Serious understaffing problems, increased workload and many months of delays in serving citizens make up the picture that prevails in the Department of Road Transport (TOM), as it became clear during today's session of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport. Indicative of the situation is the wait of more than six months for practical driving tests in Nicosia, while 33% of the Department's audit positions remain vacant.
The magnitude of the problem is also reflected in the report of the Minister of Transport, Evi Tsolaki, according to which the understaffing in the Ministry reaches 30%, affecting all levels of the service hierarchy.
Revealing about the pressure on the TOM are the data submitted before the Committee by the director of the Department, Giorgos Loukas, comparing the volume of work between 2015 and 2025.
Specifically, the active vehicle fleet in Cyprus increased from 799,000 in 2015 to 1,092,000 in 2025. The increase in vehicle registrations was even greater, as new vehicle registrations more than doubled, from 26,000 annually to 53,000, while used registrations increased from 12,000 to 30,000.
A significant increase was also recorded in the procedures for issuing driving licenses, which from 42,000 in 2015 to 71,000 in 2025. Accordingly, student permits increased from 28,000 to 34,000, student permit exams from 14,000 to 20,000 and practical exams from 23,000 to 26,000. Over the same period, conversions of driving licences from other Member States or third countries increased from 2,400 to 6,000.
Waiting more than six months for a driving test
The effects of increased workload and understaffing are reflected in the waiting times for practical driving tests. According to Mr. Loukas, in Nicosia the wait exceeds six months, while in Limassol and Larnaca it amounts to five and a half months. In Paphos, candidate drivers need to wait four months and in Famagusta about three and a half months.
18 of the 44 technician positions are vacant
The picture in terms of staffing is also particularly problematic, with the director of the TOM citing specific data on the organic positions of 2026. As he mentioned, out of the 44 organic technical positions, 18 remain vacant, a percentage that exceeds 40%. At the same time, 11 people serve in another category of officer positions (scientific part of the Department), one of whom is on unpaid leave until 2030.
At the same time, only three mechanical engineers serve in the entire Department of Road Transport. At the same time, one in three audit positions remains vacant, with the percentage of vacancies amounting to 33%.
Measures on the table to deal with understaffing
Acknowledging the difficulties created by staff shortages, the Minister of Transport stated that the current situation affects the smooth operation of the TOM.
He noted, however, that there is good cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, with the aim of addressing issues related to salary scales.
At the same time, as he mentioned, a proposal for the creation of a professional structure in the Department of Road Transport is being examined, in the context of efforts to address the long-standing problems of staffing and its operation.
