Earlier deadline for 2026 circulation fees; No extensions, new tiered fines

Only 700,000 of Greece’s estimated 5.5 million vehicle owners have paid their 2026 circulation fees, according to data reported by newmoney.gr. By the weekend, 697,442 car owners had paid €115.1 million—around one-tenth of the €1.2 billion expected. This leaves roughly 4.8 million owners with just 23 days to meet the 31 December deadline.

For the first time, an extension to the payment period is not expected. The Finance Ministry has ended the long-standing practice of pushing deadlines into January or February, a system that often caused confusion and last-minute rushes.

New tiered fines replace automatic 100% penalty

From the end of 2025, late-payment penalties will be scaled rather than fixed at 100% of the fee:

25% surcharge if paid in January

50% in February

100% from 1 March

The change makes the system less punitive for short delays, compared to the previous rule that doubled the fee even if payment was a single day late.

The deadline is now set by law, removing the possibility of annual last-minute extensions by ministerial decree. While limited delays will now carry smaller penalties, motorists who miss the March 1 threshold will still face significant costs. Automatic checks every six months and easier procedures for declaring immobilization aim to reduce errors and bureaucratic hassle.