Brussels prepares a new framework that will allow CTOs and certified garages to judge whether a used car has a future — Or if it is now in the past. And if the result is the second, its transfer simply won't happen.
The European Parliament is promoting a new mechanism whereby any owner who wants to sell his car will be required to produce an additional document from KTEO — a species «life certificate» confirming that the vehicle has not reached the end of its useful life. Without this paper no transfer is made. The car is automatically driven to withdrawal and recycling.
Second-hand exposure to OAKA: Over 650 quality cars this weekend
This draft, which is part of the new regulation on end-of-life vehicles, was adopted by Parliament by 431 votes in favour. It includes, inter alia, a ban on the export of cars designated as «End of Circle», but also strict rules for the handling of used spare parts, which are now declassified by «wastes» and treated as legally marketable products — under conditions.
Important clarification: there is currently no official European project providing for a horizontal curfew on the basis of age alone. The logic of the new framework is different: you do not circulate or sell if the vehicle is deemed unsustainable after technical inspection.
What cars are in danger?
The target is mainly vehicles that have not been passed by KTEO for more than two years, those that fail in technical control, those at cost of repair that exceeds their commercial value, and those with serious structural problems. Particularly exposed are the old diesel with high pollutant emissions — those that do not meet at least Euro 5 or Euro 6 standards.
Europe is also planning to extend low-emission zones to more cities, with a ban on entering old vehicles even during rush hours. At the same time, more frequent controls on older vehicles are being discussed.
The Greek reality: here things are worse
To understand why all this concerns Greece in particular, a statistic is sufficient: according to the latest ACEA data, the average age of passengers cars In our country it reaches 17.5 years, when the average European average is set at 12.3–12.5 years. Trucks have an average age of 22.6 years, vans 19.5 years and buses 17.6 years. In all categories of vehicles, Greece consistently holds the first — negative — position among EU countries.
Over 60% of the IX traffic on Greek roads were classified before 2008, i.e. before the introduction of the stricter safety and emission standards. Some 4.4 million IXs are circulating in Greece today, of which nearly 1.9 million are in Attica. — 1 car for every 1.65 inhabitants of the capital.
While some 225,000 new and imported second-hand vehicles were registered in 2025, withdrawals reached only 90,000 — imbalance which means that the fleet is not only not renewed, but is growing in number but also at age at the same time. At this rate, in 2030 it is estimated that 5.12 million IX will be released in the country, 16% more than today.
Why is this happening and whose fault it is?
The problem is not new, but its cause remains the same: the economic weakness of the majority of Greeks to buy a new car. The shift in the market towards electric drive and the appreciation of new models by about 40% over the last five years have turned the purchase of a new IX into luxury for most. At the same time, the used ones were also significantly accurate. — Even an old 15-year-old car is no longer at an affordable price.
This has led to the phenomenon that we see today: Greeks keep their cars for as long as possible, spending money on repairs of old vehicles instead of changing cars. The second-hand market has been launched across Europe, with the occasion now sold in double numbers compared to the new ones in many countries.
What changes for the Greek owner
If the European framework is implemented in practice as planned, the impact on Greece will be disproportionately greater than any other EU country. The Director General of EIA has confirmed that 60,000 cars are already being driven annually to recycling in Greece — And this number will be launched with the new regulation.
An owner who wants to sell his car should go through KTEO not only for the usual technical inspection, but also for the new certificate. «life» — and if the car is deemed unsustainable, the transfer is excluded. After pressure from the project, an exemption is provided: if the owner demonstrates in writing that he intends to repair the vehicle within a specified time limit, immediate mandatory recycling shall be avoided.
In any case, the time for the aged Greek fleet is now measured differently. Brussels doesn't ask how old the car is — They're asking if it's worth continuing. For millions of IX on Greek roads, the answer may not be the expected one.
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