A forthcoming bill in Greece, sponsored by the Ministry of Finance, will introduce a digital system for verifying vehicle insurance and inspection compliance. This move, reported by OT.gr, aims to bring Greece in line with an EU Directive mandating mandatory car insurance. The Independent Authority for Public Revenue (IAPR) will spearhead this initiative, utilizing digital methods to conduct these checks.
Currently, the country relies on less frequent inspections – every five to ten years – or random police checks. The proposed system represents a significant shift. The IAPR will now cross-reference data from various online sources. This includes the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport’s vehicle registry, the Ministry of Citizen Protection’s stolen vehicle database, the Ministry of the Interior’s records of deceased individuals, lists of recycled vehicles, and records of insured vehicles. This digital data will be processed roughly every two months to check compliance and issue fines, according to OT.gr.
It’s estimated that approximately 500,000 vehicles currently operate on Greek roads without insurance. The number of vehicles that haven’t passed inspection is currently unknown. The new system aims to address these issues more effectively.
The bill also includes a graduated fine system for owners who fail to pay road tax by the December 31 deadline each year. This aims to encourage swift payment of fines and compliance with the law.
