Vehicle Technicians – Repair and Maintenance

Last Update on 13/10/2020

Vehicle Repair and Maintenance

General Information

In order to repair and maintain vehicles in the Republic of Cyprus, a person needs to obtain a licence for Automotive Technicians from the local Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services, of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works.

The professions regulated by the Vehicle Τechnicians Laws are the following:

a. Automotive Electrician;

b. Automotive Mechanic;

c. Motorcycle Mechanic;

d. Panel Beater;

e. Diesel injection pump technician;

f. Instrument cluster technician;

g. Automotive Painter;

h. Tyre Technician;

i. Wheel Alignment Technician;

j. Exhaust System Technician;

k. Radiator Technician;

l. Automotive Air Conditioning Technician;

m. Automotive LPG Installer.

According to the National Laws (Vehicle Τechnicians Laws of 2006 up to 2015) a vehicle’s technician licence for the above-mentioned professions is issued only to natural persons.

Any physical person may be licensed as an Automotive Technician if he/she is 18 years of age or older and fulfills any one of the following requirements:

  • For professions from a) to f) and l) the following requirements apply:
    • is the holder of an Apprenticeship scheme, or equivalent program/Certificate, has 5 years of experience and success in exams of the Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services;
    • is the holder of a Secondary Education Certificate, has 4 years of experience and success in exams of the Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services;
    • is the holder of a Technical Education Certificate as an Automotive Mechanic (in the case of profession a) a Certificate as an Automotive Electrician is needed and in the case of profession f) either a Certificate as an Automotive Mechanic or as an Automotive Electrician), has 3 years of experience and success in exams of the Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services;
    • is the holder of post-secondary education Diploma of one year’s duration in the field of automotive mechanics/maintenance or in a sector relevant to this specialty and has 3 years of experience. For profession L success in the examination of the Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services is also required;
    • is the holder of Diploma in the field of Mechanical Engineering from an accredited Triennial post-secondary Institution, has 2 years of experience. For profession L success in the examination of the Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services is also required;
    • is the holder of an Automotive Mechanic Diploma from College studies of at least two years duration in the field of automotive technology, has 1 year of experience. For profession L success in the examination of the Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services is also required;
    • is the holder of a University Diploma in the field of Mechanical Engineering, has 1 year of experience. For profession L success in the examination of the Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services is also required.
  • For professions from g) to k) the following requirements apply:
    • is the holder of an Apprenticeship scheme, or equivalent program, Certificate, has 3 years of experience and success in exams of the Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services;
    • is the holder of a Secondary Education Certificate, has 2 years of experience and success in exams of the Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services;
    • is the holder of a Technical Education Certificate as an Automotive Mechanic, has 1 year of experience and success in exams of the Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services (in the case of profession g) the Certificate does not have to be of an Automotive Technician);
    • is the holder of post-secondary education Diploma of one year’s duration in the field of automotive mechanics/maintenance or in a sector relevant to this specialty and has 1 year of experience;
    • is the holder of Diploma in the field of Mechanical Engineering from an accredited Triennial post-secondary Institution, has 1 year of experience;
    • is the holder of an Automotive Mechanic Diploma from College studies of at least two years duration in the field of automotive technology, has 1 year of experience;
    • is the holder of a University Diploma in the field of Mechanical Engineering, has 1 year of experience.
  • For profession m) the following requirements apply:
    • is the holder of a Secondary Education Certificate, has 4 years of experience, has basic automotive LPG installer training and branch specific LPG installer training;
    • is the holder of a Technical Education Certificate as an Automotive Mechanic/Electrician has 2 years of experience, has basic automotive LPG installer training and branch specific LPG installer training;
    • is the holder of post-secondary education Diploma of one year’s duration in the field of automotive mechanics/maintenance or in a sector relevant to this specialty and has 2 years of experience, has basic automotive LPG installer training and branch specific LPG installer training;
    • is the holder of Diploma in the field of Mechanical Engineering from an accredited Triennial post-secondary Institution, has 1 years of experience, has basic automotive LPG installer training and branch specific LPG installer training;
    • is the holder of an Automotive Mechanic Diploma from College studies of at least two years duration in the field of automotive technology, has 1 years of experience, has basic automotive LPG installer training and branch specific LPG installer training;
    • is the holder of a University Diploma in the field of Mechanical Engineering, has 1 years of experience, has basic automotive LPG installer training and branch specific LPG installer training.

The “Vehicle Technicians Application form” can be submitted either through the PSC Cyprus or by contacting directly the competent authority:

Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services
Ayiou Ilarionos Avenue, Kaimakli, 1426 Nicosia
P.O BOX 29669,1722 Nicosia
Tel: .+357 22800351, +357 22800534
Fax: +357 22348202
Email: director@ems.mcw.gov.cy
Website: http://www.mcw.gov.cy/ems

  1. The “Vehicle Technicians Application form” must be accompanied by the following documents:

    • proof of academic qualifications such as, copy of the certificate, diploma or degree;
    • proof of experience in the related profession such as, certificate of earnings from the employer, detailed statements of insured persons’ earnings by the Social Insurance Services, invoices for executed work etc.;
    • copy of Cyprus Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services Examination certificate, if required in the eligibility criteria;
    • 2 recent passport size photos;
    • copy of personal identity card;
    • registration fee of € 25,50 per specialization (payable either by cash, cheque).

The application/registration fee of € 25,50 per specialisation (payable either by cash, cheque).

The renewal fee is 17 euro per profession.

The applicant is informed regarding the authorisation decision within three months from the date that the application form and supporting documents were duly submitted.

The licence of Vehicle Technician is valid for two years from the date of issue. The renewal fee is 17 euro per profession.

Administrative Action against a Competent Authority’s Decision

Any person may file an Administrative Action at the Administrative Court against a decision, act, or omission of any competent authority or body.

Pursuant to Article 146 of the Constitution, an Administrative Action may be lodged within 75 days from the date of the decision or act or omission or from the day when such decision or act or omission was notified to the applicant.

The Administrative Court acts as a cassation Court and not as a substantive Court. In other words, the Administrative Court may:
I. Dismiss the Administrative Action
II. Annul wholly or partially the contested decision or act
III. Compel the relevant authority or body to take a certain action

After a decision is annulled, the authority and/or public body must reverse things back to the state prior to when the concerned decision and/or act was executed and reexamine.

Appeal Information

An Appeal may be filed against the Administrative Court’s first-instance decision within a period of 42 days from the date such a decision was given.

At the Supreme Court (Court of Appeal Section) hearing, the contested issue of the appeal remains the legality of the decision or act already adjudicated. However, such a revision of the legality of the decision or act is solely examined on the matters and the extent that the two parties have limited the reasons in the relevant notice of appeal.

The decision adopted by the Supreme Court is considered final in relation to the matter that has been judged.

Licensed Automotive Technicians are obliged to comply with the provisions of the National Vehicle Technicians Laws (Vehicle Τechnicians Laws of 2006 and 2015), as periodically amended, and specifically, among others, to:

  • repair vehicles in the best possible way as to reduce the danger from the use of the vehicle as well as minimize pollution to the lowest level permitted by the design;
  • constantly upgrade their knowledge on technology regarding active and passive safety as well as environmental pollution;
  • possess or have access to the necessary equipment for any repair or maintenance operation they are about to undertake. Otherwise they must refuse to undertake the repair of the vehicle in question;
  • after the completion of each repair, they have to provide the owner/s of the vehicle with a signed and stamped repair/maintenance certification form, as per Type II of Annex I of the National Vehicle Technicians Laws (in the Related Documents);
  • place their licence in a clearly visible position;
  • archive data for every vehicle repaired according to Annex III of the National Vehicle Technicians Laws (please see legislation in Related Links);
  • every natural person is allowed to repair his/her vehicle and he/she is subject to same obligations as the licensed technicians.

Assistant Technician and Apprentices

An automotive technician may have 2 apprentices or 2 assistant technicians or 1 apprentice and 1 assistant technician under his/her supervision. However there is no restriction in the number of apprentices, given that they attend local technical schools. However, the licensed technician has the responsibility for the performed work.

The Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services supervises the practice of the licensed Vehicle Technicians in order to ensure compliance with the provisions of the relevant Laws and Regulations and the terms of the licence.