Confirm the make, model and year match the advert before you pay anything.
Get the full report
Mileage, accident and damage records where available, theft, recalls and value, in one report with a PDF.
Decide with evidence
Take the report to the viewing, ask the seller about any gaps and book an independent inspection.
Why check a VIN before buying a used car in Cyprus?
Two in three cars registered in Cyprus this year were first registered somewhere else. A 2018 European Parliament resolution puts tampered mileage at an estimated 30-50% of cross-border used-car sales. The VIN is the one identifier that follows the car across borders, so it is where a check starts.
Mileage on imports
The odometer can be wound back in the gap between the last reading abroad and registration in Cyprus. Dated mileage records, where available, show whether the dashboard fits the car's past.
Hidden accident damage
A repaired write-off can be shipped to Cyprus and sold as accident-free. Accident and damage records, where available, show what happened before it arrived.
Stolen vehicles
Cars stolen elsewhere in Europe are moved across borders and re-registered. A theft check against European police lists protects you from losing the car and the money.
Import paperwork
Since Brexit, a used car from the UK must be no more than five years old on arrival to be registered in Cyprus. The decoded year and specification help you test what the import papers say.
Ready to check your vehicle?
Enter the VIN number below to get a free instant report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check a car imported from the UK with Carlytics?
Can I see the UK MOT history?
How old can a UK car be to register in Cyprus?
Do I pay import duty on a UK car?
Why does the mileage matter more on an import?
Can I check a UK car before it is shipped to Cyprus?
The car has a Cypriot plate already. Can I still check it?
Does the report include accident and damage data?
How much is the report?
Last updated