What should I do after a road traffic accident in Cyprus?

What is the first thing you should do after a car accident in Cyprus?

Stop immediately and switch on your hazard lights. If anyone is hurt, call 112 for an ambulance and the police before anything else, and give whatever assistance you can. Leaving the scene of an accident without providing assistance is a criminal offence under article 235A of the Criminal Code Cap. 154. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries even if you feel fine, since some symptoms appear hours later. The Insurance Association of Cyprus advises drivers not to admit fault at the scene, because liability is decided later on the evidence.

When do you have to call the police after an accident in Cyprus?

Call the police whenever anyone is injured, when a driver appears to be uninsured or under the influence of alcohol, or when the other vehicle cannot be identified. Under article 235A of the Criminal Code Cap. 154, a driver who leaves the scene without giving assistance faces up to five years imprisonment or a €15,000 fine where the accident causes death, and up to two years or €10,000 where it causes injury. Once the police have recorded the accident, you can request the Traffic Police Report electronically through the DIGIPOL service on gov.cy, using a CY Login account.

Can you move your car after a collision, and what evidence do you need first?

Since June 2026, section 14B of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Law 86/1972 requires drivers to move their vehicles to the nearest point clear of traffic, but only where nobody is visibly injured, the police are not needed, and the vehicles can be moved without towing. Before moving anything you must notify your insurer, exchange names, insurance certificate and licence numbers and vehicle details, and photograph the vehicles in their final positions with the registration plates and damage visible. Failing to do so is an offence carrying a fine of up to €1,000.

How soon must you notify your insurance company?

Immediately. Section 14B(2)(a) of Law 86/1972 requires you to inform your insurer of the collision before any vehicle is moved, and most policies also set their own reporting deadline in the contract, so check yours. Send the scene photographs to the person your insurer nominates. Moving your car under section 14B cannot be treated as a breach of your policy terms, and it is not an admission that the accident was your fault. If an uninsured or untraced vehicle was involved, the Motor Insurers' Fund must inspect the damage before any repairs begin.

What happens if the other driver is uninsured or drove off?

Driving without third-party cover is prohibited by article 3(1) of the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Liability Insurance) Law 96(I)/2000, and the Motor Insurers' Fund of Cyprus exists to compensate victims when the responsible driver is uninsured or cannot be traced. Tell the police that an uninsured vehicle was involved, or, where the driver fled, call the police to the scene or report it within 48 hours. The Fund covers bodily injury and death, and material damage above €500. These claims are more complex than an ordinary insurer claim, so take advice early.