Do any livaboards keep a car in Greece?

[vas]

just saw this thread, agree with most things said (specially from the ones living down here)
One thing that I think didn't come out clearly is that if the OPs want to get their Turan to Greece and be legal as in convert it to a greek car (greek plate numbers) then it could be:
A. impossible if the car is older than x years and has y level emissions (ok, don't remember numbers)
B. possible and the customs/tax/plate charges add up to 5-10-15K euro (no I'm not joking!)

adding to that all the things mentioned on taxable values of car/boat whatever, income, etc. It can easily become a big mess, talk to a good greek accountant before making any such move.

Also, as already stated, reaching Greece via car from an EU border (unfortunately that means boat from Venice, Ancona, Bari) no one is going to check any docs. Hence the time starts ticking ONCE you do your first foul and are checked from the police. Once policemen realise that you've not got a flashy expensive car and are posing avoiding greek taxes (in OP case, fine, since it's an oldish utilitarian car) and as soon as they figure out you don't speak Greek, they usually wont bother and let you go.
Most of the expensive cars that are confiscated is due to drugs or greeks going abroad picking up expensive wheels and coming back.

HOWEVER, having any car parked for months outside a marina is no good for thieves (as is anywhere in UK/europe I'd imagine) mainly for breaking into, stealing cdplayers or whatever can be picked up from there and afaik there are not many secure areas in marinas especially in Greece.


cheers

Vassilis

 

[E1_1966]

It was amusing to see some of the 'facts' and facts, often in the same post.
there is a lot of wishful thinking with greek paperwork, some of it comes from the people you would think know the system (like tax offices or police stations) but its not quite like that.

If you are resident in Greece for longer than 6 months continuous (same for any EU country), OR buy a house OR buy a car OR buy a GREEK flagged yacht (basically anything that goes down on a GREEK Tax form - DONT think British on this!!) then you MUST get a residency permit. These ARE a legal requirement. if you think they are your green card, then they are called a 'blue card' and are, naturally, beige. gottit? good.
I found this out, cause the local Plod, bless 'em, were happy to have me with no paperwork and said I shouldnt have any as I am EU, the Ministry of Cars/trucks and annoyances, said the correct rules were for you to be a registered resident.
great.
Tax Numbers (AFM - AFiMee). You can get a temporary one if you arent buying something big, eg car etc. but you dont need one and will get shouted at if you submit a Tax form! IF you do buy a car, you need an AFM. You can NOT have an AFM with a PO Box. You have to have a physical residence address. I know, I have a PO Box (live in country and ONLY PO Box). So you have to take someone with you to scream very fluent greek at them to get them to understand. You also need a Bebiosi (Veviosy) from the plod with your address, so they know you arent telling porkies. Then you have the PO Box in second line of address and physical in first line. Their system wont work any other way.
In last year, you are also required to keep all your invoices for anything you buy, as these will/could get requested when you submit your tax form (yes, mine got called).
Importing Cars. If you get a residency permit, you can Import your personal possessions to Greece within 6 months. this includes a car and you wont get ripped off at customs for the car import duty (yes, we know its illegal, but its greece and they ignore the EU rules on this). You can then register it on the Greek system. Take a Greek speaker with you.
If you bring a car in and keep it 'british' plated, after your 6 months, and you havent been out, then you are technically illegal. No-one will bother you until you go bump or get stopped, then you will descend into greek beurocratic hell and remain there. forever.
Take the car out to get it MOT'd/Bulgaria ski trip etc and you'll be OK. Just get documents to prove it. It also saves me swearing at you on the route north from Athens every day as I pass UK plated cars that have no tax disk etc etc.
KEP is fantastic... they can do lots for you and make life a lot easier, always aproach them first to avoid a neural meltdown. or do as I did and Marry an amazing Greek girl who loves to go scream on my behalf (she needs a bebiosi to prove she can shout on my behalf!!!!!)

best of luck

 

[vas]

fully agree, nicely written!

... or do as I did and Marry an amazing Greek girl who loves to go scream on my behalf (she needs a bebiosi to prove she can shout on my behalf!!!!!)

only foul, ok pedantic mode on: she needs an exoysiodotisi (in a sense you sign an ypefthini dilosi to have her act on your behalf) depantic mode off.

Yep, having a few good friends speaking the language does help. I occasionally get it wrong and have to come back for clarifications. They often get it wrong and ask x paper the one day and y paper the next...
Needless to say even for native speakers phones are no good for such things (neither are leters) just need to get there and talk (starting nicely and building up according to the way things turn out...)

cheers

 

[jimbaerselman]

If you are resident in Greece for longer than 6 months continuous (same for any EU country), OR buy a house OR buy a car OR buy a GREEK flagged yacht (basically anything that goes down on a GREEK Tax form - DONT think British on this!!) then you MUST get a residency permit. These ARE a legal requirement.

A minor correction. It's 3 months continuous to register for residence in EU.

More than 182 days out of 365 registers you for tax residence, slightly different, as does owning a house or Greek registered car or boat.

Since I do fewer than 182 days per tax year there, I've been told the green residence permit (90 day job) is no longer needed. The fact that I have an AFM and 30 olive trees is sufficient. But that's probably Messinia for you.

Never consistent, are they!

Nice post! It's caught the bureaucratic humour of the place beautifully.

 

[charles_reed]

All the people I know with a car, in Messolonghi marina are taking it home or to Turkey or to Italy, well within the 6-month period and getting the MoT done in their country of residence.
EC nationalities concerned are - Italian, Slovak, Brit, French, Austrian and German.

Significantly NO-ONE is importing in the true sense all are visitors for less than 6 months.

 

[grumpygit]

All the people I know with a car, in Messolonghi marina are taking it home or to Turkey or to Italy, well within the 6-month period and getting the MoT done in their country of residence.
EC nationalities concerned are - Italian, Slovak, Brit, French, Austrian and German.

Significantly NO-ONE is importing in the true sense all are visitors for less than 6 months.

IMO this is the best and only way for me. Keep it legal, i.e. tax, test and insurance, in my case UK registered, and there shouldn't be a problem.

I do not want to buy or register under a Greek flag. Unlike the Greeks that are flying our ensign on there motor yachts.

_________________________________________________________________

 

[grafozz]

theres another way .......

Get yourself a classic car and register it with Sispa or Philpa , these are classic car clubs condoned by the Greek government to allow classic cars to survive and be used .
The one off registration costs around 120 e, the road tax AND insurance works out at 130 e and there is a joining fee of 80 e . After initial registration there is just the annual insurance to pay , now, is this not a better way to drive around this beautiful country ?
I believe the cut off date is 1978 , but I am not certain on this .
The car can be brought from England or anywhere in the EU .
It need not be an expensive car , say an Austin A35 or a Ford Anglia , but it would be something interesting to drive ! (ok a 1965, 911S would be more fun , but ...)
The Greeks love the classic cars . its worth considering , I did .