Do any livaboards keep a car in Greece?

[brumby45]

Cars

I drove down here to Italy in March this year. The last person to look at my passport was the immigration bloke at Dover!I didn't see any more uniformed (or otherwise clad)beurocrats the whole trip. SAGA have a standard insurance policy offering 365 day coverage in the EU,obviously age comes into consideration here. Remember the MOT situation as I believe the car can only be tested in the country of registration. In Italy you have to be resident to register a vehicle and if buying a local second hand car there's eu400 'stamp duty' on change of ownership. The peage tolls were quite heavy from Calais to Livorno, about eu160 if I recall.

 

[paulingreece]

All insurance policys give you basic 3rd party coverage abroad, they do not tell you this, but it is law.
In Greece, you need an AFM, pronounced afimee, this is your tax no,
residency permit, all you need is 4 photos and proof of income, savings, takes about 20 minutes, or avrio, and is free. PO box no is about 58€ a year from the post office, if you go to the local K.E.P, peoples advice centre, registration transfer fee is 138€, paid at a bank and reciept given to K.E.P.
Takes about a fortnight to recieve the docs, remember car tax is expensive here, so the smaller greener the car the better, i have an old Honda Civic, 125€ a year road tax, and 146€ for 6 months insurance.
UK plated car, ok as long as under 6 months here or you do not have an accident or annoy a local, if caught, court fines siezure etc. You can buy a cheap runaround for 500 to 1000 €, less if the seller is desperate. You pays your money and takes your chance.

 

[ccscott49]

When I bought my cars in Germany no residency was required. All that was required was the piece of paper you get when you register your address with the local authority (Einwohnermeldeamt). In France, a telephone (even mobile) or electricity bill is required.

Registering your address and passport number with the local authority, is your registration. Same as Holland. I didnt mention residency for Holland or Germany. You then go into the computer system.

 

[ccscott49]

Yes for the above + tax number . . . but I'm not sure about the ....it NEVER comes back. that's the law . . . . . .
Does this mean foreign haulage, frieght, annual travellers etc. can only use a their vehicles for 6 mths and then have to replace them to get back into Greece?????

I'f you are returning to the UK of where ever within the six months keep proof of travel, i.e. ferry tickets etc, this should surfice I beleive.

Remember here in Greece that rules, regulations and laws can change at the drop of a hat! It all depends who the official is and how they're interpreting these also.

Then as said, stay under the radar which will certainly work until something goes wrong I suppose.

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You can stay under the radar, until you have an accident! Then I'll come and bring you food in jail. Believe me it gets very costly when you lose your car and have to buy the Greek you hit a new car and pay for any injuries etc etc. Remember your car is illegal, no insurance/legal cover!

 

[grumpygit]

You can stay under the radar, until you have an accident! Then I'll come and bring you food in jail. Believe me it gets very costly when you lose your car and have to buy the Greek you hit a new car and pay for any injuries etc etc. Remember your car is illegal, no insurance/legal cover!

I don't think I was implying that anyone should run illegal and I certainly never said not to use a vehicle without insurance, that would be madness!
But there are ways of getting round the 6 month rule especially if you are a not resident of that country. As I said, keep ferry tickets, even fuel receipts from a neighbouring country with your registration and credit card receipt should suffice as proof.

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[Oliveoyl]

Creativity?

I don't think I was implying that anyone should run illegal and I certainly never said not to use a vehicle without insurance, that would be madness!
But there are ways of getting round the 6 month rule especially if you are a not resident of that country. As I said, keep ferry tickets, even fuel receipts from a neighbouring country with your registration and credit card receipt should suffice as proof.

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So next year, when (God willing) we take our new Kangoo out to Greece, we "could" avoid the 6 month rule by booking a one way ferry to nearest non-Greek (but maybe EU?) port, keeping that ticket, but not showing the return. I guess day trips to Albania may attract stamps in passports!

 

[ccscott49]

So next year, when (God willing) we take our new Kangoo out to Greece, we "could" avoid the 6 month rule by booking a one way ferry to nearest non-Greek (but maybe EU?) port, keeping that ticket, but not showing the return. I guess day trips to Albania may attract stamps in passports!

Can you get UK insurance, that allows you to keep your car out of the UK for that long? I cant find anybody to do that, max I can find is 90 day cover. But would be interested.
Also I would not like to be messing with the Greek authorities right now, they seem to make up the rules as they go along.

 

[ccscott49]

I don't think I was implying that anyone should run illegal and I certainly never said not to use a vehicle without insurance, that would be madness!
But there are ways of getting round the 6 month rule especially if you are a not resident of that country. As I said, keep ferry tickets, even fuel receipts from a neighbouring country with your registration and credit card receipt should suffice as proof.

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Sorry, but if your vehicle is illegally in Greece, then you have no insurance, check with your insurance company.

 

[grumpygit]

Sorry, but if your vehicle is illegally in Greece, then you have no insurance, check with your insurance company.

I'm sorry but I never said anything about using a car illegally, I just said there is ways around the 6 month rule. The car is either in the country for more than 6 months or it isn't..

If it's in for more than 6 months and want to stay legal I agree your scuppered and open to their laws.
If you take it out that country within that 6 months and have proof it's been out, where's the problem?

As for insurance Saga do an unlimited EU policy http://www.saga.co.uk/insurance/car-insurance/ Also Swinton do a similar policy and probably many others.

Otherwise I will have to use your footnote or I'll have to eat humble pie................

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[Csail]

What was that post a few months ago about having boats mmsi as registration?

 

[25931]

Noone has mentioned the mot problem.

 

[OrionAmelOwner]

Having kept a car in Greece for some 3 years. Yes it is against Greek Law to remain longer than six months on British Registration. Do a lot of people ignore this ...YES they do. If you are parked away from the eyes of Customs and port policemen you should not have a problem. If it would cause you real grief if your car was seized and impounded ......dont do it. How old and whats its worth is the question ....
In terms of registering a UK car in Greece it is neither simple or cheap. !!

The realistic view,,,,,!!

 

[Oliveoyl]

Simple / cheap

Having kept a car in Greece for some 3 years. Yes it is against Greek Law to remain longer than six months on British Registration. Do a lot of people ignore this ...YES they do. If you are parked away from the eyes of Customs and port policemen you should not have a problem. If it would cause you real grief if your car was seized and impounded ......dont do it. How old and whats its worth is the question ....
In terms of registering a UK car in Greece it is neither simple or cheap. !!

The realistic view,,,,,!!

According to the post from Paulingreece, registration didn't seem all that complicated or expensive. Am seriously thinking about going legal next year, rather than trying to stay under the radar

 

[paulingreece]

Can you get UK insurance, that allows you to keep your car out of the UK for that long? I cant find anybody to do that, max I can find is 90 day cover. But would be interested.
Also I would not like to be messing with the Greek authorities right now, they seem to make up the rules as they go along.

It really is straight forward. If you have a word with an accountant, he can get your tax no, cost of about 50€, if the local tax office is any good, alot are, you can do it yourself.
Residence permit, local police station, not port police. 4 photos and proof of income. The permit is free.
PO box, local post office, your address will then start TO then no, then town ,prefecture then post code.
I used Piraeus bank to pay the transfer fee, if you have a friendly Greek, take him with you, once the fee is paid, you and the seller take, him car docs and id card, you, passport residency permit, and your tax no paper, plus bank reciept for transfer fee to K.E.P, all large towns have one, they do all the work for you.F.O.C. they give you photo copys of the log book, and transfer form, take these to a insurance broker, get your cover note and of you go, it really is that simple. Most Greek car sellers will expect you to pay for the time left on the car tax.
Mot lasts for 2 years, road tax is before the 31st Dec. You will get a form in the post about end of Nov, just take it to the tax office and part with your dosh, easy.
Tesco advertise no time limit on european cover, but you do by law automatically have the minimum 3rd party cover required for all EU countrys you journey through in you normal insurance cover.

 

[paulingreece]

According to the post from Paulingreece, registration didn't seem all that complicated or expensive. Am seriously thinking about going legal next year, rather than trying to stay under the radar

PM me if you need any help.

 

[grumpygit]

It really is straight forward. If you have a word with an accountant, he can get your tax no, cost of about 50€, if the local tax office is any good, alot are, you can do it yourself.
Residence permit, local police station, not port police. 4 photos and proof of income. The permit is free.
PO box, local post office, your address will then start TO then no, then town ,prefecture then post code.
I used Piraeus bank to pay the transfer fee, if you have a friendly Greek, take him with you, once the fee is paid, you and the seller take, him car docs and id card, you, passport residency permit, and your tax no paper, plus bank reciept for transfer fee to K.E.P, all large towns have one, they do all the work for you.F.O.C. they give you photo copys of the log book, and transfer form, take these to a insurance broker, get your cover note and of you go, it really is that simple. Most Greek car sellers will expect you to pay for the time left on the car tax.
Mot lasts for 2 years, road tax is before the 31st Dec. You will get a form in the post about end of Nov, just take it to the tax office and part with your dosh, easy.
Tesco advertise no time limit on european cover, but you do by law automatically have the minimum 3rd party cover required for all EU countrys you journey through in you normal insurance cover.

OK, so how do you get a Residence Permit or Tax No. as a liveaboard. Surly one has to have a fixed address of bricks and motar?

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[25931]

OK, so how do you get a Residence Permit or Tax No. as a liveaboard. Surly one has to have a fixed address of bricks and motar?

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Why not ask the marina people ?
Here, at least, it's usual to have P.O. box or to use a lawyer's address or for our clients this office.

 

[PLEIAS]

Regaldles of what is written above before purchasing a car here speak with an accountant as there are things that everybody seems to ignore as revenues to be filed and how to justify the origin of the price to pay, in any case somebody who will help you avoid issues that might come up if you follow the above tips.If you try to import one and pay the taxes speak with somebody who can give you an estimate of the cost.The six month period that is mentioned is the total periov per annum so if you want to be 100% legal you can ask the local customs for the apropriate procedures as there are such and you don't have to take the car in and out.It's not as difficult as it sounds either way...

 

[Davy_S]

I have watched with interest this thread develop, a couple of pointers, first of all I am not liveaboard, bricks and mortar.
The resident permit was deemed illegal two years ago (I have one) now you simply have to register with the police, thats it! Here comes the problem, some people are not asked for proof of medical insurance, some are asked for e111 or equivalent, and that is accepted, some people are asked for proof of income, some are not, if you are asked for proof of income, it CANNOT be more than a Greek pensioner receives on a subsidy level OR it would be illegal.
I bought a new car in Greece six years ago, I did NOT need a residency permit, i did NOT need a tax number. The salesperson said to me, wink wink, you will not be here for more than six months will you? I said, no, she said go to the police station, take the papers for the plates and pay for a 40 cent stamp, which i did, no problems!
Like anything else in Greece you will be given different information wherever you go.
There are far too many British cars being driven around Greece without any tax insurance or MOTs, some of these people have been doing this for years, be aware if you are caught or have an accident you are bolloxed, they take the car off you and the fines are huge! plus you could face a lawsuit if you kill someone. PLEAS obviously knows a lot more than I do, we have had three police pulls, checks this year alone and we drive a legal Greek registered car.
I have heard that you can take a Brit reg car out for six months, then lay it up till next year, legally, but you still need tax and mot, so you have to take it out of the country to have it done. It would make life a lot easier and income for the Greeks if you could tax and mot a Brit car out here, insurance is not a problem, as stated above, you CAN get insured in Greece from a Brit broker, my understanding is that a Greek broker is not allowed to insure a Brit reg car, although I had no problems getting a Brit reg boat insured out here.
You pays your money and takes your chance, but do it carefully and not with rumour and heresay.

 

[paulingreece]

OK, so how do you get a Residence Permit or Tax No. as a liveaboard. Surly one has to have a fixed address of bricks and motar?

Thats why you get a PO box, PLEIAS is right in that an accountant can make life easier, and more importantly knows the systems in place.
At the end of the day everyone says it will never happen to me, unfortunatly the prisons and courts are full of people who thought this, as regards MOT, no MOT no insurance, its in the small print. With a legal car, you can travel without worry, and should the unexpected happen, you have proper legal insurance. Surely peace of mind is worth the few hundred € it will cost to sort out the paperwork, and as PLEIAS says, for what it will cost to use an accountant to sort the tax no for you, and explain the system in easy to understand terms, life here is good, why complicate it to escape paying a few quid.