Driving advice for every country in Europe
Find up-to-date driving laws and advice for any country in Europe before you visit, including any accessories you may need to purchase. Don't forget the RAC provides European breakdown cover while you're driving in Europe.
Driving in Greece

Essentials
Driving licence
National driving licences conforming with the model in Annex 9 of the 1949 Convention or in Annex 6 of the 1968 Convention or with the European Communities’ model are accepted.
Visitors may ride mopeds or motorcycles of any cylinder capacity or drive private cars in Greece if they have reached the minimum age required in their country of residence. A foreign driving licence does not entitle the holder to drive in Greece until the age of 18yrs old.
International Driving Permits (1949 or 1968) are recognised.
Going away? Remember to take RAC Travel Insurance with you.
If you need breakdown cover abroad for a short time, why not try our Single Trip European Breakdown Cover, starting from just £6.
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The RAC provide you with up to £1,250 worth of roadside assistance in Europe, starting from just £6^ per day.
Important documents
When driving in Greece the following documents should be carried:
- Full, valid driving licence*
- Proof of insurance/green card (third party or above)
- Proof of ID (passport)
- Proof of ownership (V5C certificate)
While driving in Greece you are required by law to carry the following items. Hefty on-the-spot fines can be issued for failing to carry specific items:
- Headlamp beam deflectors (depending on your car, you will either need deflector stickers or have to adjust the beam manually)
- Vehicles registered in Greece or abroad must carry a warning triangle
- Fire extinguisher/first aid kit are compulsory on board private vehicle
- Motorcyclists: riders and all passengers of motorcycles must wear crash helmets
Rules of the road & regulations
Rules of the road
Overtaking & passing
Drive on the right, overtake on the left.
Overtaking is prohibited when approaching an unguarded level crossing and if the vehicle has stopped for safety reasons.
Priority
Outside towns, traffic moving along a main road has priority at intersections. In towns, vehicles coming from the right have priority. Vehicles approaching roundabouts must give way to vehicles coming from the right.
Warning of approach
All motor vehicles must be fitted with an audible warning device with a low pitched, regular tone. Multi-toned sirens, hooters and whistles are strictly prohibited.
The horn must not be used in towns, unless it is the only means of avoiding an accident.
Towing
Inventories are not required unless the trailer contains special equipment.
Maximum dimensions:
Height: 4 metres
Width: 2.55 metres
Overall length: 18 metres (vehicle + trailer)
Seat belts
It is compulsory to wear seat belts on all seats equipped with a belt. If a visitor is exempted from wearing the belt on medical grounds, he must carry the medical certificate of exemption accompanied by a translation into Greek.
Travelling with children
Children under 3 years must be placed in a suitable child restraint. Approved child restraints are those conforming with standard ECE R44/03 (or later).
Children between 3 and 11 years, measuring less than 1.35m must be seated in an appropriate child restraint for their size.
From the age of 12, children measuring over 1.35m can wear an adult seat belt.
Placing a rear-facing child restraint in the front passenger seat is allowed only on condition that the passenger airbag is deactivated.
Speed limits
Ordinary Roads | Motorways | Built-up Areas | |
---|---|---|---|
Moped | 40 km/h | - | 40 km/h |
Motorcycle | 70 km/h | 90 km/h | 40 km/h |
Car | 90/110 km/h | 130 km/h* | 50 km/h |
Car with Caravan or Trailer | 80 km/h | 80 km/h | 50 km/h |
Lorry up to 3.5t | 80 km/h | 90 km/h | 40 km/h |
Lorry over to 3.5t | 80 km/h | 80 km/h | 40 km/h |
Lorry carrying dangerous goods | 50 km/h | 50 km/h | 40 km/h |
* Maximum speed limit of 130km/h allowed on motorways except when a road sign indicates a reduced speed limit
Penalties
On-the-spot fines
The Greek police is authorised to impose fines in cases of violation of traffic regulations, but fines may not be collected on the spot by the police. Motorists must pay the fines within 10 days otherwise legal proceedings will be started.
Confiscation of vehicles
Confiscation of vehicles takes place only in the case of very serious offences and only after a court of law has issued such a decision.
Parking
Parking regulations
Regulations concerning standing and parking conform to the provisions of the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic.
Enforcement of parking regulations
Wheel clamps are not used in Greece.
Vehicles can be towed away by the police. The driver must pay a fine for its release.
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
The international 3-colour traffic light system is used.
Drink/drug driving
Legal limit
Legal limit: 0.05% (equivalent to 0.25 mg per litre of breath)
A lower limit of 0.02% (0.10 mg per litre of breath) applies to novice drivers who have held a driving licence for less than two years, to motorcyclists and to drivers of commercial or business vehicles.
If the amount of alcohol in the blood is 0.05% or over, this constitutes a criminal offence and penalties are imposed.
Alcohol
The police may impose a test on any suspected person in order to establish if he is under the influence of alcohol. Drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol are compelled to accept this test and their refusal may lead to penalties including imprisonment, a fine and the withdrawal of their driving licence.
Availability of fuel
Petrol and lubricants are readily available in all towns and villages. LPG may not be used in private cars, only in taxis.
Means of payment
Some petrol stations accept credit cards.
Useful numbers:
112 - Here's a really important bit of knowledge; you can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you're visiting. Operators can answer your call in their native language, English, and French.
Useful guides and maps
Michelin - National Map Greece
Michelin Motoring Atlas: Europe
UK Government travel advice
RAC European Breakdown cover arranged and administered by RAC Financial Services Limited (Registered No 05171817) and provided by RAC Insurance Ltd (Registered No 2355834). Registered in England; Registered Offices: RAC House, Brockhurst Crescent, Walsall WS5 4AW. RAC Financial Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in respect of insurance mediation activities. RAC Insurance Ltd is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
British Embassy Athens
Office: British Embassy Athens
Street Address: 1 Ploutarchou Street
ZIP Code: 10675
City: Athens
Country: Greece
Telephone: (+30-21) 07272600
Fax: (+30-21) 07272720/23
Email: information.athens@fco.gov.uk
Website: www.ukingreece.fco.gov.uk
British Consulate Heraklion
Office: British Consulate Heraklion
Street Address: 16 Papa Alexandrou Street
ZIP Code: 71202
City: Heraklion
Country: Greece
Telephone: (+30-281) 0224012
Fax: (+30-281) 0243935
Email: crete@british-consulate.gr
British Consulate Thessaloniki
Office: British Consulate Thessaloniki
Street Address: 21 Aristotelous Street
ZIP Code: 54624
City: Thessaloniki
Country: Greece
Telephone: (+30-231) 0278006
Fax: (+30-231) 0283868
Email: salonika@british-consulate.gr
British Consulate Zakynthos
Office: British Consulate Zakynthos
Street Address: 5 Foskolos Street
ZIP Code: 29100
City: Zakynthos
Country: Greece
Telephone: (+30-2695) 022906, 048030
Fax: (+30-2695) 023769
Email: zakynthos@british-consulate.gr
British Consulate Hermoupolis
Office: British Consulate Hermoupolis
Street Address: 8 Akti Petrou Ralli
ZIP Code: 84100
City: Hermoupolis
State : Syros
Country: Greece
Telephone: (+30-2281) 082232, 088922
Fax: (+30-2281) 083293
British Consulate Kos
Office: British Consulate Kos
Street Address: 8 Annetas Laoumtzi Street
ZIP Code: 85300
City: Kos
Country: Greece
Telephone: (+30-242) 021549
Fax: (+30-242) 025948
Email: kos@british-consulate.gr
British Consulate Corfu
Office: British Consulate Corfu
Street Address: Menekratous 1
ZIP Code: 49100
City: Corfu
Country: Greece
Telephone: (+30-2661) 030055
Fax: (+30-2661) 037995
Email: corfu@british-consulate.gr
British Consulate Rhodes
Office: British Consulate Rhodes
Street Address: Pavlou Mela 3
Postal Address : PO Box 47
ZIP Code: 85100
City: Rhodes
Country: Greece
Telephone: (+30-2241) 027247, 022005
Fax: (+30-2241) 022615
Email: rhodes@british-consulate.gr
British Consulate Patras
Office: British Consulate Patras
Street Address: Votsi 2
ZIP Code: 26221
City: Patras
Country: Greece
Telephone: (+30-261) 0277329
Fax: (+30-261) 0225334
^Price for 1 day cover for up to 9 people travelling in a vehicle up to 1 year in zone 1.
*Comparison based on top standalone cover levels from other major providers. Visit www.rac.co.uk/eurocompare for full details.
RAC European Breakdown cover arranged and administered by RAC Financial Services Limited (Registered No 05171817) and provided by RAC Insurance Ltd (Registered No 2355834). Registered in England; Registered Offices: RAC House, Brockhurst Crescent, Walsall WS5 4AW. RAC Financial Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in respect of insurance mediation activities. RAC Insurance Ltd is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.