Cyprus Driving Licence Number Explained

Most people carry their driving licence without ever reading it properly. The card is packed with information, but the layout can look confusing at first glance. Once you know what each field means, the whole thing makes sense in about two minutes.

What is the Cyprus driving licence number and where do you find it?

Your licence number sits in field 5 on the front of the card. It is an alphanumeric code, meaning it contains both letters and numbers. The Department of Road Transport (TOM) assigns it when your record is first created. That same number stays with you for life. It does not change when you renew, upgrade a category, or get a replacement after losing your card.

Why does this matter? Because many official processes ask for it. Your insurer will want it when you take out a policy. Government portals ask for it during applications. If you drive abroad and get stopped, the officer may record it. Knowing exactly where to look saves time and avoids mistakes.

Look at the front of your card. Find the small printed number "5". Directly next to it, or below it, is your licence number. It is not your national ID number. It is not your passport number. It is specific to your driving record at TOM.

The card also carries the national code "CY" on the front. This tells any authority in Europe that the card was issued by the Republic of Cyprus. It is useful when you drive in other EU countries or present your licence at a border.

If you need a full overview of the application process, the step-by-step driving licence guide covers everything from theory test to card collection.

What are the numbered fields on a Cyprus driving licence card?

The card follows the EU harmonised format. This format was set by EU Directive 2006/126/EC and applies to all member states. Every field has a number, and that number means the same thing on a German licence, a French licence, or a Cypriot one.

Here is what each main field shows on a Cyprus licence:

• Field 1 - Your surname
• Field 2 - Your given name or names
• Field 3 - Your date of birth and place of birth
• Field 4a - Date the current licence was issued
• Field 4b - Expiry date of the licence
• Field 4c - The issuing authority (the Department of Road Transport, ΤΟΜ)
• Field 5 - Your unique licence number
• Field 9 - The vehicle categories you are allowed to drive
• Field 10 - The date of first issue for each category
• Field 11 - The expiry date for each category, where one applies
• Field 12 - Any restrictions or special conditions, shown as codes

Fields 1 through 5 are the personal and administrative details. Fields 9 through 12 are the driving entitlements. Together they give a complete picture of who you are and what you can legally drive.

The standardised numbering means a police officer in Greece or Germany can read your Cyprus card without a translation. That was the whole point of the EU harmonising the format.

For a broader look at everything the licence covers, the complete Cyprus driving licence guide is a good place to start.

What do fields 4a, 4b, and 4c show about issue and expiry?

These three fields sit close together on the card, and they are easy to mix up. Here is what each one tells you.

Field 4a is the date the current card was issued. If you renewed your licence last year, this will show last year's date. It is not the date you first passed your test. That original date is captured separately under field 10 for each category.

Field 4b is the expiry date of the card. Once this date passes, the card is no longer valid as a driving document. You need to renew before it expires. For category B (standard car) licences, Cyprus generally sets a validity of 15 years for holders under 65. Once you pass 65, shorter renewal periods may apply. Always check the current rules with the Department of Road Transport, as these details can change.

Field 4c names the issuing authority. On a Cyprus licence, this is always the Department of Road Transport, written as ΤΟΜ in Greek. This field confirms the card is a genuine government document. The Department operates under the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works.

Knowing your expiry date is practical. Many insurers will not renew a policy on an expired licence. Car hire companies will turn you away at the desk. If you are close to the date in field 4b, check whether it is time to renew.

Foreign residents who hold licences from other EU countries should also read up on exchanging an EU driving licence in Cyprus before their original licence expires.

How do you read the vehicle categories in fields 9, 10, and 11?

Field 9 lists the categories of vehicle you are entitled to drive. Each category has a code. Cyprus uses the same codes as the rest of the EU. Common ones include:

• AM - Mopeds and light quadricycles
• A1 - Light motorcycles up to a certain engine size
• A2 - Medium motorcycles
• A - All motorcycles, including large ones
• B - Standard cars and light vans
• BE - Car with a trailer above a certain weight limit

There are also heavier categories such as C, D, and their subcategories, which cover trucks and buses. Most private drivers in Cyprus hold at least category B.

Field 10 sits next to each category listed in field 9. It shows the date that category was first issued to you. This is important. If you passed your test in 2010 and renewed the card in 2022, field 4a shows 2022 but field 10 for category B shows 2010. That earlier date proves your actual experience level.

Field 11 shows the expiry for that specific category, where one applies. Some categories have time-limited entitlements tied to medical checks. Others, like a standard B category, run to the card expiry shown in field 4b.

For a detailed breakdown of what each category covers and how to upgrade, the article on Cyprus driving licence categories explains the full picture.

What should you do if you lose your licence or forget your number?

Losing your card is more common than people admit. Here is what to do.

First, report the loss or theft to the police. You will need a police report reference number. This protects you if someone tries to misuse the card.

Second, apply for a duplicate at the Department of Road Transport (TOM). You will fill in the relevant form and pay the applicable fee. Check current fees with the Department of Road Transport, as they are subject to change. The replacement card will carry the same licence number as the original. Your entitlements stay the same. Nothing is reset.

If you simply need the number for an insurance form or an online application, try these options before going to TOM in person:

• Check any old insurance documents. Insurers print your licence number on the policy schedule.
• Look at a previous vehicle hire agreement. Rental companies record it when you collect the car.
• Contact TOM directly with your ID. They can confirm your number on record.

One thing to avoid: do not give a wrong number on an insurance form just to complete it quickly. An error can void a claim later.

Foreign residents who want to understand their options more broadly should read how to get a Cyprus driving licence as a foreigner.

How does the Cyprus driving licence differ from other European licences?

In terms of format, it does not differ much at all. That is the point of the EU directive. The credit-card size, the numbered fields, and the category codes are the same across every member state. An officer in any EU country can read a Cyprus card without confusion.

What marks a Cyprus card as Cypriot is the "CY" country code on the front. Beyond that, the card may use Greek script alongside English for some fields, which reflects the official language of the Republic of Cyprus. The issuing authority field will show ΤΟΜ in Greek.

Cyprus is also a signatory to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. This matters if you drive outside the EU. Countries that have signed the Vienna Convention - and there are many, including states across Asia, Africa, and the Americas - are required to recognise a valid Cyprus licence. You do not need an international driving permit in most of those countries, though it is wise to carry one for longer trips as a backup.

The card also contains a machine-readable zone, sometimes called an MRZ. Some versions include a chip or barcode. These store the same data as the printed fields. Border control and rental desks can scan them to verify the card quickly.

UK residents in Cyprus face a slightly different situation since Brexit changed the rules for UK licences. The article on UK driving licence in Cyprus after Brexit sets out what applies now.

One practical difference worth noting: Cyprus drives on the left, as the UK does. This is unusual in continental Europe. It does not affect the licence card itself, but it is a fact that shapes driving culture on the island.

The Cyprus driving licence card carries more information than most people ever look at. But now you know where every field is and what it means. If you ever need to locate your number quickly, go straight to field 5. If you need to prove your experience in a given category, point to field 10. The card is a complete record of your driving history in one small piece of plastic. Keep it valid, keep it safe, and know how to read it.