10.12.2025
If you’re an expat living in Greece, or planning to buy a second home and keep a car here, there’s one piece of yearly bureaucracy you’ll definitely come across: the road tax in Greece, or teli kykloforias. While it may sound intimidating at first, the idea is straightforward: every vehicle with Greek licence plates must pay an annual fee to be legally on the road. Think of it as Greece’s way of funding road infrastructure and keeping track of active vehicles. And as we head toward 2026, Greece’s tax authority (AADE) has released new clarifications to make the rules easier to understand… or at least a bit clearer than before! You can read our full guide about cars in Greece here. Let’s break it down simply.
Road tax is an annual fee every owner of a Greek-registered vehicle must pay before the end of the year. Does your car or motorcycle have Greek plates? You pay. If it’s foreign-registered? Different rules apply (more on that below). The amount you owe depends on when your vehicle was first registered and its environmental footprint:
Your fee is based on engine size (cubic capacity/cc). More cc → higher tax.
The fee is based on CO₂ emissions. Cleaner cars pay less; very low-emission or electric cars may pay nothing at all. This hasn’t changed for 2026—AADE confirmed that road tax levels stay the same as the 2025 schedule. Electric and ultra-low-emission vehicles remain exempt or enjoy significantly reduced fees.
The deadline to pay your road tax in Greece for 2026 is the 31st of December 2025. There’s no official extension at the moment, and AADE is known for being strict with these deadlines, especially now that everything is digital. If you miss the deadline, penalties increase quickly:
If you pay in January: +25%
If you pay in February: +50%
If you pay after the 1st of March: 100%
That means a €240 road tax can suddenly turn into €480… so it’s worth paying on time.
Owners can log into myCAR or the myAADE platform using their Taxisnet codes. Your notice includes a QR code, so you can pay via your banking app without entering any information. If Greek portals feel overwhelming, don’t worry, most expats simply ask their accountant to handle it. It takes them only a few minutes.
If you leave your car at your holiday home for long periods, Greece allows you to declare it “immobilised” (ακινησία) through myCAR. When your vehicle is declared off the road: - you don’t owe road tax- the vehicle cannot be moved- and AADE cross-checks digitally to make sure you’re following the rules. From 2025 onward, AADE is increasingly strict: vehicles with unpaid tax, no insurance or overdue KTEO (Vehicle Technical Inspection Center) inspections are flagged automatically, and fines can reach €2,000.
AADE recently issued an updated FAQ guide, answering the issues that confuse owners most, especially foreign ones.
Selling or buying a vehicle
If you sell your car, you owe the tax for the year of the sale. If the paperwork is submitted late in the year and the sale finalises in the next year? You also owe the tax for the transfer year.
Co-ownership
Only one co-owner pays, but if the tax remains unpaid? All co-owners are equally liable for the full amount.
New licence plate number
If your plate number changes (common after re-registration), you don’t pay again. The AADE system links old and new numbers automatically.
Proportional (monthly) tax
From 1 April each year, you can activate your car for a chosen number of months and pay only for that period. If you forget to immobilise it once the period expires, AADE will automatically immobilise it.
This is where many expats get confused. A foreign-registered vehicle can stay in Greece for up to 6 months within a 12-month period. After that, it must leave the country or be officially imported and re-registered. If you keep using a foreign car illegally, penalties can be extremely high. So, if you plan to live in Greece long-term, re-registering your car is usually the safest path. For expats, road tax in Greece may feel like one more Greek bureaucracy ritual, but it’s a simple one once you know the basics. Taking that into account, if your car has Greek plates, check your 2026 notice on myCAR, pay before December 31, and keep your car properly registered or immobilised to avoid unpleasant surprises.
19.03.2026
Spanning over 1700 km across the southern peninsula and connecting 12 major hiking routes, the Peloponnese Trails network is set to become the Largest Certified Hiking Trail Network in Greece, weaving together landscapes, heritage, and storytelling in a way that is both immersive and sustainable.
18.03.2026
Basements are a familiar feature of many homes across Greece. Traditionally used for storage, parking, or utility areas, these spaces are increasingly being reimagined—sometimes as guest rooms, independent apartments, or even stylish leisure areas. For anyone exploring property in Greece, it’s useful to understand how basements are defined and when they can legally function as living spaces. The rules are quite specific, but once explained clearly, they follow a logical structure.
16.03.2026
Crete and Syros have been named among the most worthwhile Greek island destinations for 2026, according to the international tourism platform Travel And Tour World, which recently published a list highlighting Greek islands that offer visitors a strong balance between quality and price.
The globally recognized tourism publication, widely read by travel professionals, tourism organizations, and travelers around the world, compiled the ranking based on research and travel data. The list focuses on destinations that combine authentic experiences, cultural richness, and natural beauty with relatively accessible prices.
13.03.2026
Greece is preparing to introduce a sweeping reform in the way property ownership and usage are recorded. Through the creation of the Μητρώο Ιδιοκτησίας και Διαχείρισης Ακινήτων (ΜΙΔΑ) — translated as the Property Ownership and Management Registry — authorities aim to create a comprehensive digital record of every property in the country.
The project is being developed by the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (Ανεξάρτητη Αρχή Δημοσίων Εσόδων - ΑΑΔΕ), in cooperation with the Ministry of National Economy and Finance. Its goal is to consolidate fragmented real estate information into a single platform and provide a clearer picture of property ownership and use across the country.
The new registry also featured prominently in discussions at the Property Owners’ Conference organised by the Panhellenic Federation of Property Owners (ΠΟΜΙΔΑ). The event brought together representatives of the government, local authorities, the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (ΑΑΔΕ), the Hellenic Cadastre, and property owners from across the country.
During the conference, the new registry was presented as one of the most significant reforms in the Greek real estate sector in recent years. Speaking at the event, Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, described the initiative as “the most systematic recording of the use of private real estate ever carried out in the country.” According to the minister, the registry will give the state a comprehensive digital overview of the country’s property stock and the way the real estate market actually functions.
03.03.2026
Kalamata is quietly stepping into a new chapter.
In 2026, Kalamata International Airport “Captain Vassilis Constantakopoulos” will connect the Peloponnese to 22 international destinations through 31 direct routes, significantly strengthening the region’s ties with key European markets. For a city long appreciated for its olive groves, relaxed pace, and coastal living, this expanded network signals something bigger: accessibility is no longer a seasonal privilege — it’s becoming a structural advantage.
The announcement follows a record year for inbound traffic. In 2025, the airport welcomed 169,730 international passengers, marking a 25.6 percent increase compared to 2023. This steady rise reflects consistent demand from core European source markets and growing confidence in Kalamata as a destination that delivers both lifestyle and substance.
27.02.2026
Five Greek beaches located in Crete, Corfu, and Rhodes have earned prestigious distinctions at the Tripadvisor 2026 Travellers’ Choice Awards, ranking among the best beaches in Europe and the world. Renowned for their crystal-clear waters, unique landscapes, and exceptional natural beauty, these destinations continue to strengthen Greece’s global reputation as a premier seaside escape.
The TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards are based on millions of reviews and ratings submitted by travelers worldwide over 12 months. The awards highlight travelers’ favorite destinations, hotels, restaurants, and experiences, offering valuable insights for those planning their next getaway.
30.01.2026
Crete has significantly strengthened its position as one of the most attractive real estate destinations in Greece. For the first time, the island’s electricity demand is being fully covered by high-capacity grid interconnections with mainland Greece, combined with locally produced renewable energy sources (RES), as announced in late 2025 by the Greek Independent Electricity Transmission Operator (ADMIE). This energy achievement is a structural upgrade that directly impacts property value, investment security, and long-term growth prospects.
23.01.2026
Messinia, Greece, is attracting growing international attention after being included in The New York Times’ respected list of the 52 Best Places to Go in 2026. Ranked 38th worldwide, Messinia is the only Greek region featured, praised for its natural beauty, cultural depth, and authentic Mediterranean character.
Located in the southwestern Peloponnese, Messinia offers a rare combination of unspoiled coastline, fertile landscapes, and deep historical roots—qualities that increasingly appeal to travellers and long-term visitors seeking a genuine Greek experience.
