Driving School

Last Update on 06/10/2020

Establishment and Operation of a Driving School

General Information

In order to establish and operate a Driving School in the Republic of Cyprus, one needs to obtain the licence for the establishment and operation of a Driving School and register with the Department of Road Transport, operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works.

The term «Driving School» refers to a shop where the business of professional driver’s training takes place.

Any physical person or legal entity is eligible to obtain the licence or the operation of a Driving School provided that the Department of Road Transport is satisfied that the or the Director of the legal person fulfills the following criteria:

  • possess a Certificate of Good Conduct by the Cyprus Police;
  • has practiced as a licensed driving instructor for the last three years in an EU member state or employees a manager for the driving school that has practiced as a licensed driving instructor for the last three years in an EU member state;
  • is above 24 years old.

The Application for the issuance of a licence for the operation of a Driving School can be submitted either through the PSC Cyprus or by contacting directly the competent authority:

Department of Road Transport
Vasileos Pavlou 27,
2412 Egkomi, Nicosia, Cyprus
Tel.: +357 22 807038/187
Fax : +357 22 354030
Email: roadtransport@rtd.mcw.gov.cy
Website: http://www.mcw.gov.cy/

  1. The application must be accompanied by the following documents:

    • copy of Certificate of Good Conduct;
    • copy of Certificate of Social Insurance Contributions;
    • copy of Driving Instructor’s licence from an EU member state of the applicant or the manager of the driving school.

    On site inspections are carried out by the Department of Road Transport officers in order to ensure compliance with the provisions of the legislation.

Upon approval, the applicant must pay the licence fee of € 17,09 to the Department of Road Transport (payable either by cash, or credit card at the Department of Road Transport).

The renewal fee is €17,09.

The applicant is informed regarding the authorization decision within fifteen days from the date that the application form and supporting documents were duly submitted.

The licence is valid for one year from the date of issue.

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 driving school operators are obliged to comply with the Motor Vehicles (Drivers Training) Law of 1968, and relevant regulations, as periodically amended, as well as the terms and conditions of the licence. Indicatively, licensed driving school operators are obliged to comply with the following:

  • maintain the appropriate premises, classroom, and equipment necessary for the training of drivers;
  • employee driving instructors that are licensed by the Department of Road Transport;
  • maintain suitable motor vehicle for driving instructing ensuring safety both for the instructor and the trainee;
  • the motor vehicle used for driver’s instructing clearly bears a distinctive mark.

The Department of Road Transport supervises the operation of the licensed Driving Schools in order to ensure compliance with the provisions of the relevant Laws and Regulations as well as with the terms and conditions of the licence.