Importing a car into Greece

So…you are mad enough or brave enough to want to drive in Greece? I’m joking…many people do and love it. However, there seems to be no other subject in terms of moving to Greece that receives so many contradictory reports and arouses so much irritation than that of importing your own car into Greece on a permanent basis.

Stories seem to veer from the utterly problem free to those where owners have had to pay excessive sums of money to buy that beloved car its permanent residence status alongside them!

There have been a number changes in the regulations in Greece over the past few years, mainly to conform with EU rulings, so it is strongly recommended that you consult the nearest Greek Consulate for full information prior to your departure for Greece.

From what I have been told by numerous people who have moved to Greece, it can be both an expensive and a complicated process and you really do need to have all the facts at your fingertips before rather than after the event. What I have also been told is that it can be something of a ‘moveable feast’, with local authorities making up the rules as they go along – having the facts at your fingertips will mean that you know your rights and thus help you to take control of the situation.

One of the irritants is that Greece evidently charges a ‘registration tax’ on vehicles imported for longer than six months although officially there is no import tax within the EU. This can be high, even on older second hand models. It is calculated on a percentage of the value of a new car, based on its make, model, age and mileage and it appears to be open to interpretation by the customs officer in charge.

There have been many complaints about this charge; ‘a rose by any other name’ as the saying goes - there are those that claim that this is in effect nothing less than an import tax.

I have to tell you a funny story here. On a website that I looked at (that shall remain nameless), while discussing this very subject of registration tax, they – in what I must assume to be a genuine spelling error – refer to this as a ‘Greed’ registration tax as opposed to a Greek one! Say no more…

What does become evident is that a great amount of patience may be needed, that the process can be very time consuming and that different interpretations of the law seem to apply depending on where you have this done. Frankly, this may just be one of those times that seeking local help with all the paperwork and the bureaucracy may be a good way to go – I believe the forms to be filled in, all in Greek of course, are enough to make your hair curl.

What many people seem to do is to keep their UK car for the first 6 months and, once they are completely sure they are going to make the move to Greece permanent, they buy a car there. Remember that in Greece the driver sits on the left hand side of the car …’when in Rome’ and all that…it may be easier for you to have a car designed for the Greek roads. Of course it may be that you have a precious old vintage car that you would rather die than sell…

So next week I am going to discuss the process…

Until then, best wishes, take care and have fun!

Carol
http://www.GreeceBuyingGuide.com