Greece 2026 Road Tax: Expats’ Guide to Paying Your Vehicle Circulation Fee

The Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) has officially released the 2026 road tax notifications, marking the start of the annual ritual for vehicle owners across Greece. If you’re an expat with a car or motorcycle registered in Greece, this is your reminder: it’s time to check your circulation fees and plan your payment before the year ends.

From now, owners of Greek-registered vehicles can log into the myCAR platform or the myAADE website and app to view and download their tax notice. This year’s version comes with a QR code, allowing for quick payment through mobile banking — a welcome touch of modern convenience in Greek bureaucracy.

Who this applies to

Let’s be crystal clear: this concerns only vehicles with Greek license plates.
If you’re an expat living in Greece and have registered your vehicle locally, you must pay the annual τέλη κυκλοφορίας (road tax) — just like Greek citizens do.

If you’re driving a foreign-registered car, different rules apply. You’re not liable for Greek road tax, but you cannot keep or use that car permanently in Greece. Under EU and Greek customs rules, a foreign-registered vehicle may stay for up to six months in a 12-month period. After that, it must either leave the country or be officially imported and re-registered in Greece. Ignoring this rule can lead to serious penalties — including vehicle confiscation and steep fines.

How much you’ll pay

The 2026 tax rates remain unchanged from 2025:

• For cars registered before November 1, 2010, fees depend on engine size (cubic capacity).

• For newer models, rates are based on CO₂ emissions.

• Electric and ultra-low-emission vehicles remain exempt or enjoy reduced fees.

You can check your exact amount due through myCAR and pay online or via mobile banking by scanning the QR code.

Deadline and penalties

The payment deadline is December 31, 2025. Miss it, and surcharges kick in fast:

• 25% extra if paid in January

• 50% extra if paid in February

• 100% (double the fee) if you delay beyond that

If you’re not using your vehicle

If your car is sitting unused — perhaps parked at your holiday home or island property — you can declare it “immobile” (ακινησία) in the myCAR system. This suspends your road tax obligation, but you must do it before the end of the year and the car cannot be moved while declared off the road.

Digital cross-checks and fines

AADE’s cross-checking system now automatically identifies cars that haven’t paid their road tax, lack insurance, or missed their KTEO inspection. The fines can reach up to €2,000, and enforcement is getting tougher each year.

Pro tip for expats

The AADE portals are still largely in Greek, though you can use your browser’s auto-translate feature to navigate. Alternatively, ask your accountant (λογιστής) to download and pay the fee for you — most do it in minutes. Keep a digital or printed copy of the receipt as proof of payment.

Our take

For expats living in Greece, keeping your vehicle paperwork in order is one of those small but crucial things that make life smoother. If your car has Greek plates, check your 2026 road tax notice now, pay before December 31, and enjoy the new year worry-free.