Driving in Cyprus vs. Portugal: Key Differences Explained

When exploring the driving landscapes of Cyprus and Portugal, notable distinctions emerge that can impact your journey. From the side of the road you navigate—left in Cyprus versus right in Portugal—to speed limits and traffic regulations, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable driving experience abroad.

cyprusportugal

LEFT

Driving Side

The driving side in cyprus is the Left Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in cyprus is 89

1.488 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for cyprus is 1.488 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Cyprus	Portugal
Driving Side	Left	Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the edge of the road.	Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles	Use leftmost lane.	Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence	Limited	Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage	Usually reserved for public transport.	Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled; specific signs indicate usage.	Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	No	Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	Electronic signs display current limits.

Driving Side

cyprus:

Left

portugal:

Right

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

cyprus:

Marks the edge of the road.

portugal:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

cyprus:

May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic

portugal:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

cyprus:

Use leftmost lane.

portugal:

Use rightmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

cyprus:

Limited

portugal:

Yes

Bus Lanes: Usage

cyprus:

Usually reserved for public transport.

portugal:

Reserved for buses and taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

cyprus:

Labeled; specific signs indicate usage.

portugal:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

cyprus:

Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.

portugal:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

cyprus:

portugal:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

cyprus:

N/A

portugal:

Electronic signs display current limits.

Speeds Limits

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	Cyprus	Portugal
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	50 km/h	30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 km/h	90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	100 km/h	120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	100 km/h	90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	No	Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes	Possible

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

cyprus:

50 km/h

portugal:

30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

cyprus:

80 km/h

portugal:

90 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

cyprus:

80 km/h

portugal:

70 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

cyprus:

100 km/h

portugal:

120 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

cyprus:

100 km/h

portugal:

90 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

cyprus:

portugal:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

cyprus:

N/A

portugal:

Electronic signs display current limits

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

cyprus:

Yes

portugal:

Possible

Signals

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	Cyprus	Portugal
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Cyprus	Not used in Portugal
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when entering and exiting	Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language	Greek and English; symbols are standard	Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangle-shaped with red border	Triangular-shaped with white background and red border

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

cyprus:

Not used in Cyprus

portugal:

Not used in Portugal

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

cyprus:

Signal when entering and exiting

portugal:

Signal when exiting

Traffic Signs: Language

cyprus:

Greek and English; symbols are standard

portugal:

Portuguese; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

cyprus:

Triangle-shaped with red border

portugal:

Triangular-shaped with white background and red border

Turns

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	Cyprus		Portugal
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed		Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed unless prohibited by signs		Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit

Right Turn On Red

cyprus:

Not allowed

portugal:

Prohibited

U- Turns Allowed

cyprus:

Allowed unless prohibited by signs

portugal:

Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit

Documentation

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	Cyprus	Portugal
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted for short visits without additional permits	Accepted; no additional permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	International Driving Permit recommended	International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Yes, periodic inspection required	Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory, but recommended	Mandatory

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

cyprus:

Accepted for short visits without additional permits

portugal:

Accepted; no additional permit required

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

cyprus:

International Driving Permit recommended

portugal:

International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

cyprus:

Yes, periodic inspection required

portugal:

Periodic inspections required; proof may be required

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

cyprus:

Not mandatory, but recommended

portugal:

Mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Cyprus		Portugal
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol	Pull over to the left and stop if necessary		Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

Emergency Vehicles: Protocol

cyprus:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

portugal:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Cyprus	Portugal
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%; zero tolerance	0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints used routinely	Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial and strict	Varies; can be substantial

Limits: Underage Drivers

cyprus:

0.00%; zero tolerance

portugal:

0.02%

Enforcement: Random Checks

cyprus:

Common; checkpoints used routinely

portugal:

Common, especially during holidays

Enforcement: Fines

cyprus:

Substantial and strict

portugal:

Varies; can be substantial

Roundabouts

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	Cyprus		Portugal
Signaling: Entering	Signal when entering and intending to exit immediately		Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Signaling: Entering

cyprus:

Signal when entering and intending to exit immediately

portugal:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Emergency Services

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	Cyprus	Portugal
Contact: Traffic Police	112	Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or local services	Check with your insurance provider or ACP
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Not mandatory, but recommended	Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory, but recommended	Mandatory

Contact: Traffic Police

cyprus:

112

portugal:

Contact local authorities

Contact: Roadside Assistance

cyprus:

Check with your insurance provider or local services

portugal:

Check with your insurance provider or ACP

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

cyprus:

Not mandatory, but recommended

portugal:

Mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

cyprus:

Not mandatory, but recommended

portugal:

Mandatory

Penalties And Fines

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	Cyprus	Portugal
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; can be substantial	Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Strict enforcement	€120 to €600
Common Fines: Phone Use	Strict enforcement, fines apply	€240 to €1,200
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Substantial fines, points on license	€120 to €600
Payment: On The Spot	Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail	Possible
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay	Varies; typically 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

cyprus:

Varies; can be substantial

portugal:

Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license

Common Fines: Seat Belts

cyprus:

Strict enforcement

portugal:

€120 to €600

Common Fines: Phone Use

cyprus:

Strict enforcement, fines apply

portugal:

€240 to €1,200

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

cyprus:

Substantial fines, points on license

portugal:

€120 to €600

Payment: On The Spot

cyprus:

Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail

portugal:

Possible

Payment: Deadline

cyprus:

Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay

portugal:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay