Importing a car or buying a car in Greece

What is the process of importing a car in Greece?

In Greece, it's possible to temporarily import your car for up to six months. After that, you have three options:

• If you've imported the car, you can only use it once it has been issued with Greek plates.
• You can export the car out of Greece.
• You can leave the car with customs in a sealed condition for a maximum of 24 months. After that, you'll need proof that you haven't been in Greece for the past 12 months to use the car for another six months.

To temporarily import a car into Greece, the owner must have all registration and ownership documents readily available to present to authorities upon request. Additionally, documentation indicating when the car entered Greece must be provided. It is permissible for the owner's partner or children to drive the car with the appropriate license and insurance.

Read also How to drive in Greece

Required documents

The documents required to import your car to Greece are as follows:

• An original invoice or another document proving your ownership of the vehicle
• An original registration certificate
• A certificate of conformity, this a document from the manufacturer that the vehicle ticks all the boxes for EU-type approval requirements.
• Declaration of Vehicle's Arrival (DVA)

Further information about vehicle taxation and customs can be found in this AADE.gr document.

Procedure for importing a vehicle into Greece

To import a vehicle into Greece:

1. The first step is to submit a D.V.A (Declaration of Vehicle Arrival) to Greek customs authorities.
2. A special declaration or a customs clearance statement must be submitted depending on whether the vehicle is imported from an EU country or a non-EU state. A special declaration allowing for assessment and payment of taxes must be submitted for vehicles from EU countries by the 15th of the following month. For vehicles from non-EU countries, a customs clearance statement about the assessment and payment of taxes is required. During the customs clearing process, import duties and the fee for registration tax can be paid. Alternatively, the registration tax can be paid within 15 days while submitting the special declaration.
3. The duties and taxes imposed on imported vehicles vary depending on whether the vehicle is new or second-hand and whether it is from an EU or non-EU country. For new EU vehicles, duties include VAT, registration tax, and a "luxury tax" for private passenger cars with a standard price of €20,000 or more. For second-hand EU vehicles, registration tax and "luxury tax" are imposed if the car's standard price is €20,000 or more. For non-EU vehicles, import duty, VAT, registration tax, and "luxury tax" must be paid.
4. Once the duties and taxes are paid, a registration certificate is issued. The certificate can be collected from the regional branch of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport & Networks.
5. Registration of the used vehicle is the same as for a new vehicle, apart from a few additional documents that are required. The vehicle registration fee is 75.00 euros for a passenger vehicle and 9.00 euros for a motorcycle. See the additional details on the Greek government website.

Good to know:

Certain individuals, such as students pursuing further education, Greek state employees with fixed-term contracts, teaching staff in higher education with fixed-term contracts, and diplomatic and consular officers and employees, are exempted from paying import duties and taxes on private vehicles.

Read also Traveling around Greece

Buying a car in Greece

The second-hand car market in Greece is quite substantial due to a combination of factors such as the economic crisis, the low purchasing power of Greeks, and high taxes, which make buying a used car more attractive.

Additionally, since Greece hasn't produced any vehicles since the early 1980s, there is a scarcity of affordable new cars. This leaves two options for those in need of a car: import a car as described in the previous section or purchase a car locally in Greece.

In terms of running costs, Greece has the cheapest average monthly cost to run a car in the EU. This includes fuel, taxation, insurance, repairs, and leasing costs which amount to €547 for petrol cars and €534 for diesel cars.

Where to find a car in Greece?

Buying a car from a dealership in Greece is a traditional option that is recommended to those who have a friend or someone who speaks Greek fluently, as it can be easy to miss important details without proper communication. It is also essential to understand the documents you are signing and have all the required documents with you, including a residence permit if you are a non-EU national. Some dealerships may request payment in cash, so it is best to ask beforehand. After payment, make sure to ask for an invoice or receipt.

For those who prefer to buy used cars, Greece has several websites that advertise them. Although most websites are in Greek, some have an option to switch to English, making it easier to navigate. Before committing to purchasing the vehicle, buyers can take it to a mechanic to have it checked over for peace of mind, although this incurs a fee.

What documents are required to buy a car in Greece?

When buying a second-hand car in Greece, the necessary documents to allow the transfer of ownership, along with registration, are required. These include:

• proof of identity of the seller and the buyer,
• a photocopy of the KTEO document (DTE) equivalent to an MOT from the seller,
• TIN (tax number) from the buyer,
• a receipt from the seller showing that the invoice has been paid,
• an application document requesting the transfer and registration of the car ownership,
• proof of a residence permit is also required if the buyer is a foreign national,
• the certificate of non-arrears of circulation tax from the tax office (ΔΟΥ) for the time the car was owned by the seller should also be provided.

These documents should be deposited by the seller at the KEP (ΚΕΠ), Citizen's Service Center, and the buyer will be contacted when the documents are ready to collect.

It is worth noting that car insurance should be purchased before the registration of the vehicle in Greece.

Prices for new and second-hand cars in Greece

For second-hand cars in Greece, you can find a variety of prices. For example, a common car in Greece, the Toyota Corolla (2006), used model prices range from 5,000-6,700 euros depending on the website. Further, for a used SUV, you can expect prices ranging from 8,000 to 13,000 euros.

According to Focus2move, March 2023 was the ninth consecutive month the Greek Car market has grown, with a 48.7% increase in registrations (including new and second-hand cars). Manufacturers Volkswagen and Opel have seen large increases in sales. If you want to buy a new Volkswagen Polo model in Greece, you can expect to pay 21,000-23,000 euros. For a similar model, the Opel Corsa prices start at 19,900 euros for the basic model and 24,900 for the sport package.

Once you have purchased your new car, if it is not already registered, you must obtain a registration certificate as well as plates. To complete this process, you must submit several required documents to the Directorate for Transport and Communications of the Regional Units of Greece (your local Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport), such as:

• Two vehicle Registration Certificates (A&B) from the Greek Customs Authorities
• Certificate of conformity
• Clear photocopy of identity card/residence permit card or document
• Blank document or receipt showing deposit or payment of the registration fee. The fees are 75 euros for a passenger car and 9 euros for a motorcycle (new or used ). In addition, the name of the applicant and the chassis number must be indicated.