Fine in Cyprus – how to pay and what are the penalties for non-payment?

Mandate in Cyprus can be obtained both during a roadside check and after an offense is recorded by a speed camera or traffic monitoring system. Many drivers – especially tourists – don't know how much time they have to pay, where to pay, or what the consequences are for ignoring the notice.

The applicable regulations clearly define the entire procedure—from ticket delivery, through payment deadlines, to potential legal proceedings. We explain the entire process step by step.

How can you get a fine in Cyprus?

A traffic ticket can be issued in several ways.

Most often, a driver receives it during a check conducted by the Cyprus Police. The officer provides a document containing information about the offense committed, the amount of the fine, and the method of payment.

Tickets are increasingly being issued based on footage from traffic monitoring cameras. This applies primarily to speeding, red light running, and other automatically recorded offenses.

You can also receive a ticket for illegal parking. In such cases, the ticket is usually left on the windshield of your vehicle by the police or authorized municipal services.

What offenses are tickets issued for most often?

The most common traffic offences in Cyprus include:

• exceeding the speed limit,
• illegal parking,
• using the phone while driving,
• failure to fasten seat belts,
• running a red light,
• failure to comply with road signs,
• driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The amount of the fine depends on the type of offence, and some violations also result in penalty points being added.

What to do after receiving a fine?

Once you receive a ticket, it is worth carefully checking all the information on it.

Particular attention should be paid to:

• details of the driver or vehicle owner,
• date and place of the offense,
• ticket number,
• amount of the penalty,
• maturity,
• instructions on how to pay.

If the fine concerns a rental car, it is worth keeping a copy of it and the subsequent proof of payment.

How much time do I have to pay the fine?

Currently, the fine must be paid within 90 days from the date of its effective deliveryThis is a significant change from previous regulations, which provided for a much shorter deadline.

Importantly, the deadline is counted from the moment the ticket is delivered to the driver or vehicle owner, and not from the date of its issue.

What is the penalty for not paying a fine?

Failure to pay the fine on time does not mean that the case will be closed.

If the amount due is not paid within 90 days of delivery, the fine amount will automatically increase by 50 percent.

If, despite this, the fine still remains unpaid, 105 days from delivery the competent authorities may refer the case to court.

In practice, this means that additional procedural costs and further legal consequences may be incurred.

Where to pay a fine in Cyprus?

The most convenient way is to pay online via the official platform JCCsmart, used by the public administration and the Cyprus Police.

In the system you need to select the service Cyprus Police – Payment of Tickets, and then provide the information indicated on the fine you received. Payment typically requires:

• ticket number,
• vehicle registration number,
• data identifying the driver or owner of the vehicle.

The payment service is also available from the official government portal Gov.cy, which redirects the user to the JCCsmart system.

How do I check if a ticket is in the system?

If the offence was recorded by a speed camera or traffic monitoring cameras, its status can be checked on the official system CyCameraSystem.

The search is performed by entering:

• passport number, ID card number or ARC number,
• vehicle registration number.

The system allows you to check whether the driver or vehicle owner has any outstanding fines from the camera system. Once a case is found, you can proceed to payment in the JCCsmart system.

Can the fine be paid after returning to Poland?

Yes. Fines can also be paid after leaving Cyprus using the online payment system.

Leaving the island does not suspend the deadlines set by law. If the fine is not paid in due time, the rules regarding the 50% surcharge and the possibility of taking the matter to court still apply.

Can I appeal against a fine?

If a driver believes that a ticket has been issued unfairly, they may use the procedures provided for in applicable regulations.

The procedure depends on the type of offense and how it was documented. For offenses recorded by a camera system, the primary evidence is photographs and recordings taken by traffic monitoring devices.

Ticket for a rental car

If the offence was committed with a rental car, the procedure is slightly different.

The vehicle owner, i.e., the rental company, receives the correspondence first. The company then forwards the driver's details to the appropriate authorities or, in accordance with the terms of the contract, charges an administrative fee for handling the matter. The actual responsibility for paying the fine remains with the driver.

We describe this topic in more detail in a separate guide dedicated to fines received for rental cars.

What is worth remembering?

The best solution is to pay the fine as soon as possible after receiving it.

After making a payment, it is worth keeping:

• confirmation of transfer or card payment,
• copy of the mandate,
• case number or reference number.

Documents may prove useful in the event of subsequent clarifications or inspections.