The crackdown concerns drivers of vehicles with EU plates, such as German, Bulgarian or Cypriot plates, as well as cars from non-EU countries, including the UK, the US, Switzerland and Turkey. The issue is not ordinary tourism. It mainly concerns vehicles being used in Greece for longer periods without being properly declared to customs or cleared under Greek rules.

Greek authorities say some drivers use foreign plates to avoid registration tax, Greek road tax and other costs. Until now, checks were often limited. That is changing. Customs and tax inspections have reportedly more than tripled, using digital tools, toll-road data and customs records to identify vehicles that may have remained in Greece beyond the permitted period.

The penalties: Cars and bikes

A new Finance Ministry bill amending Greece’s National Customs Code introduces much heavier fines. For EU-registered passenger cars that have not gone through the required customs procedures, penalties can reach €10,000, depending on engine size. Vehicles may also be immobilised on the spot if the authorities believe the money owed to the state is not secured.

For passenger cars from EU countries, the proposed one-off fines are €2,500 for vehicles up to 1,400 cc, €3,000 for 1,401 to 1,600 cc, €5,000 for 1,601 to 2,000 cc, €8,000 for 2,001 to 3,000 cc and €10,000 for cars above 3,001 cc. Fines also apply to motorcycles, electric vehicles, trucks and commercial vehicles.

There is a lower-penalty route for people who come forward before they are caught. If a vehicle owner voluntarily goes to customs to regularise the vehicle, they may avoid the large one-off fine and instead pay a daily late fee. For passenger cars, this ranges from €10 to €50 per day, depending on engine size. However, the owner must be able to prove when the vehicle entered Greece. Without proof, a flat fine of €1,500 may apply.

The grey areas & rules

The new rules also cover several common grey areas. Failure to submit a vehicle arrival declaration can lead to a €2,000 fine per vehicle. Driving after the permitted deadline can bring a €1,500 fine. Lending, leasing or transferring a vehicle that is in Greece under temporary import rules may also lead to penalties. If someone else drives the vehicle while the entitled owner is in Greece, the fine can be €700. If the entitled owner is not in the country, the vehicle may be treated as being outside the permitted regime, which can trigger higher penalties.

Non-EU vehicles face a stricter risk. Cars from the UK, the US, Switzerland, Turkey and other non-EU countries may be treated more severely if they are used in Greece without payment of the required customs duties and VAT. In some cases, this may be treated as smuggling rather than a simple customs offence.

Vehicles can also be temporarily seized. If the authorities believe the state may not be able to collect the sums owed, the car can be immobilised and moved to an AADE facility, the Independent Authority for Public Revenue, or to a private car park. The holder pays the storage costs. If the vehicle is not collected within three months after the final assessment, it may become state property.

The crackdown has already begun. A recent nationwide operation by Greece’s Directorate for Vehicle and Fleet Control led to the immobilisation of 229 luxury vehicles with foreign plates, including supercars and SUVs, that were allegedly being driven without proper customs clearance.

Advice for expats & tourists

For tourists, the key point is simple: make sure you can prove the car is in Greece temporarily. Keep ferry tickets, border-entry documents, rental papers, insurance documents and proof of residence abroad.

For expats, retirees, digital nomads, second-home owners and anyone spending long periods in Greece, the risk is higher. Foreign plates do not automatically mean a vehicle can be used indefinitely. Anyone living mainly in Greece, or keeping a foreign-plated vehicle in the country for an extended period, should check whether the car must be declared, customs-cleared or registered locally.

The safest step is to speak to a customs office or qualified tax adviser before an inspection takes place. Coming forward voluntarily may reduce the fine. Waiting until the vehicle is detected could mean a much heavier penalty, seizure and, in serious cases, criminal consequences.