| Driving in Crete Tips Greek Highway Code Road Tax Sima MOT / KTEO / IKTEO Drivers Licence for Non Greeks |
| Copyright 2004-2012 Carol Palioudaki. Driving in Crete & Greece. www.livingincrete.net |
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| Driving in Crete & Greece |
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Car & Driver Documents For Driving in Greece
You should always carry your drivers licence, car insurance certificate and
registration documents with you in the car. If you get stopped by the police and you
do not have these with you, you can be fined.
The Greek Highway Code and Fines
Police road blocks are fairly common, especially on certain stretches of the National
Road, and the ‘traffic’ police can stop any car they choose, without reason.
It is compulsory to wear seat belts and, if riding a motorcycle, a helmet.
The fact that many locals take little notice of this law does not mean that they don’t get
fined (while putting their lives at risk) for not following the rules if they get stopped by
the police. Be warned! Fines are steep - 700 euros. That's a whole month's wages in
Crete based on a low-average income.
There are speed traps and regular breathalyzing (known locally as the ‘alko test’) on the
main roads, with heavy fines and penalty points on your licence for driving offences. If
you are caught driving while heavily under the influence of alcohol you can be arrested
on the spot, and subsequently lose your licence.
Tips for Driving in Crete and Greece
For the uninitiated, driving in Crete can be alarming. The hot Mediterranean
temperament seems to take over from the general laid back attitude when Greeks get
behind the wheel of a car or motorbike. However once you understand the ‘unofficial
Highway Code you may soon be driving like the best of them!
Here are as few tips to help you on your way.
On the National Road if traffic is trying to overtake, pull over a little onto the hard
shoulder so that there is room to pass. Note that the hard shoulder here is a cross
between an inside lane and a hard shoulder in the UK. It is narrow or even non existant
on some stretches of the road and wider in others. If you don’t pull over you will be
flashed at and honked from behind, so you’ll soon get the picture.
Don’t be surprised if the driver in front just stops in the middle of the road without
warning. This can be in the town, where they will double or even triple park, or on a
village road where they may just stop to say hello to a passing friend, blocking the
traffic in the mean time. Relax! This is Crete.
Flashing the headlights is used as a warning by Greek drivers. Don’t assume that
someone is letting you in, it can have the opposite meaning, i.e. ‘watch out I’m coming
through’. Just to confuse you even more drivers DO sometimes flash to let you in!
Indicators are only used about 50% of the time. Be wary at road junctions as you are
never sure which car is going where.
At traffic lights many drivers will speed through amber and (just) red lights, so even
when your light is green watch out for on-coming traffic.
Road Tax / Tax Disc Σήμα (Sima) / Τέλη Κυκλοφορίας
Road tax in Greece is payable yearly, with a December 31 deadline for the following
year. You should receive a notice through the post (or via your accountant if non-
resident for tax purposes) for your tax disc. Take this to any bank or post office to pay
and receive your disc.
If you do not receive a notice check with your local tax office before the 31st December
deadline. There are fines for late payment.
M.O.T (KTEO)
The technical control of the different vehicle categories in Greece is now performed by
both public and private VTCCs (Vehicle Technical Control Centers) or KTEO and IKTEO
centres.
Cars more than 4 years old require a KTEO (Vehicle Technical Control) certificate, similar
to an M.O.T, which must be renewed every 2 years. The test can be carried out at KTEO
test centres run by the Ministry of Transport – there is one in each prefecture – or at
any private test centre, IKTEO (Idiotiko KTEO), of which there are many.
The cost of the KTEO control is approximately 50 Euros, plus the cost of any work that
your vehicle requires. Any work which needs to be carried out can be done at a garage
of your choice, but must be completed and the vehicle returned for the test, within 20
days.
Further information on KTEO at the Greek Ministry of Transport Website in English
List of Government KTEO (VTC) Centres in Greece here
Driving Licence
If you are a holder of a valid driving license from one European Union country and are
resident in another, you are no longer required to exchange it if your normal residence
is in a Member State other than that which issued your licence. But you may ask to
exchange it if you wish.
If you are renewing a driving licence you must do it in the country where you normally
reside.
Reference Europa.eu
For Converting or Renewing a valid driving licence issued by a EU Member State into the
corresponding Greek licence see here
Converting a valid driving licence from USA Canada Australia Japan South Africa and
South Korea into the corresponding Greek licence see here
© Carol Palioudakis From the book "Living in Crete. A Guide to Living, Working, Retiring
& Buying Property in Crete" with updates.
www.livingincrete.net
______________________________________________________________________
Related Page: Importing a Car into Greece
You should always carry your drivers licence, car insurance certificate and
registration documents with you in the car. If you get stopped by the police and you
do not have these with you, you can be fined.
The Greek Highway Code and Fines
Police road blocks are fairly common, especially on certain stretches of the National
Road, and the ‘traffic’ police can stop any car they choose, without reason.
It is compulsory to wear seat belts and, if riding a motorcycle, a helmet.
The fact that many locals take little notice of this law does not mean that they don’t get
fined (while putting their lives at risk) for not following the rules if they get stopped by
the police. Be warned! Fines are steep - 700 euros. That's a whole month's wages in
Crete based on a low-average income.
There are speed traps and regular breathalyzing (known locally as the ‘alko test’) on the
main roads, with heavy fines and penalty points on your licence for driving offences. If
you are caught driving while heavily under the influence of alcohol you can be arrested
on the spot, and subsequently lose your licence.
Tips for Driving in Crete and Greece
For the uninitiated, driving in Crete can be alarming. The hot Mediterranean
temperament seems to take over from the general laid back attitude when Greeks get
behind the wheel of a car or motorbike. However once you understand the ‘unofficial
Highway Code you may soon be driving like the best of them!
Here are as few tips to help you on your way.
On the National Road if traffic is trying to overtake, pull over a little onto the hard
shoulder so that there is room to pass. Note that the hard shoulder here is a cross
between an inside lane and a hard shoulder in the UK. It is narrow or even non existant
on some stretches of the road and wider in others. If you don’t pull over you will be
flashed at and honked from behind, so you’ll soon get the picture.
Don’t be surprised if the driver in front just stops in the middle of the road without
warning. This can be in the town, where they will double or even triple park, or on a
village road where they may just stop to say hello to a passing friend, blocking the
traffic in the mean time. Relax! This is Crete.
Flashing the headlights is used as a warning by Greek drivers. Don’t assume that
someone is letting you in, it can have the opposite meaning, i.e. ‘watch out I’m coming
through’. Just to confuse you even more drivers DO sometimes flash to let you in!
Indicators are only used about 50% of the time. Be wary at road junctions as you are
never sure which car is going where.
At traffic lights many drivers will speed through amber and (just) red lights, so even
when your light is green watch out for on-coming traffic.
Road Tax / Tax Disc Σήμα (Sima) / Τέλη Κυκλοφορίας
Road tax in Greece is payable yearly, with a December 31 deadline for the following
year. You should receive a notice through the post (or via your accountant if non-
resident for tax purposes) for your tax disc. Take this to any bank or post office to pay
and receive your disc.
If you do not receive a notice check with your local tax office before the 31st December
deadline. There are fines for late payment.
M.O.T (KTEO)
The technical control of the different vehicle categories in Greece is now performed by
both public and private VTCCs (Vehicle Technical Control Centers) or KTEO and IKTEO
centres.
Cars more than 4 years old require a KTEO (Vehicle Technical Control) certificate, similar
to an M.O.T, which must be renewed every 2 years. The test can be carried out at KTEO
test centres run by the Ministry of Transport – there is one in each prefecture – or at
any private test centre, IKTEO (Idiotiko KTEO), of which there are many.
The cost of the KTEO control is approximately 50 Euros, plus the cost of any work that
your vehicle requires. Any work which needs to be carried out can be done at a garage
of your choice, but must be completed and the vehicle returned for the test, within 20
days.
Further information on KTEO at the Greek Ministry of Transport Website in English
List of Government KTEO (VTC) Centres in Greece here
Driving Licence
If you are a holder of a valid driving license from one European Union country and are
resident in another, you are no longer required to exchange it if your normal residence
is in a Member State other than that which issued your licence. But you may ask to
exchange it if you wish.
If you are renewing a driving licence you must do it in the country where you normally
reside.
Reference Europa.eu
For Converting or Renewing a valid driving licence issued by a EU Member State into the
corresponding Greek licence see here
Converting a valid driving licence from USA Canada Australia Japan South Africa and
South Korea into the corresponding Greek licence see here
© Carol Palioudakis From the book "Living in Crete. A Guide to Living, Working, Retiring
& Buying Property in Crete" with updates.
www.livingincrete.net
______________________________________________________________________
Related Page: Importing a Car into Greece
Index > Settling In > Driving in Crete
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