GREECE – drives on the right

Please read the general notes in conjunction with those below.

Essential Safety Equipment

• Warning triangle
• Fire extinguisher
• First aid kit
• Headlamp converters
• GB plate (see note 1)

Recommended Safety Equipment (by Greece and/or EUroadlegal.co.uk)

• Reflective vest
• Spare bulbs (see note 2)
• Torch

Seatbelt Requirements
The wearing of front and rear seatbelts is compulsory when fitted.

Children Passengers
Children under 10 may not travel in the front seat. Child seats are mandatory for children up to age 4.

Drink Driving Limits
50mg/100ml (UK 80mg/100ml)

Minimum Driving Age
The minimum driving age using a full UK licence is 18

Speed Limits

Lights
No information could be found on the use of lights in Greece.

Fuel
Many stations close at 7pm. Some stations accept credit cards. Unleaded is widely available. Regular unleaded petrol has an octane rating of 91 or 92; the octane rating of super is 96 or 98. Unleaded petrol is called amolivdi venzini.  LPG is not available.

Spare fuel cans are not permitted.

Tolls
There are two toll roads in Greece. One goes from Athens to the Peloponnesus and the other goes from Athens to Thessaloniki.

Parking
You are not to park within 3 metres of a fire hydrant, within 5 metres of a junction, or within 15 metres of a public transport stop, though practically no one follows this rule. If you park in a No Parking zone in Athens or certain other areas, the police may remove your licence plates if you owe a traffic fine or fines.

Fines
You have to pay fines at the tax office in the area where the "ticket" is issued.

Mobile Phones
It is illegal to drive using a hand-held mobile phone.

Emergency Numbers
Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services.

Local numbers:
Police - 100
Fire - 166
Ambulance - 199

Other Useful Information

Useful Words and Phrases

Embassy Details
Address:
British Embassy
1 Ploutarchou Street
106 75 Athens 

Telephone:
(30) 210 727 2600

Email:
information.athens@fco.gov.uk

Office Hours:
Mon - Fri: 0830-1500 for Consular services.
Mon - Thurs: 0900-1100 for Visa applications.

Website:
http://www.british-embassy.gr

Note 1: UK registered vehicles displaying Euro-plates (circle of 12 stars above the national identifier on blue background) no longer need a GB sticker when driving in European Union countries.  Countries outside the EU still require national identification.

Note 2: Regardless of local requirements it is always a wise precaution to carry a spare set of vehicle bulbs and adjust headlamp beams for driving on the right. A spare bulb kit will not prevent a fine if you are travelling with faulty lights, but it may avoid the cost and inconvenience of a garage call out. On some cars it is inadvisable or impossible for anyone other than a qualified technician to change a headlamp bulb or lamp unit e.g. high intensity discharge (HID) headlamps and carrying spare bulbs is not an option. However, it is recommended that spare bulbs are carried for any lights which may be easily and/or safely replaced by the owner/driver. Do not forget to ensure that you also carry any tools that might be required to change the various bulbs.

Disclaimer
EUroadlegal has made every effort to ensure that the information contained on this page is accurate and up-to-date.  In most instances the information has been collated from either an official document from the country concerned or from two or more reliable sources.  EUroadlegal cannot be held responsible for any actions resulting from the adherence to or ignoring of the information contained on this page. If you would like to contribute by adding, removing or modifying the data on this page based on your own experience, please us.