Which diesel cars are forbidden to drive in Athens and Thessaloniki

Many older diesel vehicles are driven illegally within the two major urban centers due to minimal checks. Let’s see how things actually work.

At the end of 2011, the then government allowed diesel driving in Athens and Thessaloniki, effectively lifting an anachronistic ban that had plagued the car market for almost two decades. carandmotor.gr.

However, Law 4030/2011, which changed the current legislation, again introduced restrictions on older technology diesel engines. Currently, no one is importing obsolete technology cars.

Article 50 of the above law states: “Diesel-powered trucks for private use with a GVW of up to four thousand (4000) kilograms and diesel-powered passenger cars for private use are exempt from traffic restrictions in the areas of the prefectures of Attica and Thessaloniki established by the provisions of Article 26 of the Law 1959/1991 (A 123), provided that their technology complies with the specifications of the Regulation (EU) 715/2007 of 20 June 2007 (EURO V and EURO VI) or later.

For vehicles Euro 4 -3 – 2 -1 traffic is prohibited:

1. In the prefecture of Attica: Elefsina, Magula, Fili, Acharnes, Thrakomakedones, Varibobi, Kryoneri, Agios Stefanos, Anniksis, Stamata, Rhodopolis, Dionysos, Pikermi, Spata, Koropi, Vari, Varkiza.

2. For the Prefecture of Thessaloniki: Nea Ionia (Diavata), Kalochori, Evkarpia, Azvestochori, Panorama and Pilea.

Therefore, the diesel cars you see on the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki, mostly pre-2009 models, are imported and circulate illegally. However, why did this happen?

The liberalization of diesel fuel in 2011, at the beginning of the crisis, created an unprecedented demand for this type of vehicle. Therefore, given this opportunity, thousands of old diesel vehicles of Euro 4 and older standards, with a large number of kilometers on the odometer, were imported at extremely low prices. They were registered “legally”, mostly with fake certificates stating that the owners were using the vehicles outside of Athens and Thessaloniki. Of course, this is not the case in practice, which is why we see them circulating among us on a daily basis.

However, if, as a result of a roadside check, it turns out that there is a Euro-4 or older diesel car in Athens or Thessaloniki, then an administrative fine of 147 euros and removal of registration numbers for one month may be imposed on the car owner. It is also important to note that if someone illegally drives a diesel car in the two largest cities in Greece, there is a chance that in case of an accident, the insurance company will not undertake to cover the costs.

In the context of improving the quality of the environment in Athens and Thessaloniki, the competent authorities will move to electronic cross-checking of data in order to effectively ban the movement of old diesel vehicles.

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