Greece cracks down on driving license bribery with sweeping digital reforms
Greece is introducing a major overhaul of its driver licensing system in a bid to eliminate corruption and end long-standing bribery practices, the Transport Ministry announced.
The reform package, led by Transport Minister Konstantinos Kyranakis, is built on four key pillars targeting systemic loopholes that have allowed candidates to obtain licenses without properly completing required tests.
Full monitoring of driving tests
Under the new system, all examination vehicles will be equipped with cameras and audio recording devices. Examiners will activate the system by scanning a unique QR code via a tablet, ensuring that the entire test is recorded and stored in line with GDPR data protection standards.
Digital tracking of driving lessons
Driving schools will transition from handwritten attendance logs—often subject to falsification—to a fully digital system. Instructors will scan candidates’ digital cards before each lesson using a dedicated app, allowing authorities to conduct real-time, unannounced inspections.
Random examiner selection
To further curb malpractice, practical test examiners will be assigned through a lottery system rather than pre-arranged appointments. Test results will be transmitted instantly to a central ministry database, while driving instructors will be immediately notified and given the right to formally challenge outcomes.
AI-supported written exams
Written exams are also being modernized through a unified digital platform, already piloted in Iraklio. The system uses digital identification and automated monitoring of exam rooms, sending results directly to candidates’ digital records without human intervention. Authorities say it will also flag suspicious patterns, such as testing centers reporting unusually high pass rates.
Instant digital licenses
Successful candidates will receive a temporary license immediately via the government’s digital wallet, eliminating the widespread practice of paying extra fees for faster processing—locally known as “grigorosimo.” Physical licenses will still be issued within a few days.
Officials say the reforms mark a decisive step toward transparency, aiming to restore trust in a system long undermined by fraud and informal payments.
